Getting Started
Start your journey to better reading and pronunciation
What is OtterSpeak?
OtterSpeak is an AI-powered platform designed to help you improve your reading speed, pronunciation, and fluency. Using advanced speech recognition and the OtterBrain AI, it provides real-time feedback on your reading sessions.
Speech Recognition
Real-time pronunciation analysis powered by AI
OtterBrain AI
Intelligent feedback and personalized tips
Progress Tracking
Track your WPM, accuracy, and streaks
Rewards System
Earn XP, badges, and climb the leaderboard
Quick Start Guide
Create an Account
Sign up for free to unlock all features and track your progress. Guest users can try Blink and Click modes with limited daily attempts.
Choose Your Mode
Select from 6 different reading modes based on your goals. Start with Blink Mode for RSVP reading practice.
Configure Settings
Adjust WPM (words per minute), session duration, difficulty, and enable Focus mode for better concentration.
Start Practicing
Click "Begin" to start your session. Read along with the words and speak them aloud for pronunciation analysis.
Review Results
After your session, review your accuracy, WPM, and AI-generated feedback to identify areas for improvement.
What is RSVP?
Rapid Serial Visual Presentation explained
Understanding RSVP Reading
RSVP (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation) is a speed reading technique where words are displayed one at a time in the same location on the screen. Instead of your eyes moving across lines of text, the words come to you - eliminating the time spent on eye movements (called "saccades").
No Eye Movement Required
Traditional reading requires your eyes to jump from word to word. RSVP eliminates this by presenting words in a fixed position, reducing eye fatigue and increasing reading efficiency.
Reduced Subvocalization
Subvocalization is the habit of "speaking" words in your head while reading. At higher WPM speeds, RSVP helps train your brain to recognize words without this internal narration.
Improved Focus
With only one word visible at a time, distractions are minimized. Your brain focuses entirely on processing each word as it appears.
Gradual Speed Training
Start at a comfortable WPM (150-200) and gradually increase. Over time, your brain adapts to faster speeds while maintaining comprehension.
Try RSVP Reading - Interactive Demo
Experience RSVP reading firsthand! Words flash one at a time at your chosen speed. The demo runs for 30 seconds with gradually increasing WPM.
WPM Speed Guide
Comfortable pace for learning. Focus on pronunciation and comprehension.
Average adult reading speed. Good balance of speed and understanding.
Speed reader territory. Max available in OtterSpeak Beta.
Reading Modes
6 unique ways to practice and improve
Blink Mode
Free for GuestsYour go-to mode for RSVP (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation) reading. Words flash one at a time at your chosen WPM, training your brain to process text faster.
Click Mode
Free for GuestsClick through words at your own pace. This mode gives you full control - pronounce each word, then click or press space to advance. Perfect for deliberate practice.
Eye Track Mode
Members OnlyWords appear randomly across the canvas. Track each word with your eyes, recognize it, and pronounce it. Great for improving visual tracking and peripheral awareness.
Psycho Mode
Members OnlyFor the fearless. Chaotic visual effects, unpredictable timing, and intense challenges. Read and survive! ⚠️ Not recommended for those sensitive to flashing lights or excessive motion.
Memory Mode
Members OnlyTrain your memory alongside reading. Choose between Listening (memorize sentences) or Sequence (memorize word chains) sub-modes.
Listening Mode
Memorize a sentence, then pronounce it from memory. Sessions: 5, 10, or 15 sentences.
Sequence Mode
Memorize a sequence of words in order. Sessions: 5 or 10 sequences.
How2Speak Mode
Members OnlyLearn the correct pronunciation of commonly mispronounced words. Each 2-minute session presents challenging words with phonetic guides and optional AI vocals.
Mode Comparison
| Mode | Access | Energy Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blink | Free | 2 ⚡ | Speed reading, fluency |
| Click | Free | 2 ⚡ | Beginners, deliberate practice |
| Eye Track | Member | 2 ⚡ | Visual tracking |
| Psycho | Prime | 2 ⚡ | Ultimate challenge |
| Memory | Member | 2-8 ⚡ | Memory training |
| How2Speak | Member | 2-5 ⚡ | Pronunciation learning |
Features
Everything OtterSpeak has to offer
The Acoustic Intelligence Behind OtterSpeak
OtterBrain is the specialized, high-performance Artificial Intelligence engine developed exclusively to power OtterSpeak.
