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Researchers at Johns Hopkins University tested whether eliminating eye movements during reading could increase speed. They presented text using RSVP (one word at a time in a fixed location) to 13 participants. The results were dramatic: average reading speed jumped from 303 WPM to 1,171 WPM — a 286% increase. Six participants reached 1,652 WPM while maintaining at least 75% comprehension.

Researchers George McConkie and Keith Rayner at the University of Arizona conducted foundational research on where readers naturally focus within words during normal reading. Using eye-tracking technology, they discovered that readers do not fixate on the center of words, but rather at a position slightly left of center — what they termed the "optimal viewing position" (OVP). For English words, this position is typically the 3rd or 4th letter in words of 5-7 letters, and shifts slightly rightward for longer words.

J. Kevin O'Regan at the University of Paris published research confirming and extending the optimal viewing position findings. His work demonstrated that the position of initial fixation within a word significantly affects word recognition speed, and that this effect is independent of word frequency. The research showed that when text is presented with the optimal viewing position aligned to a fixed point, reading speed increases significantly because the eye does not need to make micro-adjustments within each word.

Researchers trained young adults to read using their peripheral vision (simulating the experience of people with central vision loss). Participants who practiced with RSVP tasks improved their reading speed by 72% — the largest gain of any training method tested.

Researchers compared RSVP vs. traditional scrolling text on a smartwatch display. RSVP was 22% faster (219 vs. 180 WPM) while maintaining comparable comprehension. The effect size was large (Cohen's d = 0.84).

This study compared RSVP reading vs. self-paced scrolling on mobile phones. RSVP was found to be "more than twice as efficient at 400 WPM" — meaning users processed information faster while maintaining comprehension.

This review analyzed multiple studies on RSVP-based reading apps (including Spritz). It confirmed that RSVP reading rates were consistently higher than traditional reading across all reviewed literature, while noting trade-offs in comfort and comprehension at very high speeds.

For individuals with macular disease (age-related macular degeneration) who lose central vision, RSVP is transformative. By presenting words one at a time, it eliminates the need for difficult eye movements with peripheral vision. Perceptual learning using RSVP tasks improved reading speed by an average of 53% after just six weekly training sessions.