An eye movement study for identification of suitable font characters for presentation on a computer screen

Area of Science:

• Human-computer interaction
• Cognitive psychology
• Visual perception

Background:

• Media consumption is shifting from print to digital screens.
• Understanding text on screens impacts reading processes and cognitive load.
• Subjective evaluations of font suitability are insufficient.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of different font types on cognitive workload.
• To objectively measure the effect of font on alphabet perception.
• To identify optimal fonts for digital displays.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-six young subjects participated in the study.
• Individual characters of various font types were presented on a computer screen.
• Eye movements were recorded using a binocular eye movement recorder.

Main Results:

• Verdana font type showed reduced pupil diameter compared to other fonts.
• Fewer fixations were observed when viewing Verdana characters.
• Shorter fixation durations were recorded for the Verdana font type.

Conclusions:

• Verdana font type is recommended for presenting individual alphabets on electronic displays.
• Using Verdana can help reduce cognitive workload during digital text perception.
• Objective eye movement metrics support Verdana's suitability for screen-based reading.