Creative Uses for RapidReader
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Streamline all sorts of information tasks for work, business or school

For anyone who reads online or uses electronic information regularly you can use RapidReader to save you time and effort on a daily basis. RapidReader includes a powerful set of markup tools to help you with:

• Report Writing • Proofreading • Studying for Exams • Reviewing for Meetings • Collaborating with Colleagues and much more.

Below you'll find easy "step-by-step" instructions and "how tos" for a number of techniques that RapidReader users have shared with us that make their work or study easier, faster and more efficient. Each has a downloadable sample in the RapidReader (.r2d) format which you can open with RapidReader to use as a model.

NOTE: For "how to" downloads for Windows please click here

Samples for Windows: RapidReader PRO and 6.0 Standard
  For Your Business, Career and Professional Activities    
Keeping up with your Business Reading and Industry or Professional Journals Creating a Market Research Report Using RapidReader
Using RapidReader as a "Group Ware" Environment for Collaborative Work Contract Review and Annotation Mark-up
  For Teachers, Educators and Parents    
Grading Essays and Papers using RapidReader Accelerated Vocabulary "Flashcards" for Standardized Test Prep
Create Subject Lessons from Web Pages with Imbedded Highlites and "Teacher Notes" Free Classic Books for Reading Assignments, Create a Customized RapidReader "Teachers Edition"
  For Students, Accelerating Your Homework and Test Preparation    
Studying for an Exam: Create a RapidReview From Class Notes Streamline Writing Research Papers and Book Reports
Proofreading and Editing Papers and Essays with RapidReader SAT Test Preparation with RapidReader


 
 
 
Spend Less Time Keeping up with your Business Reading and Professional Journal Articles:

Most business and professional people spend a great deal of their time trying to keep up with all of their "must" reading. This is the critical information you need to stay current in your job and in your industry. In today's work place, the ease of electronic distribution has had the effect of loading more reading into the work week. The good news is, that because the material is distributed electronically, you can now use RapidReader to cut your reading time to a fraction. That means that instead of printing it out and lugging it home, the software can help you spend less time reading and more time putting that information to good use. Of course anything you can read in RapidReader you can also annotate and Highlite in RapidReader. This will make short work of later review for meetings or reports.
(Please see Using the Paragraph View in the help files for information about how to open files and web pages in RR)

Every day, more and more professional Journals and publications are being put online. Some are these are subscription or fee based, others are free. Below is the address for the Stanford "Highwire" project which lists most online medical and scientific journals.
Http://highwire.stanford.edu

There are other library projects that offer a similar service of aggregating online journals. Some are listed at SoftOlogy IdeaWorks Central Internet Library http://www.centralinternetlibrary.com

You can download a sample of a Journal Article in RapidReader below

NOTE: Many of the journals are formatted as HTML web pages. You can read these in RapidReader directly from Internet Explorer. Other online journals are only available in PDF format. These can be converted and read with RapidReader PRO*.

 
 
To read and save online journal articles in RapidReader:  
1) Access the journal site as normal and navigate to an article
2)
In Internet Explorer Click on the RapidReader Icon on the tool bar. This will open the page in RapidReader ParagraphView.
NOTE: If you are using other browsers please see Troubleshooting in the Help Files
3) If the page has navigation items and advertising that you don't want to read; scroll down to the beginning of the content of interest
4) Double-click on the word where you want to begin RapidReading
5) To save the article and any User-Notes or Highlites you've placed go to FILE > SAVE AS on the RR ParagraphView menubar
NOTE: If you receive a "text not found", "clipboard failed" or "unable to parse text" message during this process you will need to click on the "printer friendly version" of the web page. From there you can follow the instructions above or simply Click on the RapidReader button on the toolbar to open the page in RR. Alternatively you can press CTL+A then CTL+C and FILE>read from clipboard in RapidReader.
 
