Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Writing for the computer screen

Notes from article in Digital Matrix 131

Gotchas:
  1. Less reading time
  2. On-screen text is tougher for the reader - to read
  3. The computer or reader can alter the format
  4. On-screen text competes with other distractions
  5. The screen can hide errors - things can look finished, even when they aren't

Tips:
Structure
  • Use the inverted pyramid style of writing
  • Provide an overview and signposts
  • Use hyperlinks effectively
Style
  • Use smaller chunks of text
  • Write succinctly
  • Use bullet points and lists
Format
  • Leave plenty of white space
  • Avoid using italics
  • Choose your font carefully
  • Use a sufficiently large font
  • Use simple colour contrasts

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