THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIAL SIZE, READING DISTANCE AND READING ACCURACY

Abstract

The experiment reported suggests that the accuracy of reading a graduated scale is related to the angle subtended at the eye by the called space. There is a critical point representing about 98 per cent accuracy (for all intervals interpolated into five or less parts) below which there is a rapid fall off in accuracy and above which little improvement can be expected. Each combination of scale interval and called interval has a different critical point and from these it is possible to calculate the optimum reading distance for any dial size and vice versa. It is possible also to decide which of several alternative graduation systems is likely to be the best.

It was found that ‘ practised subjects ’—who had made more than 2000 readings on a particular graduation system—were able to read a dial at double the distance of an ‘ unpractised subject ’ both having 6/6 binocular eyesight. For ‘ practised subjects ’ with 6/12 binocular eyesight the reading distances were reduced by one fifth.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

K. F. H. MURRELL

the Department of Psychology, University of Bristol