Reading Without Spaces: Cognitive Insights and NLP Simulation for Speed Reading

This study investigates a novel approach to speed reading by removing spaces between letters in English text. Using a combination of NLP-based word segmentation and human reading simulations, we examine whether continuous text impairs comprehension or enhances reading speed. Results from 100 sentences indicate that fluent readers can accurately segment text without spaces, achieving reading speeds comparable to or faster than standard spaced text. The findings suggest that spacing is not strictly necessary for comprehension and that predictive processing allows both machines and humans to parse continuous text efficiently.