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09:29
A Standardized Obstacle Course for Assessment of Visual Function in Ultra Low Vision and Artificial Vision
Published on: February 11, 2014
Letter case and text legibility in normal and low vision
1Arlene R. Gordon Research Institute, Lighthouse International, 111 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022, USA. arditi@lighthouse.org
Vision Research
|August 7, 2007
Summary
Contrary to popular belief, this study found that upper-case text is more legible than lower-case text. This legibility advantage for upper-case letters is particularly beneficial for visually impaired readers.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Typography
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Cognitive scientists and typographers traditionally believe lower-case text offers superior legibility.
- This belief contrasts with the physical characteristics of letters, where upper-case characters are typically larger.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the legibility of upper-case versus lower-case text.
- To determine if case style impacts reading speed and size thresholds for normal and visually impaired readers.
Main Methods:
- Assessed word and random string size thresholds using a single font in all upper-case, all lower-case, and mixed-case formats.
- Measured reading speeds for different case styles with participants having normal and visually impaired vision.
Main Results:
- Lower-case text required approximately 0.1 log units higher size thresholds compared to upper-case.
- Upper-case text demonstrated higher reading speeds than mixed-case at twice the acuity size, with this advantage diminishing at larger sizes.
Conclusions:
- Upper-case text exhibits greater legibility than other case styles, especially for visually impaired individuals.
- The legibility of upper-case text allows for smaller font sizes without compromising readability.
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