While most speech tools simply convert voice to text, OtterBrain was engineered with a more complex goal: to act as a real-time language coach. It doesn't just listen to what you say; it analyzes how you say it, assessing fluency, pronunciation accuracy, and pacing in milliseconds.
Why We Built It
Standard speech recognition APIs (like Google or Siri) are designed to be "forgiving"—they auto-correct your mistakes to guess your intent. This is great for ordering pizza, but terrible for learning a language.
We needed a system that was strict, precise, and honest.
Developed internally for the OtterSpeak ecosystem, OtterBrain serves as an unbiased judge. It uses deep acoustic modeling to compare a learner's speech against native-level phonetics, identifying exactly where a student stumbles, pauses too long, or mispronounces a sound.
How It Works
The Ear (Acoustic Decoding)
Using advanced deep learning architectures (based on Wav2Vec 2.0 technology), the model breaks down audio waves into raw phonetic probability vectors, capturing the tiniest nuances of sound 16,000 times per second.
The Aligning Engine (Forced Alignment)
Instead of just transcribing, OtterBrain performs "Forced Alignment." It takes the reference text (what the user should have said) and mathematically maps it onto the user's audio. This allows us to pinpoint the exact millisecond a specific word started and ended.
The Judge (Scoring Logic)
This is our custom proprietary logic. The Brain calculates a "Confidence Score" for every single word. It applies dynamic penalties for:
- Latency: Taking too long to say a word.
- Stuttering: Repeating sounds.
- Mispronunciation: Substituting phonemes (e.g., saying "wabbit" instead of "rabbit").
Key Capabilities
Phonetic Precision
Understands speech at the phoneme level, allowing granular feedback beyond simple "right or wrong."
Fluency Tracking
Enforces a "Grace Period." Pausing too long drops your score, simulating real-world conversation pressure.
Universal Audio
Industrial-grade processor ingests and normalizes audio from any device, studio mic or smartphone.
Zero-Hallucination
Constrained alignment prevents "making up" words. Feedback is always grounded in the actual audio.
Status Indicators
When you open OtterSpeak, OtterBrain wakes up automatically. Look for these status indicators:
Energy System
Sun Energy & Leaf Energy
OtterSpeak uses an energy system to pace your practice sessions. Sun Energy (⚡) is your primary resource that resets daily.
NPC Otter (Free)
- 20 ⚡ daily energy
- ~10 sessions per day
- Resets at midnight
Happy Otter
- 100 ⚡ daily energy
- ~50 sessions per day
- 3 streak freezes/month
Prime Otter
- 500 ⚡ daily energy
- Effectively unlimited
- 10 streak freezes/month
Progression System
Track your growth
Experience Points
Earn XP from sessions based on accuracy and words read. Contributes to Battlepass progression.
Daily Streak
Complete at least one session daily to maintain your streak. Use Streak Freezes to protect it!
Otter Score
Your global ranking score combining accuracy, speed, and consistency.
Words Per Minute
Track your reading speed. Set goals and watch your WPM improve over time.
Rewards System
Daily login & Battlepass
7-Day Login Rewards
Claim rewards every day for a week! The cycle repeats after day 7.
Battlepass (50 Levels)
Progress through 50 levels by earning XP. Each level requires 500 XP.
Leaderboard
Compete globally
See how you stack up against other otters worldwide. Filter by All Time XP, Monthly XP, or Otter Score.
Settings & Options
Customize your experience
Options Page
Access Options from the home screen to customize your reading experience.
