Abstract
This study demonstrates an experimental strategy that can improve peripheral letter recognition by modifying typographic design features based on psychophysical data. The approach is based on the assumption that peripheral letter recognition is a fundamental step to reading with eccentric viewing. The experimental design combines psychophysical testing, data analysis by confusion matrices, letter modification of the most frequently confused letter pairs by font design software, and subsequent psychophysical re-testing. Letters of the Sloan set in a common sans serif typeface were displayed tachistoscopically at an eccentricity of 8 degrees. Results from six subjects show that the most frequently confused letter pairs can vary between subjects. If only one feature in each of two out of ten letters belonging to a frequently confused pair is modified, mean recognition performance over the whole set can be improved significantly. This effect may also be augmented by secondary interactions between the modified letters and others that are less frequently confused. These findings demonstrate that the combination of psychophysics and goal-directed modification of typographic features is a viable experimental strategy. It is proposed that future research aiming to optimize the conditions for eccentric viewing should include optimizing typographic design characteristics.