Typefaces and legibility Sample Clauses

Typefaces and legibility. Many older people have difficulties reading standard text even with spectacles and good illumination. To help with this problem choosing a clear typeface will be very important in helping ensure the best levels of legibility for any application. Text set with sans serif typeface has been found to be read more easily by older adults, (Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxx-Xxxxxxxx in Xxxxxxx et al., 2003; Hawthorn, 2000) and also preferred by them (Xxxxx and Xxxxxxxxx in Xxxxxxx et al., 2003). Decorative and cursive fonts (e.g. gothic) should be avoided (Xxxx et al., 2004). Sans serif typefaces include Helvetica, Arial and Univers (Xxxxxxx et al, 2003). For people with low vision some numerals such as 6, 8, and 9 can look very similar. In some typefaces characters such as the lower case ‘l’, the numeral ‘1’ or an upper case ‘I’ can be difficult to distinguish. Increasingly, password and email addresses use a combination of letters and numbers. For such applications, it is essential to use a typeface which clearly differentiates numerals and letters (Xxxx, 2004). In some applications where the context does not make the meaning obvious, it is essential to be able to differentiate the zero and the capital ‘O’. In this case, it may be necessary to use a cancelled zero. The RNIB Scientific Research Unit (xxxx://xxx.xxxxxxxx.xxx/sru.htm) has produced a range of typefaces for applications where legibility is important. Tiresias Screenfont was designed for subtitling on UK digital television. Tiresias PCfont is a typeface designed to display clearly on screen-based systems. When a typeface is generated on a screen, the character shapes are created on a grid of fine lines or pixels. Because most traditional typefaces were designed for reproduction on paper rather than screens their subtle shapes are often distorted on screen. Tiresias Infofont has been designed for use on information labels and controls to help improve legibility. The characters and letterforms have been designed for a reading distance of 30-100 cm. This typeface has been used for applications such as fire notices and labels in museums. Tiresias Signfont is a bolder typeface, but has characters that have been designed to maintain open shapes that provide maximum readability at longer distances. Tiresias LPfont is a large print typeface designed for use in publications. Large print publications should be designed to specifically help with reading problems, and should not be just an enlarged version of ordinary print. ...