The legibility of screen formats: Are three columns better than one?

Dyson, Mary C.; Kipping, Gary J.

doi:10.1016/s0097-8493(97)00048-4

Cited by 40 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Generally, no differences in comprehension have been found using this method (Dyson and Kipping 1998a,b). However, a difference in comprehension across the three formats was found when readers were divided into faster and slower readers (Dyson and Kipping 1997). In the three column paged format, comprehension was better for faster readers than slower readers.…”

Section: One Vs Three Columnsmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…A comparison of one and three columns was made by Dyson and Kipping (1997) measuring reading rate and comprehension. The texts were chosen to be typical of what might be found in online magazines, with passages of a little under 2000 words taken from New Scientist.…”

Section: One Vs Three Columnsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The comprehension task used by Dyson and Kipping (1997) was a check on comprehension used by Kolers et al, and discussed earlier. Generally, no differences in comprehension have been found using this method (Dyson and Kipping 1998a,b).…”

Section: One Vs Three Columnsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How physical text layout affects reading from screen

Dyson¹

2004

Behaviour & Information Technology

Self Cite

107

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Abstract. The primary objective of this paper is to critically evaluate empirical research on some variables relating to the configuration of text on screen to consolidate our current knowledge in these areas. The text layout variables are line length, columns, window size and interlinear spacing, with an emphasis on line length due to the larger number of studies related to this variable. Methodological issues arising from individual studies and from comparisons among studies are identified. A synthesis of results is offered which provides alternative interpretations of some findings and identifies the number of characters per line as the critical variable in looking at line length. Further studies are needed to explore the interactions between characters per line and eye movements, scrolling movements, reading patterns and familiarity with formats.

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Section: One Vs Three Columnsmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: One Vs Three Columnsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How physical text layout affects reading from screen

Dyson¹

2004

Behaviour & Information Technology

Self Cite

107

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“…A column should not be very narrow. Narrow columns have got negative effects on readability [Dyson and Kipping 1997;Dyson and Haselgrove 2001].…”

Section: Each Column Must Be Y-monotone This Ensures That Nomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, we are currently considering an option to reduce font size for text presented in narrow columns. This is based on findings by DYSON and KIPPING [1997] that the negative effects of narrow columns may be reduced by a reduction of the font size: The rationale here is that the negative effects of narrow columns arise from the small number of characters on a line. This effect can therefore be reversed by using a smaller font size.…”

Section: Problem Of Narrow Columnsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving readability of contextualized text explanations

Chigona¹,

Strothotte²

2003

Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Computer Graphics, Virtual Reality, Visualisation and Interaction in Africa

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DUAL-USE OF IMAGE SPACE (DUIS) is an interactive techniquefor presenting text corresponding to images within the image space. From a technical point of view, the pixels in the image space are used both as text which can be read as well as for shading. This approach raises a number of interesting new readability problems: First, in order to simulate shading, the weight and the width of the character glyphs are manipulated. We have noted that readers find reading text with weight and width variations not only difficult but also irritating. Second, the shape of the silhouettes of the objects, by their irregular nature, are not ideal for text layout.In this paper we present techniques for addressing the DUIS readability problems. The techniques are divided into three categories as follows: First, shading and reading functionalities have been separated by creating two text presentation modes, shading mode and reading mode. In reading mode, it is no longer necessary to vary the weight and width of the character glyphs. Second, we have introduced the concept of multiple column presentation to address the problems of interruptions in reading. Finally, distortions of the objects are also used to improve readability.

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Effects of cathode ray tube display formats on quality‐assurance auditor's performance

Ramadan

Mohamed

El-Hariry

2009

Hum Ftrs & Erg Mfg Svc

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The auditing process is a necessary and integral part of a quality-assurance system. The tendency of using computers in the auditing process is a necessity. This work describes three experiments designed to explore the effects of presenting written material variables on reading speed and comprehension. Five graduate students who consented to participate first completed the font style selection process among six Arabic font styles. "Simplified," "Traditional," and "Koufi" font styles were selected from the typography style selection process to be implemented in the next two experiments. Eleven auditors and fourteen undergraduate students with and without knowledge of using computers participated in the second and the third experiments. The font types (Simplified Arabic, Traditional Arabic, and Monotype Koufi) and the font sizes (10, 13, and 16 point) were independent variables in the second experiment. Color combinations (white/black, black/white, blue/white, and white/blue), column types (one and two columns) that are crossed within auditors and naive students were the independent variables in the third experiment. Reading speed, comprehension levels in terms of accuracy of answering recognition and recall questions, and discomfort subjective measures were the dependent variables in both experiments. Results showed that the quality-assurance auditors were superior to students at reading speed and comprehension. A 13-point Simplified Arabic font type was better than other font type and font size combinations in terms of reading comprehension and discomfort measure. In addition, white characters on a black background screen color was superior to other character\screen color combinations in terms of reading speed, reading comprehension, and discomfort measure. C 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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The legibility of screen formats: Are three columns better than one?

Cited by 40 publications

References 15 publications

How physical text layout affects reading from screen

How physical text layout affects reading from screen

Improving readability of contextualized text explanations

Effects of cathode ray tube display formats on quality‐assurance auditor's performance

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