UK company Message Digital Design Ltd recently launched an online legibility survey about reading text on the web. The survey consists an online tool which enables the user to dynamically select and change text preferences for font (web safe), size, line height and column width until they arrive at their preferred setting. The survey has already received 3,500 replies which is a very good response and clearly demonstrates the need for factual information in the area of on-screen legibility. However, although this survey appears so simple, its results may prove inconclusive given that the profile of participants is so open and uncontrollable (eg. unknown reading ability and reading conditions etc). From a quantitative perspective independent of context, it will be interesting to see what is the preferred web font and at what size etc. However, optimum text sizes are difficult to measure due to the varying x-heights of different typefaces. Optimum line height and column width (line length) are also dependent on font and size choice. Whatever the outcome, it will provide an insight into web readers favourite text preferences. Whether or not these will provide definitive answers to web legibility questions remains open to further debate. The results will be published later in the summer.

Kevin Larson has an article about eye strain in the current issue of Eye, his empirical methods for studying legibility factors on screen have been impressive to date (though he does have the backing and resources of Microsoft behind him!).