Preferred Reading Formats for Mobile Devices: Results from Readability Studies

Abstract

The shift towards reading on mobile screens presents opportunities for tailoring text formats to readers with different needs, yet navigating reading controls proves challenging for readers. Prior work recommends presenting readers with reading themes: a small but diverse set of pre-bundled settings of font with character, word, and line spacing. This work extends the approach to mobile screens, while additionally considering color and contrast adjustments, and digital reading rulers that have been shown to positively impact digital reading. While validating text format guidelines that hold across desktop and mobile reading themes, we found some subtle differences in recommended reading formats for mobile screens. Additionally, we discuss the benefits of providing readers with color and contrast adjustments and reading rulers as additional customizable extensions on top of the proposed reading themes.

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