Seeing The Light?

Being a new blogger has been an interesting experience in procrastination. It seems that my blog has become the last thing I attend to in the course of my work. It's an odd feeling to be putting thoughts "out there" to the world at large--literally. A bit intimidating. I will try harder to tend to The Legibility Doctor online "office lobby" conversation during 2008.

The 4th Quarter 2007 poll question—on whether you think road signs would be easier to read if they had white letters on a black background—came out ahead in the affirmative. From my research into this matter, I would have to agree with the majority. White letters have been shown to "pop" better out of a dark background so it makes sense that white letters on a dark background would also be more legible on a street sign.

One item of discussion that has come across my desk in the last month is the effect of lighting on legibility. Maybe it's the fact that it's the middle of winter and lighting is a sorely lacking element. But I think it's more likely the fact that, as we age, we need more light to see legibly. In fact, by the time we reach age sixty, we need double the amount of light that someone in their twenties needs.

I will soon be getting "progressive" lenses (the modern term for bi-focals) but I can still read OK if the light level on my reading is increased to near sunlight level. Of course, this means that all my three-way light bulbs are operating on high these days! I haven't completely switched to energy-efficient light bulbs yet but know that I should be more aggressive in doing that.

So the poll question for 1st quarter 2008 is about energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs and legibility. Vote now!