 
Download Sample of a Journal Article in .r2d format
 

 

 
 
 
Streamline Creating a Market Research Report Using RapidReader

With RapidReader you can streamline much of your work and literally cut hours off the time it takes to create a paper from your research on the Internet or corporate materials.

Aside from the reading speed advantage, RapidReader will allow you to capture the text of web pages, save them as RapidReader documents to easily work off-line. This means that you can quickly load any pages that may be of interest directly to your desktop and later use RapidReader to review them for useful material. Using RapidReader's markup tools means you can add your own Notes directly into the web page for future reference and Highlite text of interest. Then you can copy your Notes and easily extract quotes using the Highliter tool to paste directly into your paper.

With RapidReader you have a fast, efficient, flexible format to put the materials you need, from research to writing right at your fingertips.

What's more, you can then accelerate the Proofreading and Editing process.

You can download a sample of a research paper in RapidReader below.

NOTE: Much of your online research will be formatted as HTML web pages. You can read these in RapidReader directly from Internet Explorer. Other online materials may only be available in PDF format. These can be downloaded, converted and read with RapidReader PRO*.

 
 
To create a research paper using RapidReader  
  Using Web Pages: Gathering Resources
NOTE: If you receive a "text not found" message during this process you will need to click on the "printer friendly version" of the web page. From here you can Click on the RapidReader button on the toolbar to open the page in RR.
1) Access a web page. In Internet Explorer Click on the RapidReader Icon on the tool bar. This will open the page in RapidReader.
2) On the RapidReader menubar Click on File > Save As a RapidReader file (.r2d)
  OR: If the page has navigation items or advertising that you don't want to appear
3)
In the browser, select the story portion you want, "Click and drag" in the page over the desired text .
4) On the browser menubar Go to Edit / Copy (CTL+C) to copy the content on the clipboard
5) Open RapidReader by Double-clicking on the RapidReader Desktop icon
6) On the RapidReader menubar Click on File / Open from Clipboard. This will place the text in RapidReader.
7) Save the document as a RapidReader file (.r2d)
NOTE: If you are using a browser other than Internet Explorer, please see Troubleshooting in the Help Files
   
  Once you have the text in RapidReader:
1) Open the .r2d file in RapidReader by Double clicking on the item
2) You can add and place your own explanatory User-Notes and comments throughout the document.
3) To extract quotes, you can use the Highlite tool to select the text and then save the Highlites to paste into your paper.
4) Save the document as a RapidReader file (.r2d) to preserve your mark up
  You can then Save all your Notes and Highlites as a separate text file to paste directly into the body of the paper you're writing.
For more information, please see Using Notes and Highlites.
 
 
Download Sample of a Market Research Report in .r2d format
 

 

 
 
 
Make Collaboration More Efficient. Using RapidReader as a "Group Ware" Environment.

When a document is saved in RapidReader format it can be easily circulated among colleagues as an e-mail attachment. This RapidReader file format is a major time-saving tool that benefits every stage of the collaborative process. Colleagues can quickly read, review and share relevant content. With the User-Note feature the team can add their own comments as the document circulates. Text can be Highlited for emphasis or to use as "pull quotes". As the project nears completion RapidReader becomes a powerhouse for proofreading and final editing.

RapidReader makes every step in a team environment, from conception to approval, faster and far more efficient.

You can download a sample of RapidReader as GroupWare below

NOTE: Materials available in PDF format can be converted and read with RapidReader PRO*.

 
 
Using RapidReader as GroupWare for Collaborative Projects: time savings at every step.  
1) Open the file in RapidReader (see help files for instructions for the best method for you)
2) Make and append any comments with User-Notes or Highlite text
3) Save the document as a RapidReader (.r2d) file.
4) Attach the document as a RapidReader file (.r2d) and e-mail it.
5) Your colleagues can then add User Notes, edit your Notes and Highlite text. (see Using Notes and Highliter)
6) This mark-up remains attached to the master copy as it circulates
 
 
Download Sample of Groupware in .r2d format
 

 
 

 
 
 
When Time is Money. Using RapidReader to Review Contracts and Add Annotation Markup

Whether you're in negotiations or reviewing legacy documents to "come up to speed" for a new client , contracts and business agreements can be very time consuming to read and annotate. The specificity required in these agreements means that they can run to hundreds of pages. The importance of the document language accurately reflecting the mutual understanding of terms has significant ramifications for your business. Consequently, reviewing and revising from a paper copy or even a word processor document is a laborious and exacting process.

