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The Science of Word Recognition

Posted by michael on from the paris-in-the-the-spring dept.

neile writes "I stumbled across a fascinating paper over at the Microsoft Typography site today that provides a really nice overview of the different theories on how humans read. If you thought we read by recognizing word shapes, think again! With the assistance of fancy eye-tracking cameras researchers have been able to devise several clever experiments to give us new insight into how reading works." We've linked to some of Larson's work previously.

19 of 430 comments (clear)

  1. Microsoft? by oKtosiTe · · Score: 1, Funny

    Did I just read what I think I read? (Pun intended)

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    It will happen.
  2. AAAAAARRGGHHH, I'm going blind! by rock_climbing_guy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Would one of those stupid comments about the colour scheme on /. be on-topic now?

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    Wh47 d1d j00 541, 31337 15n't t3h r0xor5 ne m0r3???
    1. Re:AAAAAARRGGHHH, I'm going blind! by tahii · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes, yes it would.

      For all those wanting this post in an eye-shattering colour, Click here

  3. Honest!!! by TheWingThing · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was reading what was written on her T-shirt!

    1. Re:Honest!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      and it said "If you can read this you are a fucken perv"

    2. Re:Honest!!! by rock_climbing_guy · · Score: 5, Funny
      I liked the t-shirt that said,

      (in big letters) If you can read this,

      (in slightly smaller letters)you obviously must have

      (in still smaller letters)very good eyesight.

      (in smaller letters)While you're down here, why don't you give me a blow job?

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      Wh47 d1d j00 541, 31337 15n't t3h r0xor5 ne m0r3???
  4. Oh no! by barcodez · · Score: 3, Funny

    So are Microsoft going to patent the way we read and then sue?

    "If you are reading this then you owe Microsoft royalies"

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  5. In related news... by Zorilla · · Score: 3, Funny

    New technology will soon be revealed that will instruct Slashdot users on the proper spelling of "lose".

    The USSGN (Union of Slashdot Spelling and Grammar Nazis) is expected to stage protests against the new product in the interest of keeping their jobs.

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    It would be cool if it didn't suck.
  6. Quotation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Evidence from the last 20 years of work in cognitive psychology indicates that we use the letters within a word to recognize a word."

    Man, I'm so glad they finally figured this out...

  7. Typography by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The creators of Word giving advice on typography. Do they have no sense of irony?

  8. Anyone think of "A Clockwork Orange"? by Alex+Reynolds · · Score: 1, Funny

    I can just imagine the Microsoft testing labs...

  9. Re:Eye movements? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny
    And thank you EyeQ! Your the greatest!


    Reading good. Spelling not so good.
  10. Re:aaah!! eyes hurt! by The+Grassy+Knoll · · Score: 5, Funny

    >renerding on firefox

    re-nerding! ha ha. Best... typo... ever...

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    They will never know the simple pleasure of a monkey knife fight
  11. Re:How we read... by djmurdoch · · Score: 2, Funny

    Anidroccg to crad cniyrrag lcitsiugnis planoissefors at an uemannd, utisreviny in Bsitirh Cibmuloa, and crartnoy to the duoibus cmials of the ueticnd rcraeseh, a slpmie, macinahcel ioisrevnn of ianretnl cretcarahs araepps sneiciffut to csufnoe the eadyrevy oekoolnr.

    This would be a lot easier to read without that misplaced comma.

  12. Ahem... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Why is this the first image that popped into my head?

  13. Defence: by CrazyDuke · · Score: 1, Funny

    I couldn't read the patent, your honor. Or the S&D order... Or the summons... Or the directions to the courthouse...

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    Any sufficiently advanced influence is indistinguishable from control.
  14. RTFA by Eric604 · · Score: 1, Funny

    how ironic...
    an article about reading posted on slashdot

  15. Re:I love how by QuickFox · · Score: 2, Funny

    Puzzling.... anyway, it's good to know that at least some presidents have some skills

    Wow, you're even more pessimistic than me about these things! You find it puzzling that a president has skills?

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    Terrorists can't threaten a country's freedom and democracy. Only lawmakers and voters can do that.
  16. My own experiments with an eye-tracking camera... by pandrijeczko · · Score: 2, Funny
    ...revealed that whenever I read the word "Microsoft", my pupils dilate and when I read the word "Longhorn", I fall into a deep sl...

    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

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    Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.