By Eva Weber

Staff Writer

Let me paint you a picture:

It’s late at night, 11:00 p.m. let’s say and you’ve just finished all your homework. Maybe you’ve gone so far as to finish homework that’s coming up later in the week. You’re pumped, you’re feeling like an over-achiever; and you know what over-achievers get to do? They get to sleep and feel relaxed, even if it’s just for a couple of days.

You brush your teeth, maybe update your twitter about how much of an overachiever you are, and you crawl into bed after a long day.

Not 20 seconds after your head hits the pillow, your eyes suddenly jerk open.

You forgot to do that huge reading for tomorrow’s class.

There are now two options. First, you just not do it, and spend the rest of the hours leading up to that class hoping there won’t be a pop quiz, or that you will not be called on to give your opinion on it. Second, you can hop on the speed reading bandwagon and get that reading done in no time at all.

Speed reading has become the name of the game.

More and more these days, speed-reading apps and websites are becoming more popular. Take Spritz, for example.

Spritz is a Boston-based startup focused on text streaming technology and its integration into modern communication that has assembled an international team of experts in reading methodologies and software engineering.

When reading, only around 20 percent of your time is spent processing content. The remaining 80 percent is spent physically moving your eyes from word to word and scanning for the next “Optimal Recognition Point” ORP. With the Spritz app, you get all that time back.

Spritzing presents reading content with the ORP located at the specific place where you’re already looking, allowing you to read without having to move your eyes.

With this approach, reading becomes more efficient because Spritzing increases the time your brain spends processing content without having to waste time searching for the next word’s ORP.

Spritzing can be learned in less than five minutes and, if you don’t spritz for a month, no practice is needed to return quickly to your previous speed or skill level.

Don’t have a smart phone or mobile device? Try checking out Spreeder.com.

Spreeder works the same way as Spritz in that it cuts down reading time, but instead of being in app form, when you visit the website, you simply plug in your reading material into the text box to being. You can even adjust the amount of words per minute that you read.

The only drawback to the website, however, is that you have to be able to copy and paste the material onto the website. Not an easy task trying to find “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens.

There are those who are a bit skeptical about this potential time-saver. Although you may be getting the reading done, do you really comprehend the words as they fly by?

This is the main concern for Simmons College sophomore Chelsea Foster.

“I read slowly on purpose to understand what I’m readying,” said Foster. “If I absorb what I’m reading, I’d happily use it.”

First year Erika Krause shared this mentality. “Well maybe I would use a speed reader if I was in a pinch, but not retaining the information would be something I would worry about,” said Krause.

There’s also the issue of the type of readings you’re trying to speed through.

Helen Li, a sophomore, once found herself having to read a 450-page book in two days. Though she could have tried to speed read the whole book, she instead toughed it out. Why?

“I feel like speed reading apps reduce the essence of a book,” said Li. “I think they are better suited for fast info, such as news since outlets like twitter and the whole hashtag bandwagon kind of demonstrates that we are looking for more succinct information. Things like essays or books that have a more creative, artistic purpose should not be read quickly.”

Both Spritz and Spreeder, as well as other speed-reading helpers, mention that their effectiveness is dependent on the individual. Perhaps you will be able to blow through your reading in order to get back to bed sooner, and perhaps you’ll be able to retain it better than others.

Either way, you’d better get started on that reading due tomorrow.