Now, with any electronic document, you can use the power of the computer to accelerate your reading and annotating with RapidReader. You can create "User-Notes" and Highlited text to record your changes and then easily embed them in the original document or copy.

You can download a sample of an annotated contract in RapidReader below

 
 
To rapidly review and annotate a contract or business document:  
1) Open the file in RapidReader (see help files for instructions for the best method for you)
2)
Save the document as a RapidReader (.r2d) file.
3) Make and append any comments with User-Notes or Highlite portions of the text
  Then you have two choices:
4) If your colleagues have RapidReader, you can save the document with your markup as a RapidReader file (.r2d) and e-mail it.
  OR
5) You can save just your Notes and Highlited text as a separate file (see Using Notes and Highliter)
6) Copy and Paste them directly into the original electronic document.
 
 
Download Sample of Contract Markup in .r2d format
 

 
For Teachers, Educators and Parents

 
 
 
Lighten the Load. Save Time Grading Essays and Papers using RapidReader

One of the most time intensive tasks that a teacher faces is grading essay papers. Now there's a new tool available to help.

At RapidReader speeds, it's amazing how obvious poor writing or factual errors become. At several hundred words per minute, awkward language, grammatical errors and even "filler and padding" stand out in high relief as a result of the flow of language with the RapidReader "speech mimic" algorithm.

As education moves toward requiring that papers be submitted in electronic form, the job of grading actually becomes more difficult for the teacher. The teacher has two choices, slower reading speed on the computer screen or printing out the document and dealing with stacks of paper. RapidReader dramatically enhances the inherent efficiency of electronic documents by delivering the power of the computer to accelerate reading and streamline the grading process. RapidReader is a powerful time saver, reducing review and per paper grading time to a fraction.

You can also communicate your comments to the student with RR's markup capabilities like User-Notes and Highlites.

Finally, with RapidReader there's a way that being in the electronic domain delivers the teacher the assistance, speed and efficiency that the medium promises.

You can download a sample of a graded paper in RapidReader below

 
 
To read, grade and add comments to a student paper  
1) Open the electronic paper in RapidReader (see help files for instructions for the best method for you)
2)
Save the paper as a RapidReader (.r2d) file.
3) Make any comments with User-Notes or Highlite text
  Then you have two choices:
4) If the student has RapidReader on their machine, you can save the document as a RapidReader file (.r2d) and return it.
  OR
5) You can save your Notes and Highlited text as a separate file (see Using Notes and Highliter)
6) Copy and Paste them directly into the students original electronic paper.
 
 
Download Sample Graded Paper in .r2d format
 

 
 

 
 
 
Better Scores on Standardized Tests. Accelerated Vocabulary "Flashcards" for Prep

One of the principle requirements of any kind of learning is practice. When it comes to knowledge building, the psychophysiology of learning tells us that there is simply no substitute for repeated exposure to the information we want to remember. This is particularly true of vocabulary building and other rote learning tasks. That's why "flash cards" were invented in the first place. To create a time efficient  tool for practice. RapidReader uses computer assisted technology to build on this premise. When you're able to sit back and read at several hundred words per minute, multiple exposures to words becomes easy and learning is accelerated.

Using RapidReader for vocabulary review, a student can easily be exposed to each entry three or more times in the time it previously took to read it once. This of course means shorter study time. In addition to the benefit of multiple exposures in less time, the speed of the dynamic display helps the student to maintain focused attention which in turn increases retention. With RapidReader you can create a powerful immersive experience to encourage retention in far less time than with traditional materials.

