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Dixy: A Connection Between the “Typographic Appearance” and the Brain of Children
María Fernanda del Real García
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DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2014.01.006
Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
This study presents a comparison between three different fonts in order to know the possible influence they may have when used in educational materials for children with readers difficulties resulting from dyslexia. Two of the three selected fonts (Arial and MeMimas) are frequently used in textbooks in Spain. The third type of letter (Dixy) was specially developed for typographic research purposes, following graphic features that according to literature and previous studies on reading patterns favor the dyslexic, and could improve reading skills in these individuals. To examine the quality of reading (speed and accuracy) between fonts, a small—but significant—sample was used. Ten children in Madrid, from eight to 10 years old were examined while reading words and pseudowords with three different fonts (Arial, MeMimas, and Dixy). The result of the study shows the influence of the shapes of the letters in the legibility of texts with familiar and unfamiliar words (pseudowords) in children with dyslexia. The study showed that using the font Dixy, despite not being known by the children, reading is more accurate than using fonts known to them, such as Arial and MeMimas. As to the reading speed, the results indicate that, although the Dixy is a font never seen before by the children, reading speed is similar to a known font for them, as is the Arial, and greater than a hand writing font such as MeMimas.
legibility, letter font, dyslexia, reading, children, readers difficulties
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