Return-Path: <root> Received: (from root@localhost) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) id f7VBs0X09952 for health-archive@nifl.gov; Fri, 31 Aug 2001 07:54:00 -0400 (EDT) Resent-Message-Id: <200108311154.f7VBs0X09952@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from jason02.u.washington.edu (root@jason02.u.washington.edu [140.142.8.52]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with ESMTP id f3CKDcg12304; Thu, 12 Apr 2001 16:13:38 -0400 (EDT) Received: from aagaard01.u.washington.edu (keander@aagaard01.u.washington.edu [140.142.13.113]) by jason02.u.washington.edu (8.11.2+UW01.01/8.11.2+UW01.03) with ESMTP id f3CKDbL43574; Thu, 12 Apr 2001 13:13:37 -0700 Received: from localhost (keander@localhost) by aagaard01.u.washington.edu (8.11.2+UW01.01/8.11.2+UW01.03) with ESMTP id f3CKDaX169354; Thu, 12 Apr 2001 13:13:36 -0700 Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 13:13:36 -0700 (PDT) From: Kristina Anderson <keander@u.washington.edu> To: <nifl-health@nifl.gov> cc: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: Re: [NIFL-HEALTH:3019] RE: Reading Comprehension In-Reply-To: <E0A462DB81E3D211A1390000F863157D056A165A@mcdc-atl-40.cdc.gov> Message-ID: <Pine.A41.4.33.0104121223150.101140-100000@aagaard01.u.washington.edu> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Resent-From: root@literacy.nifl.gov Resent-Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 07:53:59 -0400 Resent-To: health-archive@nifl.gov Status: O Content-Length: 4012 Lines: 105 I've been quickly reading the emails about color and I just want to throw in one thing based on a personal experience. I had eye surgery 2 months ago for a detached retina, and I have become much more aware of how hard it is to read text that is against a colored background other than very pastel colors. The experience has made me much more aware of how careful we need to be when using color, and that includes the color of the type on the colored background. The contrast can be very hard to read. Kristina >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Kristina Anderson Literacy Coordinator Harborview Medical Center 325 9th Avenue, Box 359710 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone (206) 731-6621 Pager (206) 994-7227 Fax (206) 731-2023 On Thu, 12 Apr 2001, Christensen, Jeanne wrote: > Thank you Sandra! Following up on Wendy's point about text color, I was > wondering if you or anyone else knows about readability of reverse text on > colored background. For example, a blue box with white writing on top. > > Thanks Jeanne > > E. Jeanne Christensen, MPH > Communications and Education Branch > Division of Tuberculosis Elimination > National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention > Centers for Disease Control and Prevention > > Phone: 404-639-8337 * > *During the month of March and April, please dial 404-639-5318 > Fax: 404-639-8960 > email: ehc4@cdc.gov > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Sandra Smith [SMTP:sandras@u.washington.edu] > > Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2001 1:43 PM > > To: Multiple recipients of list > > Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3016] RE: Reading Comprehension > > > > Thanks Wendy! I'm becoming increasingly aware of a design dilemma: > > elements > > such as spot color, bolding,and boxes attract the eye, as you have > > demonstrated, AND they reduce comprehension. So when we ask "which of > > these > > pages do you like better" or "which of these are you more likely to read", > > readers are far more likely to choose the colorful page with attractive > > design elements. But when they read it - comprehension is significantly > > reduced compared to a 'plain' predictable page. Examples follow.. > > > > This from Wheildon, Type & Layout, reporting on 9 years of testing with > > 200+ > > adult readers in Australia(10% high school students, 23% college degree, > > 5% > > advanced degree, all others high school grads. -- unskilled readers likely > > have less tolerance than these testers for anything that increases the > > burden on them). > > > > Here are findings comparing comprehensibility of black type on grey > > background: > > > > Black on white (no shade) 70% had good (over 70%)comprehension > > > > Black on 10% black 63% had good comprehension > > > > Black on 20% black 33% had good comprehension > > > > Black on 30% black 3% had good comprehension > > > > According to this research, the best alternative for balancing attraction > > and comprehension seems to be a 10% (no higher) cyan (blue) tint to draw > > reader's eye to important info, maintain sufficient contrast for easy > > reading, and maintain comprehensibility. > > > > Here are percentages of testers who scored at least 70% on comprehension > > of > > black type on cyan (blue) tints (10% is very light blue. Intensity of > > color > > increases with % tint) > > Black on 10% cyan tint: 68% > > Black on 20% tint: 56% > > Black on 30% tint: 38% > > Black on 40% tint: 22% > > Author notes reduced scores may be due to low understanding, skimming or > > skipping the info. > > > > I'm hoping someone can say definitively that boxing a key message is or is > > not equally effective. i would like tosee this research repeated with less > > skilled readers.SS > > -----Original Message----- > > From: nifl-health@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-health@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of > > Wendy Mettger > > Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2001 7:36 AM > > To: Multiple recipients of list > > Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3014] Reading Comprehension > > > > >
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