Force multipliers are a common term in the military and define "the effective strength of an individual using a technology to increase their ability" eg: fists vs sword vs pistol vs machine-gun. Each one makes the individual a more formidable force.

'Force multipliers' exist in far more than just combat. Examples have arisen throughout history, as our inventiveness has come into play, and we have created better ways of achieving our goals. eg: walk and carry -> horse and cart -> lorry -> plane -> rocket.

This same progression exists in human communication.

• talk (one to one) -> speech (one to many) -> radio -> TV -> satellite
• written -> printed -> telegraph -> fax -> email / web

Force multipliers are a technological evolution of our abilities, each generation is an evolved form of the previous.
You may notice that almost all force multipliers are directed outward, very few effect our inward abilities.

What this means for us...

Before the written word, the only form of mass communication was speech to a gathered audience, this audience was limited to those present at that time. Now a writer can 'speak' to a vast audience, limited only by the publication and distribution of their writings. Potentially, with the Internet, this can mean everyone, the entire human population of the world, although this would be an extreme example.

We can now read any writers words whenever we choose to. However, there still limitations.

• We can only read one document at a time.
• We only have so much time
• We can only read at a limited speed.

Writing has unlimited potential for distribution, but reading lacks this. However, these limitations can now be broken. We can now increase our reading speed, and make better use of our available time.

Our ability to receive communication has evolved, it now has a force multiplier path:

listen -> read -> speed read -> RSVP

Improving our reading speed is a personal internal evolution. It makes us better at one of our own keys skills and has the potential to improve our quality of life through increased learning and saving time.

Note: Just as sometimes we prefer to do something by hand rather than using automated technology, we also often simply like to read or listen at our leisure. Speed reading techniques and RSVP systems should be seen as available tools to be used as and when they are needed, rather than the ultimate replacement for the way we currently read. For example - reading a report or revising for an exam should be done quickly and efficiently, but reading for leisure should be just that, an enjoyable leisurely paced activity. In short these techniques should be used to enhance rather than replace.

Now let's move on and find out more about speed reading, what it is and what makes it work.