The Art, Technology, and Science of Reading Kevin Larson, Microsoft

ClearType

ClearType subpixel spacing in IE9

Neu-Vita Oculizer Photos by American Artifacts Richard Van Vleck

Illustration by Patrick Lynch

Three Kinds of Eye Fatigue Internal eye disorders – Accommodation or Convergence problems Strain that can be improved by squinting – Glare or Refractive problems Non-optimal text – Text size too small or Contrast too low

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteres are at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a tatol mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.

Rayner, White, Johnson, & Liversedge (2006) Example Sentence Normal The boy could not solve the problem so he asked for help. Internal letters The boy cuold not slove the probelm so he aksed for help. Final letters The boy coudl not solev the problme so he askde for help. Beginning letters The boy oculd not oslve the rpoblem so he saked for help.

Rayner, White, Johnson, & Liversedge (2006) Example Sentence Reading Speed Normal The boy could not solve the problem so he asked for help. 255 wpm Internal letters The boy cuold not slove the probelm so he aksed for help. 227 wpm Final letters The boy coudl not solev the problme so he askde for help. 189 wpm Beginning letters The boy oculd not oslve the rpoblem so he saked for help. 163 wpm

a aa a

Tai & Sheedy (unpublished)

s ss s

Gabriola

Stroop (1935) red purple green yellow blue Say the color of the ink

red purple green yellow blue red purple green yellow blue Say the word

Dawn Shaikh (2008)

Corsiva Times pretty reliable gorgeous staid stylish constant Hazlett & Larson (unpublished)

Say the word pretty reliable stylish staid

Verdana Georgia youthful mature casual formal passive assertive

Say the word casual mature youthful formal

Larson, Hazlett, Chaparro, & Picard (2006)

People perform better on cognitive tests after reading with good typography

People frown less with good typography (less corrugator muscle activity)

Take Aways ClearType subpixel spacing improves readability Standards based web pages in IE9 will get this! Reduce eye fatigue with larger, higher contrast text Do use 12 point, black-on-white text. Dont use 9 point, grey on grey text. Choose font personalities that match your content Do use serif fonts to convey formality and maturity Comic sans is only appropriate for cartoonish materials There are cognitive benefits for good page layout. A well designed page is more likely to be impactful and cause the reader to act on the message.

Contact Info Kevin Larson