Research on Universal Design fonts for the visually impaired and the elderly
In order to pursue further possibilities for fonts and to seek the optimal fonts for the visually impaired and the elderly, Fontworks Inc. "Universal Design ( Universal Design) Fonts" was researched. Report its contents.
From the viewpoint of universal design Universal Design we conduct research on fonts and "Universal Design fonts that are effective designs for everyone" We have been developing with the aim of. Through this process, we came to the idea that rather than developing only one design that is effective for everyone, wouldn't it be better to change the character design to make it the optimal UD font for each specific group so that we can deliver the optimal font to the people in the whole group?
In the first study, we conducted an experiment on an elderly group, concluded that "there is not much difference between the elderly and the young," and released Universal Design font of our company. Following the idea I mentioned earlier, instead of saying that there is not much difference, we need to deal with small differences, so we decided to work on it from here.
In addition, in the discussion, there was an opinion that "it is better to incorporate not only the elderly but also the visually impaired", so we are researching and developing Universal Design fonts for the visually impaired and the elderly.
Research overview
1. Font comparison experiment
We conducted two experiments.
・ Readability evaluation experiment
Evaluate fonts in terms of "readability".
・Discrimination evaluation experiment
Fonts are evaluated from the viewpoint of "ease of distinguishing" characters that are easy to misread.
This research For the visually impaired and the elderly, "seeking the best font from among various fonts" for the purpose of "Evaluate mainly readability while considering discriminability" It was made.
We asked Mirairo Co., Ltd. and Do House Co., Ltd. to select the subjects.
We have a large selection of fonts with rich designs. In other words, the number of experimental trials to select just one font from all fonts is very large.
On the other hand, there was also the problem of conducting long-term experiments on visually impaired people. Therefore, in order to reduce the number of trials, design typefaces were removed from all fonts, and general Mincho, Gothic, and Maru Gothic fonts were used as test fonts.
It actually covers the following fonts:
Due to the pandemic, instead of face-to-face experiments, we created a web application for the experiment and conducted an online experiment by running it on the PC or tablet owned by the subject. The character display of the experimental application uses web fonts.
In addition, the following constraints were set for the subjects in the experiment.
・It is possible to answer from a tablet or PC (smartphones are not possible)
・ Participate in a bright room (no brightness setting)
・I don't normally browse in black and white reversed state.
・It is possible to view the text information displayed in the designated application without enlarging or reducing it.
・The distance from the screen should be 30 to 40 cm.
Font comparison experiment summary
(1) Differences from young people
In the previous study (Joint Research Report with Kyushu University vol.1 ~Regarding the evaluation of universal design (Universal Design) font~), we emphasized the difference in type faces, so we compared the same weight for both young and elderly people. In doing so, Text uses medium-weight fonts such as R and M.
In this experiment, it
was found that "visually impaired and elderly people seem to be optimally using thicker weights."
(2) Recommended fonts
It is assumed that the environment set in the experiment is understated.
・ Text
Suppose UDMarugo_Small BEB or B is good. Accordingly, UDKakugo_Small is also good.
・ Heading
Suppose UDKakugo_Small BEB or B is good. Accordingly, UDMarugo_Small is also good.
(3) Discriminability
As expected, it was difficult to distinguish between characters with small differences, such as turbidity and semi-turbidity. I think it is necessary to try to improve the discriminability in the future.
Experiment details
■ Dividing the experiment
We conducted three experiments, including a preliminary experiment. The number of fonts used in one experiment was set to 6, and we decided to search for the appropriate font by repeating the experiment.
■ Readability experiment
■ Discrimination test
Experimental result
■ Survey ①
□ Experiment
In a preliminary survey, there were opinions that a thicker weight would be better, so we created the "UDKakugo_Small DBB," which has a DB weight for kanji and a B weight for non-kanji, and
The first font we prepared was `` UDKakugo_Small BEB,'' which has a weight of B for kanji and EB for characters other than kanji.
We had the option of using "UDKakugo_Small E," but we were concerned that the kanji counter might be crushed by visually impaired people, so we prepared a special font.
In line with this, we conducted Study 1 with the aim of finding the appropriate weight and typeface by mixing thinner weight fonts for each typeface.
