In television broadcasting, there are no general rules about the implementation of various short inscriptions that accompany video image and provide additional information for the viewer. Therefore, we wanted to study what combination of typeface, letter case and position should be used for an on-screen presentation when fast recognition of a text is required. The present study investigated the minimum time required for recognising three-letter words presented in bold style on the screen in different experimental conditions. The typeface Georgia showed better legibility than Verdana, Calibri, Trebuchet and Swiss 721. Upper case letters were recognised faster compared to sentence and lower case letters. The recognition times were shorter for upper on-screen positions compared to the lower ones. The resulting combinations of text properties that are processed faster thus seem more appropriate for the on-screen use (especially for television broadcasts).

The evolution of high resolution displays, especially liquid crystal displays (LCD), which are among the most commonly used ones, has contributed to a larger number of display readers. Regardless of high resolutions, problems in the legibility of typefaces still occur. Many typefaces may well be readable in print, but cause more difficulties when being read on displays. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of colour contrast on the legibility on LCDs to establish which type style is appropriate for a coloured text to be legible. Two different typefaces specially designed for display use were tested in a satisfactory light-dark contrast of five different colour combinations. The reading speed and fixations were analysed with an eye-tracking device Tobii 120X. Different texts were displayed on an LCD display. The results showed that the selection of a particular colour combination and contrast greatly affects the reading speed and legibility. Less visible colour combinations of text and background were read more slowly than the more contrasting or visible ones in both typefaces. At both typefaces, it was seen that at a slower reading speed, more fixations were needed and vice-versa. A transitional typeface gave a faster reading speed than a sans-serif typeface. An appropriate contrast, colour combination and used typography can facilitate legibility on displays. Doi: 10.28991/esj-2020-01243 Full Text: PDF

The spread of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) is a leading reason for worldwide environmental change due to their effects on biodiversity and humans. Some valued goods from IAPS have been produced, e.g. paper that consists of cellulose fibres from Japanese knotweed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish the usability of this paper grade as a printing substrate, since it does not have ideal optical properties as it is expected from commercial office paper. Because it is widely used, inkjet printing technology was employed. Print permanence is essential, especially when printing documents. However, typographic characteristics must be considered to make a text more legible. Two widely used typefaces (Arial and Times) were tested in three commonly used type sizes (8 pt, 10 pt, and 12 pt). The results showed that the paper made from Japanese knotweed could have valuable properties and suitable legibility, especially when using typefaces with a moderate counter size, high x-height, and minimal differences in the letter stroke width to obtain an appropriate typographic tonal density with an adequate type size. Even after exposure to light, the texts printed in a proper type size and stroke width remained visible.

This study investigated the effectiveness of new point-of-interest (POI) pictograms on tourist maps within the Croatian and Slovenian contexts, focusing on enhancing the tourist experience in urban settings for individuals with specific needs. Despite the widespread use of tourist maps, there is a lack of research evaluating POI pictograms tailored to the needs of tourists with specific dietary, health-related, and sustainable clothing purchases. To fill this gap, we designed six new pictograms in three domains: healthcare, food, and apparel. The pictograms were evaluated using an online questionnaire involving 138 participants with a diverse range of ages and educational backgrounds. The results on comprehension and subjective assessments of the pictograms’ qualities revealed insights into the subtle cultural and lifestyle influences on pictogram perception. The findings provide a basis for considering the potential of new pictogram designs in improving navigational experiences with geospatial information and encouraging sustainable tourist behaviors.

Reading fluency depends on the typographic design. Letters can have different shapes that evoke different feelings in the reader and influence reading fluency. Previous studies that explored the link between typeface shape and taste and its impact on reading and readers’ attitudes mainly focused on shorter texts or individual words. In contrast, our study investigated how the taste (sweetness) attributed to the typeface is related to reading fluency and the pleasantness of the typeface during reading longer texts, and whether these relationships are the same in children and adult readers. We found that readers of both age groups perceived rounded letters as sweeter than angular letters. The perceived sweetness correlated positively with the pleasantness of the typeface and reading fluency. Younger readers showed a higher general rating of sweetness and a stronger relationship between the perceived sweetness and the pleasantness of the typeface than older, more experienced readers. This suggests that the sweeter and more pleasant the typeface is perceived to be, the faster it can be read. When fast processing of longer texts is required, we recommend the use of rounded typefaces with more organic shapes, including serif typefaces with some characteristics of old-style typefaces, rather than using angular, sans serif typefaces.

The aim of the research was to investigate the usability and legibility of 3D printed typeface characters in smaller sizes. In the experimental investigation two software programs for letter modelling, three typefaces, three type sizes, two weight options, and two printing materials were tested. The samples were analysed visually and with image analysis. The legibility tests were conducted in laboratory conditions and testing chamber. The participants were asked to read pangrams and answer close-ended questions. The reading speed and understanding of the text were measured and analysed. It was found that the success of printing parts of letters, as well as their recognition and visual evaluation, is most often influenced by two analysed factors, i.e. weight option and type size, in all three typefaces. We established that the type size is statistically significant, and that the typographic tonal density is influenced by the typeface and the material used. Practitioner summary: The research presents the investigation of usability and legibility of 3D printed typefaces at smaller sizes. Five variables were analysed visually and with image analysis. Typographic tonal density, reading speed, and text comprehension were evaluated. The findings demonstrated that weight option, type size, and material influence the reading speed and text comprehension.