Hi, Leigh,
Sanders and McCormick (1993) provide a very nice summary of the factors
affecting written and on-screen typeface legibility, and have a good
reference list. Woodson (1992) suggests several points in the creation of
new fonts, and provides guidelines for height, width, and stroke width (as
does MIL-STD-1427F and MOD 00-25 part 7).
Boff and Lincoln (1988) listed the Leroy, Lincoln/Mitre, AMEL, and Hazeltine
fonts as satisfactory for electronic displays (p. 2284). For a fun trip in
the Wayback Machine, try MIL-M-18012B, which provides the so-called AMEL
font in a graphical matrix format, and lists a number of other recommended,
though perhaps dated, fonts. I think that Gould (1968) notes that knowing
the very "best" font may not be as critical as selecting one of several that
are known to deliver good performance.
One caution: many of the standards ignore lowercase letters, even as some
acknowledge that reading performance is generally better with mixed case.
Distinctive word shapes (afforded by mixed case) assist with encoding, and I
think that Tufte suggests in Envisioning Information that this might be one
reason that cigarette warnings are always in all caps...hmm.
Hope this is helpful.
Aaron
References
Boff, K.R., & Lincoln, J.E. (1988). Engineering data compendium: Human
perception and performance (Volume III). Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,
OH: Harry G. Armstrong Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory.
Gould, J.D. (1968). Visual factors in the design of computer controlled
CRT displays. Human Factors, 10(4), 359-376.
Gould, J. D., Alfaro, L., Barnes, V., Finn, R., Grischkowsky, N., & Minuto,
A. (1987). Reading is slower from CRT displays than from paper: Attempts
to isolate a single variable explanation. Human Factors, 29(3), 269-299.
Gould, J.D., Alfaro, L., Finn, R., Haupt, B., & Minuto, A. (1987). Reading
from CRT displays can be as fast as reading from paper. Human Factors,
29(5), 497-517.
Ministry of Defence. (1996) Defence standard: Human factors for designers
of equipment, part 7, visual displays (Standard No. 00-25 Part 7, Issue 2).
Glasgow: Author.
Naval Air Systems Command. (1964). Military specification: Markings for
aircrew station displays, design and configuration of (Standard No.
MIL-M-18012B). Washington DC: Author.
Sanders, M.S, & McCormick, E.J. (1993). Human factors in engineering and
design (7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command. (1999). Department of Defense
design criteria standard: Human engineering (Standard No. MIL-STD-1472F).
Redstone Arsenal, AL: Author.
Woodson, W.E., Tillman, B., & Tillman, P. (1992). Human factors design
handbook (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
-----Original Message-----
From: Leigh George [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 9:48 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: typeface research
Hello,
Could anyone provide any references for research done on the legibility of
typefaces when viewed on computer monitor screens? I'm researching factors
effecting the legibility of typefaces viewed on screen as well as typefaces
such as Verdana designed specifically for screen use and the research
supporting their development.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Best,
Leigh George
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