※Typeface: font
*Counter: Refers to the completely or partially closed portion of the character space.
□ Readability result
There was no difference in evaluation results between the visually impaired and the elderly.
・ Text
Overall, I was able to split my rating into three.
・ Heading
Overall, I was able to split my rating into three.
□ Readability evaluation
R11) For both Text and Heading, `` UDKakugo_Small BEB'' and `` UDKakugo_Small DBB'' were rated highly, with `` UDKakugo_Small BEB'' being rated even higher, so from Survey 2 onwards we decided to focus our examination on the weight of B.
R12) In the second group, since "UDKakugo_Small" was equal to or better than "UDKakugo_Large," it was determined that the size of the font surface area was fine for small.
□ Discriminability result
The shorter the time it took to answer, the easier it was to distinguish.
・Visually impaired people
UDKakugo_Small BEB
UDKakugo_Large DB
UDKakugo_Small DB
UDKakugo_Small DBB
UDMarugo_Small DB
TsukuGo D
·senior citizen
UDMarugo_Small DB
UDKakugo_Large DB
TsukuGo D
UDKakugo_Small DB
UDKakugo_Small BEB
UDKakugo_Small DBB
□ Discriminability evaluation
L11) Visually impaired people and elderly people were evaluated separately.
However, since this time we mainly evaluate readability, we decided to focus on the weight of B according to readability from Survey 2 onwards. For the discriminant investigations that follow, we aimed to understand the difficulty of discrimination for each pair.
■ Survey ②
□ Experiment
Following R11 and L11, I chose "UDKakugo_Small DBB" and "UDKakugo_Small BEB". I chose round gothic of weight B, and TsukuGo, TsukuMin, and Kaku Gothic Condensed of the equivalent weights.
Based on these findings, we conducted Survey 2 with the aim of finding a suitable typeface.
□ Visually impaired readability result
There was a slight difference in evaluation results between the visually impaired and the elderly. Although there was a difference in ranking between amblyopia and color blindness, there was no difference in the evaluation groups, so all were combined.
・ Text
・ Heading
□ Elderly readability results
・ Text
・ Heading
□ Readability evaluation
R21) Both visually impaired people and the elderly rated TsukuMin and Condensed fonts low. We believe this is due to the thinness of the horizontal strokes in Mincho and the relatively Weight vertical strokes in Condensed compared to other fonts.
Also, because TsukuGo was rated as standard, we decided to explore weights focusing on square gothic and rounded gothic from Survey 3 onwards.
■ Survey ③
□ Experiment
"Universal Design Kaku (Round) Go_Small DBB", "Universal Design Kaku (Round) Go_Small BEB", and "Universal Design Kaku (Round) Go_Small B" are fonts with weights as follows.
After receiving R21, I decided to investigate the differences between these fonts, round and square.
(1) Whether changing the weight of kanji and non-kanji is effective
(2) Which is superior, Round Gothic or Kaku Gothic?
The survey was conducted with the above (1) and (2) as the major objectives.
□ Readability result
Unlike Study 2, the typefaces were generally similar, so the standard deviation was smaller and it was difficult to see large differences.
We then divided them into the following evaluation groups. "UDMarugo_Small B", "UDKakugo_Small DBB", and "UDKakugo_Small BEB" were also used in Survey 2, so the results of Survey 2 (evaluation group - ranking) are listed in parentheses.
□ Readability evaluation
R31) Overall, the difference was not large, but after that, we conducted a “comparison between round gothic and square gothic” and a “comparison between round gothic and square gothic” and evaluated them as follows.
Based on this result, Maru Gothic is superior to the Text for both the visually impaired (color blindness) and the elderly. In addition, Kaku Gothic has a slight advantage in Heading.
R32) Overall, DBB is in the 5th or 6th place, except for visually impaired people (color blindness) in 3rd place and elderly Text in 4th place. However, there does not seem to be a clear advantage between BEB and B.
In other words, it is considered that there is no effect for the purpose (1), "What kind of effect does changing the weight of kanji and non-kanji have?"
R33) Regarding "Heading", a similar tendency can be seen in the rankings for both the visually impaired and the elderly.