Abstract
Readability is important for mobile usability since text is the preferred way of dealing with information over distances in time and space. Making it easy to read on mobile devices has, however, proved difficult, primarily since the accustomed way to present texts is at odds with the limited screen space available. Simply enlarging the screen is an obvious solution, but since mobile devices need to be small to be mobile, this is just not viable. Instead, ways need to be found to present texts on small screens that facilitate the level of readability we are used to. To be able to do this, methods for evaluating novel text presentation formats on mobile devices are needed. This chapter presents findings and experiences from three readability studies where eye movement tracking has been used to learn more about how to improve readability on mobile devices.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Scrolling Format: A traditional text presentation format displaying texts by using a page larger than the screen
Dynamic Text Presentation: Text presented using formats that dynamically displays the text over time
Leading: A dynamic text presentation format displaying texts by scrolling continuously on a single line
Rapid Serial Visual Presentation: A dynamic text presentation format displaying texts one or a few words at a time
Traditional Text Presentation: Text presented using formats based on how text is traditionally presented on paper
Readability: The ease with which the reading process can proceed
Page Format: A traditional text presentation format displaying texts by using several screen sized pages