Speed Reading

Sojourn includes an immersive full-screen speed reader that displays Scripture one word at a time using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP). Each word is aligned to its Optimal Recognition Point (ORP) — the character your eye naturally fixates on — eliminating eye movement and enabling faster reading with better comprehension.

Starting the Speed Reader

Launch the speed reader from the command palette (Cmd+K / Ctrl+K) and select Start speed reading session. Choose a book and chapter range, then adjust your target speed before pressing play.

Smart Timing

The speed reader automatically adjusts word display timing for natural reading rhythm:

• Punctuation pauses — longer pauses at sentence boundaries and commas
• Harder words — slightly longer display for long words and proper nouns
• Smooth ramp-up — speed gradually increases when you start or resume

Controls

Touch / Mouse

Action	Control
Play / Pause	Tap the word
Previous verse	Tap left side of screen
Next verse	Tap right side of screen
Increase speed	Swipe up
Decrease speed	Swipe down

Keyboard

Key	Action
Space	Play / Pause
←	Previous verse
→	Next verse
↑	Increase speed
↓	Decrease speed
Esc	Exit speed reader

Verse Navigation

Navigation uses a "song skip" pattern: pressing back once takes you to the start of the current verse. If you're already near the beginning of a verse, it jumps to the previous verse instead.

Reading Speed

Set your preferred speed on the ready or paused screen using the WPM adjuster, or fine-tune during playback with swipe gestures or arrow keys. Your preference is saved automatically when a session completes. You can also set a default in Settings > Reading Preferences (range: 50–1000 WPM).

Progress Tracking

A progress bar at the top of the screen shows how far through the chapter you've read. When you stop or finish, the app returns you to the exact verse where you left off, briefly highlighting it so you can continue reading normally.