Readability, Subjective Preference and Mental Workload Studies on Young Indian Adults for Selection of Optimum Font Type and Size during Onscreen Reading

Font type and size characteristics play an important role in understanding the complexities of visual information in human-computer interface. India has emerged as the fastest growing personal computer (PC) user in the Asia pacific region. Studies and guidelines on the use of font type and size on s...

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Main Author: Jayeeta Banerjee, Deepti Majumdar, Madhu Sudan Pal and Dhurjati Majumdar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Al Ameen Medical College 2011-04-01
Series:Al Ameen Journal of Medical Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ajms.alameenmedical.org/article_Vol04-2-apr-jun-2011/AJMS.4.2.2011%20p%20131-143.pdf
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author Jayeeta Banerjee, Deepti Majumdar, Madhu Sudan Pal and Dhurjati Majumdar
author_facet Jayeeta Banerjee, Deepti Majumdar, Madhu Sudan Pal and Dhurjati Majumdar
author_sort Jayeeta Banerjee, Deepti Majumdar, Madhu Sudan Pal and Dhurjati Majumdar
collection DOAJ
description Font type and size characteristics play an important role in understanding the complexities of visual information in human-computer interface. India has emerged as the fastest growing personal computer (PC) user in the Asia pacific region. Studies and guidelines on the use of font type and size on screen for computer users are limited in the literature. Present work evaluates the influence of font type and size on reading on a computer screen in a group of young adults. Forty subjects volunteered for the study. Two types of fonts were used. Serif fonts included Times New Roman (TNR), Georgia and Courier New. Sans serif fonts included Arial, Verdana and Tahoma. These fonts were presented in 10, 12 and 14 point sizes. Subjects read eighteen passages (same length and reading level). Reading time, ranking and mental workload were measured. Readability was better for Serif compared to Sans serif. Reading time was minimum for Courier New 14 point. Sans serif fonts were preferred more than Serif fonts. Subjects’ ranking was highest and mental workload was least for Verdana 14 point. The present study recommends using 14 point sized fonts for reading on computer screen. Courier New is recommended based on reading time while for making onscreen presentation more attractive, Verdana is recommended based on subjects’ ranking and mental workload scoring.
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spelling doaj.art-039e35a8035e4c669746fad7dab8e51a2022-12-22T00:10:28ZengAl Ameen Medical CollegeAl Ameen Journal of Medical Sciences0974-11432011-04-010402131143Readability, Subjective Preference and Mental Workload Studies on Young Indian Adults for Selection of Optimum Font Type and Size during Onscreen ReadingJayeeta Banerjee, Deepti Majumdar, Madhu Sudan Pal and Dhurjati MajumdarFont type and size characteristics play an important role in understanding the complexities of visual information in human-computer interface. India has emerged as the fastest growing personal computer (PC) user in the Asia pacific region. Studies and guidelines on the use of font type and size on screen for computer users are limited in the literature. Present work evaluates the influence of font type and size on reading on a computer screen in a group of young adults. Forty subjects volunteered for the study. Two types of fonts were used. Serif fonts included Times New Roman (TNR), Georgia and Courier New. Sans serif fonts included Arial, Verdana and Tahoma. These fonts were presented in 10, 12 and 14 point sizes. Subjects read eighteen passages (same length and reading level). Reading time, ranking and mental workload were measured. Readability was better for Serif compared to Sans serif. Reading time was minimum for Courier New 14 point. Sans serif fonts were preferred more than Serif fonts. Subjects’ ranking was highest and mental workload was least for Verdana 14 point. The present study recommends using 14 point sized fonts for reading on computer screen. Courier New is recommended based on reading time while for making onscreen presentation more attractive, Verdana is recommended based on subjects’ ranking and mental workload scoring.http://ajms.alameenmedical.org/article_Vol04-2-apr-jun-2011/AJMS.4.2.2011%20p%20131-143.pdfSerif fontsSans serif fontsReadingRankingOverall mental workload
spellingShingle Jayeeta Banerjee, Deepti Majumdar, Madhu Sudan Pal and Dhurjati Majumdar
Readability, Subjective Preference and Mental Workload Studies on Young Indian Adults for Selection of Optimum Font Type and Size during Onscreen Reading
Al Ameen Journal of Medical Sciences
Serif fonts
Sans serif fonts
Reading
Ranking
Overall mental workload
title Readability, Subjective Preference and Mental Workload Studies on Young Indian Adults for Selection of Optimum Font Type and Size during Onscreen Reading
title_full Readability, Subjective Preference and Mental Workload Studies on Young Indian Adults for Selection of Optimum Font Type and Size during Onscreen Reading
title_fullStr Readability, Subjective Preference and Mental Workload Studies on Young Indian Adults for Selection of Optimum Font Type and Size during Onscreen Reading
title_full_unstemmed Readability, Subjective Preference and Mental Workload Studies on Young Indian Adults for Selection of Optimum Font Type and Size during Onscreen Reading
title_short Readability, Subjective Preference and Mental Workload Studies on Young Indian Adults for Selection of Optimum Font Type and Size during Onscreen Reading
title_sort readability subjective preference and mental workload studies on young indian adults for selection of optimum font type and size during onscreen reading
topic Serif fonts
Sans serif fonts
Reading
Ranking
Overall mental workload
url http://ajms.alameenmedical.org/article_Vol04-2-apr-jun-2011/AJMS.4.2.2011%20p%20131-143.pdf
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