For the contemporary world with its diverse range of technologies and a myriad of challenging opportunities, the issue of importance of literacy in the sense of ability to read still remains one of the most pertinent and burning ones. The scale and character of illiteracy is striking and ranks with the most dangerous social scourges of the 21st century.

At present many people treat reading as a main source of information and cognition. To deprive people of the ability to read means to make their life virtually impossible. Because this habitual and at the same time indispensable skill is a basis of accomplishment practically all straightforward daily activities.

Living in the non-reading world is equal to being mute and deaf. It means to be close to the external influences and function in society defectively. Hence, it is hard to believe in the fact that nowadays over one billion people are unable to read a book and write their names. The problem has spread to such a threatening extent that it ought to concern everybody.

It is vital to understand that reading has to be promoted and illiteracy flow should be staunched once and all the time. The 16 percents of the illiterate world population should be given a chance to penetrate into the diverse world of books and literature and see the world around them in a different light.

How ‘reading along' technology works

Undoubtedly, the availability of opportunity to acquire, maintain and improve reading skills should be given to every person. Many literacy programs, which aim at promoting literacy and reducing the illiteracy rows, have been elaborated up to now. Nevertheless, ‘read along' technology introduced by BookZap.com remains one of the most effective learning to read vehicles.

‘Read along' technology implies diving into the process of reading as deeply as possible, combining efficiently different purposes of reading: cognitive, informational and relaxing. It is based primary on reading along on a regular basis. It means that a person develops or polishes his reading skills by a constant and persistent reading of books.

This unique technique is very simple in essence and essentially quick and efficient in hand. Its originality lies in the very form of presenting the information. Thus, all books, works and manuscripts are rendered in different technologies, such as Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Reader. These technologies permit your computer to read to you aloud, while you are reading along. This unique technology allows people to be involved into several activities simultaneously.

BookZap.com takes care and helps its learners succeed quickly and relatively effortlessly by offering an extensive and versatile collection of books, available on CD disks. It gives a reader a unique opportunity not only to become familiar with the best masterpieces of world literature, including classic and dramatical pieces, and dig up rare original versions of the manuscripts, but also helps make real steps to personal growth and development, becoming well-educated, all-round developed and much read.

One of its numerous benefits is that it is universal and can be easily applied both by the beginners, who are making the first steps in reading and by more experienced readers, who want to enhance their reading skills and develop their general outlook. And it proved to be irreplaceable for impaired people. Also, ‘read along' technology gives an opportunity to sight impaired people to listen to their favorite books.