The relative legibility of a telephone directory that used horizontally compressed print was determined in comparison to one that did not use compression but was otherwise identical, by measuring the speed and accuracy with which present and absent targets could be searched by college students (20) and senior citizens (9). The compressed print significantly increased response times, more markedly for senior citizens. Error rates were not significantly different. The data also showed that compression decreased legibility for phone numbers more than for names, and this effect was more pronounced for the aged.
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