About Fast Read
A free, open-source speed reading application with voice and translation
What is Fast Read?
Fast Read is a speed reading tool that uses RSVP (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation) to display text one word at a time. By eliminating the need for eye movement across lines, your brain can process words significantly faster.
Available as both a web app and a desktop app (Windows, macOS, Linux via Tauri), Fast Read works entirely offline — your documents never leave your device.
How does RSVP work?
Traditional reading requires your eyes to scan left-to-right across each line, then jump back to the start of the next line. These eye movements (saccades) consume about 20% of your reading time. RSVP eliminates this overhead by presenting words in a fixed position.
Fast Read also highlights the Optimal Recognition Point (ORP) in each word — the character position where your eye naturally focuses for fastest recognition.
Features
Speed Reading
- Adjustable speed from 60 to 1500 WPM
- Optimal Recognition Point (ORP) highlighting
- Context preview showing surrounding words
- Full text view with click-to-jump navigation
- Study mode — pauses on code blocks and images for review
- Speed mode — skips non-text content for uninterrupted reading
Text-to-Speech
- Read-aloud with your system voices
- Automatic voice selection based on the text language
- Speed synchronized with your WPM setting
- Grouped voice picker organized by language
Built-in Translation
- Click any word to instantly translate it
- Double-click words in context preview or full text view to translate
- Select a phrase (click-and-drag) to translate multiple words
- Listen to the original and translated text with language-matched voices
- 15 target languages — Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Hindi, Dutch, Polish, Turkish, and English
- Translation cache for instant repeat lookups
Privacy & Security
- All document processing happens in your browser
- No files are uploaded to any server
- Preferences stored locally in your browser
- Content Security Policy and security headers enabled
Supported Formats
| Format | Extension | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Text | .txt | Direct text reading |
| Markdown | .md | Parsed with heading and code block detection |
| Text extraction via pdf.js | ||
| EPUB | .epub | Full ebook support |
| HTML | .html | DOM parsing with structure preservation |
How to Use
- Paste text or drag and drop a document file
- Click the Play button to start speed reading
- Adjust speed with Up/Down arrow keys or the slider
- Use Left/Right arrows to navigate between words
- Press T to enable text-to-speech
- Press M to toggle between Study and Speed modes
- Click any word to translate it; double-click or select a phrase in full text view
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Space | Play / Pause |
| ← / → | Previous / Next word |
| ↑ / ↓ | Increase / Decrease speed |
| T | Toggle text-to-speech |
| M | Toggle reading mode (Study / Speed) |
| R | Restart from beginning |
| Esc | Close overlay / tooltip |
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can I read with RSVP?
Most users start at 300 WPM and can increase to 500–800 WPM with practice. Advanced users may reach 1000+ WPM for familiar material.
Does speed reading reduce comprehension?
At moderate speeds (300–500 WPM), comprehension remains high. Above 600 WPM, comprehension may decrease for complex material. Use Study mode for technical content.
Is my data private?
Yes. All document processing happens entirely in your browser. No files are uploaded to any server. Your reading preferences are stored locally. Translation requests use the free MyMemory API; only the selected word or phrase is sent — never the full document.
Can I use it on mobile?
Yes. The web version works on any modern browser. A desktop version built with Tauri is also available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Which languages can I translate into?
Fast Read supports translation into 15 languages including Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Hindi, Dutch, Polish, Turkish, and English.
Does text-to-speech work in every language?
TTS uses your browser or operating system voices. When you enable TTS, Fast Read automatically selects a voice matching the text language — if one is available on your device. You can download additional voices through your system settings.