Appearance
- Theme: Dark or Light mode
- Accent Color: Cyan, Orange, Green, Sky, Magenta, Indigo
- Font Size: 0.8x to 1.5x scaling
- Reader Font: Inter, Merriweather, Roboto Mono, Open Sans, Comic Neue
- Reader View: Crosshair or Tunnel style
Audio
- Input Device: Select microphone
- Output Device: Select speakers
- Noise Suppression: Toggle noise gate
- Live Monitor: Test your mic in real-time
- Record Test: Record and playback
Accessibility
- Reduced Motion: Disable animations
- Photosensitivity: Disable flashing effects & Psycho Mode
- Color Blind Modes: Protanopia, Deuteranopia, Tritanopia, Achromatopsia
Misc
- Pro Tips: Show tips during countdown
- SFX: Enable/disable sound effects
- Pause at Periods: Brief pause on sentences
- Reset to Defaults: Restore all settings
Account Settings
Manage your account from the Settings page (gear icon in header).
Profile
- Change username
- Update email
- Select region/country
- Choose avatar
- Equip badges (up to 3)
- Activate profile effects
Security
- Change password
- Enable 2FA (coming soon)
- View login history
Plans & Payments
- View current plan
- Transaction history
- Cancel subscription
- Upgrade/downgrade tier
Danger Zone
- Delete account permanently
- This action cannot be undone
Plans
Choose your otter tier
Guest
Try before signing up
- 3 tries total
- Blink & Click modes only
- No OtterBrain
- No session history
- No progress tracking
- No streaks
NPC Otter
Get started for free
- 20 Sun Energy daily
- All reading modes
- OtterBrain v1
- Last 5 sessions history
- 5 avatar options
- No streak freezes
- Standard ads
Happy Otter
Serious about improvement
- 100 Sun Energy daily
- All reading modes
- OtterBrain v1
- Last 30 sessions history
- Full avatar library
- 3 streak freezes/month
- Profile badges
- Blue name in leaderboard
- Less intrusive ads
Prime Otter
The ultimate experience
- 500 Sun Energy daily
- All modes + Psycho
- OtterBrain v1 + AI texts
- Unlimited history
- Exclusive avatars
- 10 streak freezes/month
- Exclusive badges & effects
- Gold name in leaderboard
- Completely ad-free
- Direct dev feedback
- Early access features
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions answered
How does the pronunciation analysis work?
OtterSpeak uses your browser's speech recognition to capture your voice during reading sessions. OtterBrain then compares your pronunciation against the expected words and provides detailed feedback on accuracy and any mispronounced sounds.
What happens if my Sun Energy runs out?
When your Sun Energy is depleted, you won't be able to start new sessions until it resets. Energy resets daily at midnight (your local time). You can upgrade to Happy or Prime for more daily energy, or wait for the reset.
How do streak freezes work?
Streak Freezes automatically protect your streak when you miss a day. If you don't complete a session, a freeze is used (if available) to maintain your streak. Happy Otters get 3 freezes/month, Prime gets 10. You can also purchase more from the Freeze Store.
Can I use OtterSpeak without a microphone?
Yes, but with limited functionality. You can still use the reading modes for speed reading practice, but you won't receive pronunciation analysis or accuracy scores. A microphone is recommended for the full experience.
What browsers are supported?
OtterSpeak works best on Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave) due to better speech recognition support. Firefox is supported but may have limited speech recognition. Safari has partial support.
Is there a mobile app?
OtterSpeak is currently a web-based Progressive Web App (PWA). You can add it to your home screen on mobile devices for an app-like experience. Native mobile apps are planned for the future.
Is my data secure?
Yes! User accounts and progress are stored securely. Session audio is processed in real-time and is not permanently stored. Your reading history retention depends on your plan tier (last 5 sessions for NPC, last 30 for Happy, unlimited for Prime).
Can I cancel my subscription anytime?
Yes! You can cancel your subscription at any time from Account Settings. You'll continue to have access to premium features until your current billing period ends. No questions asked, no hassle.
What is Psycho Mode and is it safe?
Psycho Mode is an extreme reading challenge with chaotic visual effects and sound. It includes flashing lights and rapid movements. It is NOT recommended for users with photosensitivity, epilepsy, or motion sickness. You can disable it in Options → Accessibility → Photosensitivity Mode.
How do I contact support?
You can reach us through the Discord community (all users), or via direct feedback channels (Happy/Prime subscribers). Prime users have access to priority support.