I have been experimenting sight-reading from several different distances. My first instinct (wrong!) was to sit as far as possible from the score so I could have a wider view of it. It turns out, after reading some papers by optometrists, that there is an optimal distance between our eyes and the working area where one can be more efficient. Such distance is called "Harmon Distance". It is calculated by measuring the distance between elbow and knuckles.
Other things contribute to more efficient reading skills. The book or working surface should be tilted between 20 to 23 degrees from the horizontal. The back is to be straight, feet on the floor, and of course, good lighting is a must.
Both Harmon Distance and the recommended sloping working surface, are impossible to achieve while playing the piano without hurting the hand and arm position.
Dr J has agreed to order the TVPP soft ware for me. I am looking forward to do the exercises and learn more about reading.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Developmental Optometrist - Dr J
My meeting with the Dr J was wonderful!
She showed me the equipment used on most of the researches I have been reading. I am particularly impressed with the "Visagraph-version 4.0". Visagraph is like goggles. It stays in touch with your skin and it is covered with sensors that can track every single eye movement with incredible precision. She was kind enough to test my reading skills (with a text). Visagraph has tracked both right and left eyes independently. After I finished reading, a computer prints all the information about every single movement.
There is a record of:
- number of fixations
- number of regressions
- average span of recognition (words)
- average duration of fixations
- number of saccade start differences
- events with multiple regressions
- mean regressions in multiple events, and lots of other information more related to the text.
Dr J also talked about the different parts of the eye that I considered important to my quest:
- The macula, is an ill-defined and somewhat yellow area of the central retina which surrounds the fovea centralis, which is important for good visual acuity.
- The fovea centralis is a small, thinned-out area of the retina consisting almost exclusevely of receptor cells, which provides high visual acuity. A healthy fovea is key to reading, driving, watching tv and ohter activities that require the ability to see detail.
- The PARA FOVEA, recognizes letters/notes while simultaneously fixating on a central target.
Understanding the para fovea, was very important for me. Pianists use the para foveal vision all the time. Dr J told me that para foveal vision and peripheral vision are not the same thing. Peripheral vision is much further and it is not what we use while reading. I was fascinated by the para fovea because I find myself seeing more and more out of the fovea as I continue with my sight-reading practice.
There are ways to improve this kind of "vision". She has recommended a soft ware called TVPP (Temporal Visual Processing Program) by Sydney Groffman. I am dying to get a hold of it. If you google TVPP, you can read a more detailed description of it. Unfortunately, this is not sold to "normal human beings". It is only sold to medical facilities. I have asked Dr J for help once again.
My thanks to Dr J for spending her free time enlightening me.
She showed me the equipment used on most of the researches I have been reading. I am particularly impressed with the "Visagraph-version 4.0". Visagraph is like goggles. It stays in touch with your skin and it is covered with sensors that can track every single eye movement with incredible precision. She was kind enough to test my reading skills (with a text). Visagraph has tracked both right and left eyes independently. After I finished reading, a computer prints all the information about every single movement.
There is a record of:
- number of fixations
- number of regressions
- average span of recognition (words)
- average duration of fixations
- number of saccade start differences
- events with multiple regressions
- mean regressions in multiple events, and lots of other information more related to the text.
Dr J also talked about the different parts of the eye that I considered important to my quest:
- The macula, is an ill-defined and somewhat yellow area of the central retina which surrounds the fovea centralis, which is important for good visual acuity.
- The fovea centralis is a small, thinned-out area of the retina consisting almost exclusevely of receptor cells, which provides high visual acuity. A healthy fovea is key to reading, driving, watching tv and ohter activities that require the ability to see detail.
- The PARA FOVEA, recognizes letters/notes while simultaneously fixating on a central target.
Understanding the para fovea, was very important for me. Pianists use the para foveal vision all the time. Dr J told me that para foveal vision and peripheral vision are not the same thing. Peripheral vision is much further and it is not what we use while reading. I was fascinated by the para fovea because I find myself seeing more and more out of the fovea as I continue with my sight-reading practice.
There are ways to improve this kind of "vision". She has recommended a soft ware called TVPP (Temporal Visual Processing Program) by Sydney Groffman. I am dying to get a hold of it. If you google TVPP, you can read a more detailed description of it. Unfortunately, this is not sold to "normal human beings". It is only sold to medical facilities. I have asked Dr J for help once again.
My thanks to Dr J for spending her free time enlightening me.
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