Author Topic: Princeton study claims Comic Sans is better for learning (Read 2856 times)

CrossEyed7 · « **on:** January 15, 2011, 10:15:09 PM »

This irks me greatly.

Apparently, Comic Sans is a better font for learning because it's (supposedly) harder to read -- thus requiring you to be more engaged in the reading.

HEY KID'S!!!!!!! CHIRSTOPHER COLUMBUS prooved that the WORLD is ROUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's what our grandkids' history books are going to look like.

CoconutMikeNIke · « **Reply #1 on:** January 15, 2011, 10:26:05 PM »

Slashdot had an article yesterday that said similarly that reading off an e-reader was easier, and therefore less likely to absorb the information. I find it very hard to believe it. Admittedly, I am not educated in how the brain takes info, but I would think that straining to know what's written is different from processing what's being said.

ShadowBrain · « **Reply #2 on:** January 16, 2011, 12:28:19 AM »

Usually when I strain to read something--like if my vision is messed up for some reason--I tend to focus less on what I'm reading and more on the fact that I'm reading in the first place.

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #3 on:** January 16, 2011, 03:20:06 AM »

First: misleading thread title and post. The experiment wasn't specifically about Comic Sans at all; Italicized Comic Sans was just one of the several fonts used.

Second: hmm, who to trust: Princeton professors and Ph.D candidates performing actual trials or dudes on a forum who find it hard to believe.

The Chef · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2011, 11:53:41 PM »

...Why is the mere mention of Comic Sans even newsworthy? What is with people's obsession with hating this particular font? I never even see it used anywhere!

Toad · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2011, 04:29:12 PM »

You have now!

I don't see the obssesion either, but I also don't think it's worth hating. It's just a font. If you don't like it, don't read it.

.. or just ignore the fact that things will be written in Comic Sans, since you won't know till you actually look at it.

MushroomMaster · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2011, 12:57:29 AM »

Comic sans is the shiz. COMIC SAANNNS!

Mr. Wiggles · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2011, 01:30:34 AM »

Quote from: CoconutMikeNIke on January 15, 2011, 10:26:05 PM

Slashdot had an article yesterday that said similarly that reading off an e-reader was easier, and therefore less likely to absorb the information.

Seems like the truth to me. I have a ton of difficulty remembering stuff I read off my digital textbooks or internet resources in general, but I can clearly recall info from printed sources word for word.