Soundtrack for electronic text

A method for displaying electronic text and synchronizing the playback of a soundtrack for the electronic text, the soundtrack comprising multiple audio regions configured for playback during corresponding text regions of the electronic text, each audio region being defined by audio data comprises:

• an audio track for playback in the audio region, a start text position in the electronic text corresponding to where the playback of the audio track is to begin;
• and a stop text position in the electronic text comprising to where playback of the audio track is to cease, comprising:
• displaying at least a portion of the electronic text on an electronic display, the display having an associated user input to enable user interaction with the display;
• sensing and tracking movement of the user input relative to the displayed electronic text, the movement representing the user's reading position on the display as they trace their reading of the electronic text via the user input;
• generating data indicative of the quantity of text traversed and time taken for the movement;
• calculating a measurement of reading speed based on the quantity of text read during the movement and the time taken for the movement;
• updating a reading speed variable representing the user's reading speed based on the calculated measurement of reading speed;
• maintaining a reading position counter corresponding to the estimated text position in the electronic text that the user is currently reading, the counter incrementing at a rate based on the user reading speed variable;
• and
• controlling playback of the audio regions of the soundtrack over an audio output system based on the audio data and reading position counter to synchronize playback of the audio regions with the user's estimated reading position.

A method for displaying electronic text and synchronizing the playback of a soundtrack for the electronic text, the soundtrack comprising multiple audio regions configured for playback during corresponding text regions of the electronic text, each audio region being defined by audio data comprises:

• an audio track for playback in the audio region, a start text position indicative of the word in the electronic text corresponding to where the playback of the audio track is to begin;
• and a stop text position indicative of the word in the electronic text comprising to where playback of the audio track is to cease, comprising:
• displaying at least a portion of the electronic text on a display;
• detecting a first user input indicative of a first reading text position corresponding to any arbitrary word in the electronic text the user is reading at the time of the first input, and generating data indicative of the first reading text position;
• detecting a second subsequent user input indicative of a second reading text position corresponding to any arbitrary word in the electronic text the user is reading at the time of the second input, and generating data indicative of the second reading text position;
• calculating the quantity of text read between the first and second reading text positions based on the generated data;
• calculating an estimate of the user's reading speed based on the calculated quantity of text read and the time period between the first and second user inputs;
• updating a reading speed variable representing the user's reading speed based on the calculated estimate of the user's reading speed;
• maintaining a reading position counter corresponding to the estimated text position indicative of the word in the electronic text that the user is currently reading, the counter incrementing at a rate based on the user reading speed variable;
• and
• controlling playback of the audio regions of the soundtrack over an audio output system based on the audio data and reading position counter to synchronize playback of the audio regions with the user's estimated reading position.

A method for displaying electronic text and synchronizing the playback of a soundtrack for the electronic text, the soundtrack comprising multiple audio regions configured for playback during corresponding text regions of the electronic text, each audio region being defined by audio data comprises:

• an audio track for playback in the audio region, a start text position in the electronic text corresponding to where the playback of the audio track is to begin;
• and a stop text position in the electronic text comprising to where playback of the audio track is to cease, comprising:
• displaying at least a portion of the electronic text on a display;
• displaying a moving reading position indicator on the display which identifies the current text position that is estimated as being read based on an initial reading speed variable representing the user's estimated reading speed, the reading position indicator moving relative to the text at a rate based on a reading speed variable representing the user's reading speed;
• providing a user adjustment interface that is operable to increase or decrease the reading speed variable;
• and
• updating the reading speed variable according to any user adjustment to thereby modify the rate of movement of the reading position indicator to match the updated reading speed variable,
• wherein the user adjustment interface is operable simultaneously as the electronic text and moving reading position indicator are displayed such that the user can view in real-time the effect of any adjustment of the reading speed variable;
• maintaining a reading position counter corresponding to the estimated text position in the electronic text that the user is currently reading, the counter incrementing at a rate based on the user reading speed variable;
• and
• controlling playback of the audio regions of the soundtrack over an audio output system based on the audio data and reading position counter to synchronize playback of the audio regions with the user's estimated reading position.