1. Johnson Chapter 6
Reading is Unnatural

2. Reading is Unnatural We’re wired for language, but not for reading
Speaking and understanding spoken languages is a natural human ability
Reading is an artificial skill that we learn by systematic instruction and practice, like playing a violin, juggling, or reading music

3. Learning to read involves training our brain
Paragraphs
Phrases: idiomatic expressions, sentences
Words
Morphemes: “farm” “tax” “ing”
Patterns—letters, numeric digits, concepts (e.g., Chinese)
Features: lines, contours, shapes

4. Is reading feature-driven or context-driven
Feature-driven = bottom-up, context-free
First recognize basic features (lines, edges, angles, etc.)
Then recognize morphemes, words, and phrases
Context-driven = top-down
Start by recognizing high-level patterns like words phrases and sentences
Then determine what the components of the high-level pattern must be

5. The rain in Spain falls manly in the plain

6. Mray had a ltilte lmab, its feclee was with as sown
Mray had a ltilte lmab, its feclee was with as sown. And ervey wehre that Mray wnet, the lmab was srue to go.

7. Twinkle, twinkle little star how I wonder what you are

8. To let

9. Skilled and unskilled reading uses different parts of the brain
Letters are matched
and their
corresponding sounds
Morphemes and words
are recognized

10. Poor information design can disrupt reading
Unfamiliar terms
Your session has expired. Please reauthenticate
Use “controlled language”
Difficult scripts and typefaces
1: This sentence is difficult to read
2: This sentence is difficult to read

11. Information buried in repetition
How to renew your driver license in person
How to renew your driver license by mail
How to renew our driver license by internet
How to renew your instruction permit

12. Centered text

13. Much of the reading required by software is unnecessary
It’s easy to locate a dealer. Click and hold box number 1 to select your search by Area Code, City, Dealership Name, or State Enter the Zip Code, City or Dealership Name in the box marked number If searching by state only select the state form the pull-down menu n box number 3. **If choosing to search by city or state, type the city in box 2 then select a state in the box marked number 3 to make your search complete Once finished, simply click the “Search” button.
Search by:
Select a State:
Enter Zip Code, City, or Dealership name:
Zip Code
Choose One
Search

14. Find a Dealer
Enter Zip Go e Go

15. Structure Enhances People’s Ability to Scan Long Numbers
Easy (415)
Hard:

16. Data-specific Controls provide even more structure
Address: fred @ bedrock com

17. Visual Hierarch lets People Focus on the Relevant Information
Organize and prioritize the contents of a page by using size, prominence, and content relationships. Let’s look at these relationships more closely. The more important a headline is, the larger its font size should be. Big bold headlines help to grab the user’s attention as they scan the Web page. The more important the headline or content, the higher up the page it should be placed. The most important or popular content should always be positioned prominently near the top of the page, so users can view it without having to scroll too far Group similar content types by displaying the content in a similar visual style, or in a clearly defined area.

18. Visual Hierarch lets People Focus on the Relevant Information
Size. Organize and prioritize the contents of a page by using size, prominence, and content relationships. Let’s look at these relationships more closely. The more important a headline is, the larger its font size should be. Big bold headlines help to grab the user’s attention as they scan the Web page.
Prominence. The more important the headline or content, the higher up the page it should be placed. The most important or popular content should always be positioned prominently near the top of the page, so users can view it without having to scroll too far
Content Relationship. Group similar content types by displaying the content in a similar visual style, or in a clearly defined area.