Reading Speed and Information Presentation

This paper presents the results of an experiment measuring the difference of reading speed and preference when reading on paper or screen. Extending previous experiments on the topic of reading speed measurements, which usually concentrate in specific age groups, in this experiment, participants from across the adult life span took part in reading on computer screen or on paper. Results are in agreement with previous studies, which showed that reading from paper is significantly faster (around 10-30%) than reading from screen. No significant differences in terms of reading speed and preference among the three information layouts (one-column, two-column and three-column formats) used in this experiment were found.

Zaphiris, P., & Kurniawan, H. (2001). Effects of information layout on reading speed: Differences between paper and monitor presentation. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting Proceedings, 45(15), 1210-1214. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/154193120104501512