The Math of Text Readability

An anonymous reader writes "Wired magazine has an article that explains The Law of Optical Volumes, a formula for spacing the letters on a printed page that results in maximum readability. Wired's new logo (did anyone notice?) obeys the law. Unfortunately, Web fonts don't allow custom kerning pairs, so you can't work the same magic online as in print. Could this be why some people still prefer newspapers and magazines to the Web?"

Re:Volumes not areas?

[paeanblack]

So why 'Volumes', not 'Areas'?

It looked better in print.

A Magazine is better...

[ShaggyBOFH]

...because the web is just too big to fit in my bathroom.

Re:I'm not so sure...

[UbuntuDupe]

Personally I've noted that Magazines and Papers put a good bit of thought into layout, but I've never found them easier to read.

Yeah, I agree, though I think that has more to do with their dumbed-down slang phrasings than the typography.

8-year-old: "6 divided by 3 is 2."

Time magazine: "Okay, take the number six. You're all familiar with it, yes? It's a half-dozen. Now, imagine it divvied up into little chunklets -- three, specifically -- and each chunklet has the same number that math professor Gregory Beckens at Overinflated Ego University calls a 'quotient'. The so-called 'quotient' in this case? Dos."

It's Maths

[Wiseman1024]

It's Maths, with an S.

Re:Kerning is not an exact science

[rumblin'rabbit]

ever try to put up a 100 foot long, 12 foot high cinder block wall using just your eye?

I'm trying to imagine that. You would need strong eyes, I think.

But I take your point. Might I also suggest that using an automatic spell checker is better than trying to compose on the fly.

Re:I Care But

[GunFodder]

What kind of geek are you? I would think the biggest advantage of running 3200x2400 is the ability to fit at least 16 reasonably sized fixed-font xterms onscreen AT THE SAME TIME!

Re:Volumes not areas?

[servognome]

So why 'Volumes', not 'Areas'?

Because 'Volumes' let you go up to 11.

Does kerning mean guys in kilts?

[Anonymous Coward]

I get them confused. Is kerning the one where guys in kilts toss trees, or is it the one where they push a rock on ice and use tiny brooms to make it stop?

Re:A Magazine is better...

[Overkill Nbuta]

...because the web is just too big to fit in my bathroom.

You already got the tubes in there. How much work can it be?