[GreenKeys] Upper Case v. Mixed Case readability

Fri May 7 15:17:50 EDT 2004

   And, to modify a remark made earlier by someone else...

   For typefaces in Latin alphabets, studies have shown that typefaces with serifs are easier to read in printed text (many lines of
material forming a cohesive whole).  However, when resolution is low, readability is improved by eliminating serifs.  Low resolution
situations include:
   -- most computer screens.
   -- signs: short items of text which need to be read accurately at great distances, such as highway signs and directions in
airports, or by an audience that includes people with vision impairments affecting the portion of the eye involved in perceiving
text.

   The benefits of mixed case (upper and lower) in making text easier to read, and the demands that signs be read clearly at extreme
distances, have led to special typefaces where lower case letters are unusually large ... but still retain the shape of a lower case
character.

   Typeface design remains a delightful mixture of physiology, psychology, technology and art.  A recent art show featured the work
of Matthew Carter, responsible for many typeface designs that we see on computers, newspapers and signs in the world around us.  The
show's catalog is worth grabbing if you're interested in reading a bit more about the subject and about this unique individual.
It's available at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1568984278/qid=1083939366/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-6936825-5782251?v=glance&s=books

73,
   -- Eric K3NA

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Tim McNerney
Sent: 2004 May 7 09:20
To: [email protected]
Subject: [GreenKeys] Upper Case v. Mixed Case readability

Indeed, there have been studies that strongly indicate (in the general
population at least) that mixed upper and lower case text, and even lower
case only text is easier to read than text in all caps.  Lawyers and
cigarette companies take advantage of this fact.  If they don't want you to
read something, they print it in all caps.  That said... I am sure that,
with the training and years of experience, many members of this list could
skew the results of any of these readability studies. :-)

--Tim

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