BrightStar Reader Session How To


Watch the video in the Full-Screen mode
(click button on the right bottom corner of the video) for the best experience.

Once you logged-in, you should see a “Start Training” button at the center of your “My Status” page

This means you are ready to start your Reader session.

Please make sure that:

  • You are sitting comfortably and your legs are NOT crossed.
  • The mouse should be controlled by the hand you use for writing.
  • Your hand and forearm should be visible and rested on the desk during the whole session.
  • The area surrounding you during the BrightStar Reader session should be quiet and free of interruptions (such as phones ringing or children/siblings breaking in to ask questions).
  • Dim or turn off any lights in the room where you will undergo the BrightStar Reader session.
  • Make sure you use the restroom before starting BrightStar Reader session as it should not be interrupted during its 12 minutes duration.
  • You sit directly in front of the screen.  The distance from your eyes to the screen should be no more than the width of the screen.
  • Do not to talk during the session and attempt to remain focused on the center of the screen.

BrightStar Reader Stage I

Immediately after starting the first session (and each one to follow) you will see a passive, static image on a dark purple background.  You should focus on the picture and not the moving lines entering the screen from its edges.  Some of the lines will flash every once in a while – this is OK and part of what BrightStar Reader is supposed to do.

BrightStar Reader Stage II

Time for action!  Your computer mouse controls the car on the screen.  It is important to try and maintain the car as close as possible to the dashed line in the center of the road.  If you drive off the road or move away from the dashed line, you should try to return to the line as quickly as you can.  Only left-to-right or right-to-left horizontal repetitive hand movements are required – you should not move the hand holding the mouse either forward or backwards (in an imaginary vertical axis) trying to catch up with the illusionary ‘moving’ road.


The conditions of the road might change from time to time with the appearance of rain.  The performance of this activity is an important part of BrightStar Reader.  We are aware that the task is a little monotonous or even boring – nonetheless it is important and contributes a significant value to a successful outcome of the BrightStar Reader program.

 BrightStar Reader Stage III

Your eyes should track passively on arrays of geometrical symbols displayed in a number of lines at the center of the screen display. These geometrical symbols will briefly flicker and change their shape, size and color.

The BrightStar Reader passively steers your visual attention to smooth eye pursuit non-verbal stimuli changes in the same direction you read and write. From time to time, a sign will suddenly appear on the left inside of the screen display and you’ll be asked to either press  or abstain from pressing  on the space key bar. This pressing exercise measures your reaction time and ability to abort movement in the fly as a response to pattern recognition. Please, eye track carefully, and press on the space key bar as soon as the  shows. However, be alert for the sudden appearance of the no pressing sign too  . The performance of this activity is an important part of BrightStar Reader.

Stage Change Alert

Whenever stages II or III above are about to begin again, a white frame will flash around the passive, static picture at the center of the screen.  This is your cue that stage II, for example, the hands-eye coordination activity, is moments away or that stage III, the eye tracking activity, is moments away.

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