I have been speed reading for many years now after my first introduction to it during the first week of my degree course back in 1987.

Over the years as I have learnt more about it, I started teaching it and became quite proficient at not only reading far more effectively, but also showing others how they can do the same.

Until fairly recently my focus on my own technique and what I taught to others was about strategies suitable for paper based material – books, magazines, newspapers, reports etc etc.

With the onset of computers, e mail, pdf reports etc many of these paper based approaches to effective reading had to be adapted slightly to use on screen.

This wasn’t a problem because the principles apply wherever and whatever it is we are reading.

Many people, including myself often printed off things to read because we like to "feel" the document it is we are absorbing.

I still do that today and it will always remain an approach I will use when I need to.

Over the years as computers and software developed we have seen more and more examples of speed reading software – applications on our computers to help us read faster.

Until very recently I have not bothered with them as my own approach served me well enough.

But then after a strong recommendation from a colleague I invested in a speed reading software package last week.

I have not explored it fully yet and intend to give it a good and thorough testing – not only to see if it works (which I expect it to), but to see how I can use it to best effect with the variety of reading I have to do.

So if you want to find out more about whether this sort of software is of any use, watch this space because I shall be letting you know what I find.

If you have come across any software to help increase your reading speed (both training tools and specific reading software) then do let me know in the comments section below and I will take a look.