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#20808 04/14/01 03:05 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 63
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 63
Welcome geniuses (present and future). Lets get serious with this stuff!

I want to start by recognizing that there are obviously many reasons people pick up photoreading and many different benefits that accrue from the process. Personally I have not been photoreading as much as I'd like to, but my experiences with it have been definite. I have generally taken the approach of photoreading material once or twice and then reading it normally. This always leads to a very fast normal read with increased comprehension and memory. The effect is so pronounced that I flew through The Brothers Karamozov like it was Little Rock's Book of the Month!

But recently I've become interested in the ultimate potential photoreading has to offer which, I believe, is full, spontaneous activation. I don't see why this should be some far off goal. Like just about anything, we should be able to realize this potential with a correct approach, perseverance and expectation.

So how do we "activate" spontaneous activation? How do we actualize this great potential that has been proven to exist? Here is a most tentative idea list of what might move us in that direction:

First, in the beginning photoread the material multiple times every day for about a week. (prime the mind, creating deep impression, etc. . .)

Here is my beginning idea on learning spontaneous activation. Let me note that I feel it will be something that may develop in a Gestalt-like manner, suddenly emerging.

Recreation or CP "Connect the Pages" technique: After all necessary photoreading and preperation read page one of the book. Then read page 20. (The page increments are variable as you will see) Now try to imagine or recreate what happened in the book between the two pages. This is a place where image streaming could be essential. Do a 5 min. stream or just relax and creatively imagine all that might have taken place to connect these two pages (remeber that you do know, and continually ask your memory for the information. If seemingly no inspired results, read page 10 and try again. Then rapid read pages 1 to 20 and see how accurate you were. Go on and read page 40, or 50 or 60 for that matter (how bold are you?) and do it again. I want to point out that this is not a method for covering material quickly, this is for developing spontaneous activation.

The goal is to increase the the number of pages between the ones you read and to tune in to the the surfacing images and information upon request.

Another method is to replace the image stream with speed freenoting. Pose the question: What happened in the intervening pages? Then write for 2-3 min. WITHOUT stopping on anything that comes to mind.

I would love to hear some responses and ideas on this topic. Just let it flow. I'm sure there are some highly creative and fascinating ideas out there, just let them out!

I have read plenty of accounts of great readers, not necessarily photoreaders in the strictist sense, that could comprehend full paragraphs in a glance and fly through books with full retention to boot. The ones that developed this skill were entirely visual readers (absolutely no subvocalization) who had expanded their ability to recognize words outside of central fixation. Their peripheral vision "opened up", first horizontally and then vertically. Maybe this is speed reading and maybe it isn't. Its not flying over words at an accelerated rate. Its instant recognition and comprehension of large blocks of words in one glance.

I'm trying to figure out the relationship between this sort of reading and photoreading. Photoreading is not supposed to be a conscious process, its like downloading info straight into the subconscious and then letting it suface when needed. I LIKE this approach. So what is optimal reading? Is it photoreading and then having perfect spontaneous activiation afterward or is it full comprehension while reading at a page per second pace? Maybe a mixture of the two. Come on people, surely someone has something to say!








#20809 04/14/01 03:47 AM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 393
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 393
Pratibha,

That's an interesting idea. When I get some time, I'll try to play with it. I'll look forward to hearing your results.







Moderated by  Patrick O'Neil 

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