Tachistoscope

Tachistoscope is derived from the Greek words ‘tachys’ meaning swift and ‘skopion’ meaning instrument for viewing or observing. Tachistoscopy is loosely defined as "Flash recognition designed to improve the recall of visual information".

This application provides the examiner an insight into the automaticity of instantaneous visual perceptual abilities and an instrument to re-assess this ability following appropriate vision therapy.

SUNY researchers proposed that speed of perception is a cognitive skill concerned with the rate of processing visual information. They concluded that perceptual speed, as measured with the tachistoscope, was significantly correlated with reading at all grades. Speed and accuracy of perception associated with integration of prior experiences allows for complete visual function. There is a strong correlation between dyseidesia and tachistoscopy. Dyseidesia is an inability to recognize printed words - the word is not known 'in a flash', and often still not known even after taking a longer look. Eidetic word recognition is dependent on our ability to interpret a gestalt. We respond to a pattern of stimuli as a whole and interpret the whole as greater than the sum of its parts.

Vision unlocked tachistoscope provides an easy to use, age and gender-related grading of a child's perceptual instantaneous awareness. Assessment of pre-treatment rapid serial visual presentation recall provides a baseline assessment of visual automaticity, from which to develop pathways for improvement.

High reliability in space, luminance, and colour along with portability, reproducibility and availability provides this iPad application as the most convenient effective modality for tachistocopic analysis of the school age child.