Increased Word Spacing Improves Performance for Reading Scrolling Text with Central Vision Loss.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Visual Neuroscience

Background:

• Horizontally scrolling text aids reading for individuals with central vision loss.
• Visual crowding negatively impacts reading performance, especially with peripheral vision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if increased interword spacing enhances reading performance with scrolling text.
• To determine if wider spacing mitigates visual crowding effects.

Main Methods:

• Assessed reading accuracy, memory recall, and speed with scrolling text.
• Used normally sighted participants with simulated central vision loss (8° scotoma).
• Tested interword spacing of one, two, or three characters.

Main Results:

• Triple-character interword spacing significantly improved reading accuracy and memory recall (P ≤ .01).
• Performance gains were independent of text presentation rate (words per minute).

Conclusions:

• Increased interword spacing reduces the negative impact of visual crowding.
• Wider spacing enhances the reading experience and ability for those with central vision loss using scrolling text.