Re: Speed-reading (

Eliezer Yudkowsky (sentience@pobox.com)
Mon, 30 Dec 1996 16:42:36 -0600

> This sounds like a great idea! I'd like to try writing such a program in
> Java. Is that an easy thing to do? I've taken an introductory Java class,
> but I've never programmed my Mac before, and this seems like a golden
> opportunity to learn. What would I need other than the free Java software
> from Sun (I think it runs on the Mac)? I have a book on Java -- I assume
> I need one on Mac programming (or do I -- it _is_ supposed to be portable).
> Any suggestions of which one is best?

You don't need a book on Macintosh programming, not even remotely. Be
sure to use double-buffering so the image doesn't flicker. Maybe I'll
write an applet version and stick it on the 'Net - I wouldn't think it
would take more than a few moments. I'm not sure you could do more than
60/75 words/second. I don't know what my current reading speed is,
probably between 1000 and 2000 WPM, so if I can actually get 60
words/sec or even 30 words/sec it ought to be enough.

Those of us who have studied reading will recall that the eye looks
ahead two words, so you might need to display the next two words as
well.

-- 
         sentience@pobox.com      Eliezer S. Yudkowsky
          http://tezcat.com/~eliezer/singularity.html
           http://tezcat.com/~eliezer/algernon.html
Disclaimer:  Unless otherwise specified, I'm not telling you
everything I think I know.