Below you'll find an optimized format for creating RapidReview for vocabulary. With it you can create a lesson which will give the student multiple exposures in one sitting.

You can download the sample RapidReview vocabulary "flashcards" for you to use as a model

 
 
To create your own accelerated Vocabulary RapidReview lesson:  
1) In a standard MS Word document create an entry in the following sequence*.
  Word
Word
Word
Use in a sentence
Definition
Definition
Use in a new sentence
Use in a new sentence
Word
Definition
Word
Word
Word
2)
Using the above format for each word, create a sequence of however many vocabulary words you wish to contain in a practice session.
3) Once you have the sequence and order of the vocabulary lesson completed, Select / Copy the entire group to create a duplicate.
4) Then Paste it in the document after the first initial group. Repeat to form 3 repetitions of the entire group. Save the document
5) Open the document in RapidReader. (See help files for instructions)
6) Once in RapidReader, Highlite each vocabulary word each place it appears to act as a reinforcer
7) Save the document as a RapidReader file (.r2d) to preserve your Highlites
NOTE: * You may want to maintain a master list of these words as you build them from which to create various "mix and match" lessons.
 
 
Download Sample of Vocabulary Flashcards in .r2d format
 

 
 

 
 
 
More One-on-One Time with Students. Create Engaging Accelerated Self-Study Subject Lessons from the Web in RapidReader

In the class room, the challenge for every teacher is to not only convey the required information but equally importantly, provide context and meaning for the student. In this day of standardized testing, oversight and compliance, it is becoming increasingly difficult for teachers to meet the administrative demands and still provide the individual attention that students want and need.  Historically, when time and resource demands on people became overwhelming, technology has emerged to help. RapidReader is the kind of assistive technology that can provide a tool to give the student and the teacher more ways to streamline the use of the Internet and other electronic resources to accelerate core learning objectives and make time in the class room more productive.

One way to use RapidReader to assist both teaching and learning is to provide a means of accelerating the learning of "core information" in advance of classroom discussion. For instance an historical narrative with names, places, dates and events is primary to understanding the deeper issues of the political or social context of the subject.  RapidReader excels at this kind of transfer of factual information in a fast, engaging manner to prepare the student for deeper discussion in the class room.

You can easily create a lesson from web pages you've found or from electronic documents already in your curriculum materials

You can customize the lesson and communicate with the student with your own User-Notes as well as Highlite passages of importance. 

In the sample you'll see the use of Notes and Highlites as reinforcers.

Your Notes and Highlites can themselves be saved as a separate text file for them to use as a summary or test review. This is a powerful tool for preparation for standardized testing.  

Below are instructions on how you can easily and quickly build RapidReader lessons for accelerated knowledge building.

You can download the sample lesson in RapidReader with Notes and Highlites below

 
 
To create a RapidReader lesson: First import the text from the Web or a document  
  Using Web Pages:
NOTE: If you are using a browser other than Internet Explorer, please see Troubleshooting in the Help Files
   
1) Access a web page. In Internet Explorer Click on the RapidReader Icon on the tool bar. This will open the page in RapidReader.
  OR: If the page has navigation items or advertising that you don't want to appear in your lesson:
2)
In the browser, select the story portion you want, "Click and drag" in the page over the desired text .
3) On the browser menubar Go to Edit / Copy (CTL+C) to copy the content on the clipboard
4) Open RapidReader by Double-clicking on the RapidReader icon
5) On the RapidReader menubar Click on FILE / Open from Clipboard. This will place the text in RapidReader.
6) Add your custom markup
7) Save the document as a RapidReader file (.r2d) to preserve your mark up
NOTE: If you receive a "text not found" message during this process you will need to click on the "printer friendly version" of the web page. From here you can follow the instructions above or simply Click on the RapidReader button on the toolbar to open the page in RR.
   
  Text From a Word Processor Document Pages:
1) Either open the document in RapidReader by Clickin