Abstract: The focused reading cylinder has an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder selectively rotatable within the outer cylinder. The outer cylinder has an elongated main reading slot defined therein dimensioned and configured to expose a single line of text of a document retained between the two cylinders for reading. The top and bottom edges or borders of the main reading slot may have rows of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted thereon to illuminate the text, either in conventional white light or more relaxing colors. A document feeder slot is defined in the outer cylinder and extends parallel to the main reading slot. The inner cylinder is made from or coated with rubber to grip the document between the two cylinders, and has a hand crank or knob for selectively advancing the inner cylinder and document.

Abstract: A book including a bracket for maintaining a light source at a predetermined position such that, in use, the light source, or mobile phone, illuminates at least one pop-up slide included in the book and casts its shadow, and/or projects an image after the light passes through it, onto an adjacent surface, or wall, for viewing thereof.

Abstract: A system for enhancing reading performance operates on a network-connected server with software executing from a non-transitory medium at the server providing an interactive interface for a user connected to the server via a browser link. There is a data repository coupled to the server. The interactive interface provides a word search exercise for the user for improving the user's reading performance, displays a passage comprising a first number of words and a search list with a second number of words that each appear at least once in the passage, the second number smaller than the first number, and when the user clicks on every word in the passage for a word that appears in the search list, that word is indicated in the list as found, until all the words in the search list have been indicated as found.

Abstract: A device that assists students in reading by using an opaque sheet to cover an entire page. The sheet has a “window” slot in the center that highlights a single line on the page. The device also has a curved slider that is pivotably attached at the top of the sheet. The placement of the pivot point and the shape of the curved member are such that in the initial position, the entire slot is covered. The student moves the curved slider letter by letter until syllables and words are exposed. As letters, syllables and words are exposed, the student reads them. At no time is the student distracted by other text on the page or the remaining words on the line. Once the line has been mastered, the slider can be returned to the initial position and the sheet slid down to the next line to repeat the process.

Abstract: A method of reading using a reading aid (12) including a handle part (14) which is adapted to be gripped manually at a location spaced from text to be read, and a cursor part (15) attached to the handle part (14) and extending transversely thereto, handle part (14) and the cursor part (15) being attached by a joint (18) which permits the handle part (14) to be moved relative to the cursor part (15) during reading, the cursor part (15) being positionable by manipulating the handle part (14) to indicate a part of a line of the text being read, the method including moving the cursor part (15) along the line and/or down the text during reading to indicate successive words or groups of words, whilst manipulating the handle part (14) relative to the cursor part (15) so that the handle part (14) is maintained out of the reader's line of sight whilst the cursor part (15) is maintained generally flat against the text.

Abstract: The invention refers to a device for supporting reading of a text from a display member (1) in order to increase the reading speed. The device includes first means (2, 4) which are arranged to provide a text, which consists of a number of characters forming words in said text, and to display at least a part of the text on the display member (1), an second means (2, 5), which are arranged to display a marking means (7) which marks at least one character of said part of the text on the display member (1). The second means are arranged to move the marking (7) in an automatic manner on the displayed part of the text in order to control the reading of the text.

Abstract: An improved text line underscoring and overscoring method having a graspable control member (21) which may be grasped between the thumb (4) and fingers (5, 6, 7) at a first end (27), and be movably angleably connective at an, opposite, connective end (22) with a first non-pointing end (28) of a pointer arm (25) with a second pointing end (26) aligned with a reader's line of sight toward text lines (8) with intervening linear spaces (9), so that when the thumb and fingers twist the control member (21) in alternating directions, the first end of the pointer arm (28) will be urged to rotate, and the second pointing end (26) of the pointer arm (25) will be urged to shuttle left and right, whereby the second pointing end (26) of the pointer arm (25) will be enabled to underscore or overscore text lines to be read.

Abstract: An improved text scanning apparatus is disclosed. A support structure retainably holds a sheet of material to be scanned in snug planar engagement with an upright copyboard support surface. Light sources selectively enable illumination of the sheet from overhead or through the sheet. Horizontally and vertically movable masks overlie the sheet material and traverse over the material in precise operator preselected incremental timed manner, to highlight the text according to the operator's selections. The system provides for full automatic, semiautomatic or manual modes of operation.

Abstract: A fully automatic speed-reading trainer for which reading speed can be adjusted in a non-step fashion is provided which includes an electric motor designed to drive a relatively large gear, which is one main component of a driving assembly forming a portion of the trainer. Coaxial with the larger gear, on opposite sides thereof, are an eccentric cam and a first pulley. The eccentric cam and pulley are each provided with an axle tube, and each has a coil spring attached thereto, with each coil spring having a free end inserted into respective holes on the larger gear. When the larger gear is rotatably driven in a predetermined direction, one of the springs is tightened about one of the axle tubes, which in turn, dependent upon the rotational direction of the larger gear, drives either the eccentric cam or the first pulley.