Introduction

To begin with, the title of the software that we have chosen is Letter Chase Speed
Reader Version 1.3 which was developed personally by David Ray from Granite City,
Illinois United States of America in his belief that transferring the techniques used to
teach speed reading to computer made for a far more effective way to learn to read fast.
For example, the computer can be used to emulate techniques such as pacing our
reading speed by moving our hands across the pages of a book, and the computer can
do this better. As its name suggests, this software is absolutely meant to boost our
reading speed by providing useful techniques as well as practices. Therefore, the main
language skill that is majorly focused here is reading skill.

Major Characteristics

Basically, this software offers six main programs to help us to increase our reading
speed which are Tachistoscopic Reader, Horizontal Reader, Vertical reader, Speed
Tests, Exercises and Comprehension Tests. The first three features are apparently
proven techniques used to teach speed reading taken from a variety of sources plus a
few new ideas of David Ray himself while the last three features are methods to test
users’ reading speed.

In term of presentation or appearance, this software was developed in a very simple

way or we would say, ‘lackadaisical’ with not even a single image and a regular set of
colors as its background. Other than that, there is only a single sound: ‘click’ sound
each time we click any action button while the font used is restricted to only one type of
font. This software is also made up of three different sub-windows which separate the
reading space, the control buttons and the main page from one another (Refer to Figure
1).
 Figure 1: Letter Chase Speed Reader

Four Major Strengths

Firstly, we think that the fundamental idea of this software- that it incorporates three
proven techniques to speed-reading plus self-assessment techniques into single
software is really good. Since all of the three techniques cater different practices for
different type of readers: beginner, intermediate and advanced, we think that this
software is meant to be used by everyone. Apart from that, although this software is
designed to take readers step by step, it also allows them to jump ahead or go back at
will. They will not be locked into learning in prescribed way, and at prescribed pace, but
will be able to practice at their own pace, and with the text they choose. Therefore, we
believe that this software supports readers’ autonomy in the sense that they will have
the control over time, pace, path to the goal as well as access to the measurement of
success.
Secondly, we also think that this software is very useful in the sense that it is ‘mutable’
or ‘hypertext-ed’. Letter Chase Speed Reader allows readers to continue to use it even
long after they have completed the course. It has two useful ways to insert their own
texts (reading material that they can obtain from several sources) into either of three
different program sections to aid in their reading. With this program, they do not have to
worry about reverting to old reading habits, they can continue to hone their skills using
variety of texts obtained by copying and pasting from the internet, or loaded from text
files.

Thirdly, we do believe that the idea of giving readers opportunity to adjust the speed of
their reading exercise for example adjusting the words-per-minute speed and the delay
in each down sweep in Vertical Reader gives them an atmosphere with an ideal stress
or anxiety level for their learning to happen.

Last but not least, after having done thirty readings, Letter Chase Speed Reader will
automatically chart readers’ progress. After another thirty readings, the first score will
drop off and their new score will be added to the end of the chart. We think that this is
also part of its strength as it allows readers to continuously monitor their own progress.
If it is to be used in reading classroom, the emphasis on feedback is on learner control
or autonomy rather than teacher control which would empower learners and assume
responsibility for their own learning.

Two Major Weaknesses

We think that the most apparent weakness of this software is its presentation or
appearance. There are many things that would likely discourage readers- especially
young readers from using this Letter Chase Speed Reader. This software is basically
made up of three different sub-windows which tend to confuse especially young
readers- as it confuses us. The graphical attribute of this software is dull and boring
especially when readers could not change the layout- even if it allows readers to change
the background color, still, it could not make the windows to be anything interesting
other than drab blank pages. Apart from that, buttons can be seen here and there thus
will distract our reading practices while there is only a single monotonous sound each
time we click any button in the jumbled-up sub-windows.

Secondly, in term of the instructions or help pages provided for the readers, we do not
feel that they are appropriate especially if we are to integrate this software into our
reading class be it in primary or secondary school. Obviously, it is more than a set of
instructions but a rather confusing and lengthy manual book on how to use this
software. This would in turn discourage readers especially when they started to feel that
computer causes new hassles in their life. Eventually, this will develop technophobia
among readers.

Recommendations for Modification

As discussed hitherto, the fundamental idea of this Letter Chase Speed Reader is
indeed brilliant and useful at increasing our reading speed but its presentation and
appearance make it too boring to be integrated into our reading classroom- especially to
teach speed reading to young or teenage learners. Therefore, we think that the
developer or programmer should improve this software by revamping its appearance
and presentation. One way to do it is by fixing the confusing sub-windows. Perhaps,
through combining all three of them into one main window and with a rather effective
organization of action buttons, readers would clearly and easily understand how this
software works. Hence, the programmer does not have to provide too many instructions
which discouragingly resemble a manual book.

Next, if this software is to be integrated into reading classroom in schools, we think that
the programmer need to work on the graphical attribute of this software perhaps by
providing a set of mutable and captivatingly designed skins such as offered by most
media software for example ‘Winamp’ player. We think that it is also indispensable for
the programmer to vary the type of fonts and sounds used in this software to capture
young and teenage learners’ interest. Finally, we believed that this Letter Chase Speed
Reader would become one of the best of its kind if the above recommendations are
taken into a serious consideration for modification- as to complement to its current
strengths.

Conclusion

All in all, Letter Chase Speed Reader which was personally developed by David Ray
helps readers to learn how to increase their reading speed through an effective
combination of speed reading techniques and exercises. This software has its owns
strengths such as, apart from being ‘mutable’ or ‘hypertext-ed’, it also supports readers’
autonomy, gives them an atmosphere with an ideal stress or anxiety level for their
learning to happen and promotes new emphasis on feedback (if it is to be used in
reading classroom) which is on learners’ control rather than teacher’s control.
Nevertheless, it also comes with its own weaknesses majorly in term of presentation or
appearance- which is rather confusing, dreary and monotonous besides its likeliness to
develop technophobia among students- through the use of lengthy instructions and help
pages. Most importantly, Letter Chase Speed Reader is among the best reading
software of its kind that we ever came across with and it is believed and hoped that all
recommendations provided earlier would help the programmer to revamp this software
and make it the best at improving reading speed.
UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

EDU 3212
COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN TESL

SOFTWARE CRITIQUE
LETTER CHASE SPEED READER by David Ray

NAME : IRWAN ZAKARIA 139771

MOHAMAD FIRDAUS AHMAD 139779

GROUP : 21

FOR ATTENTION : ASSOC. PROF. DR ARSHAD ABD SAMAD