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> For the same reason why it's easier to spot a typo on a paper page than it is
> to spot the same typo on a screen - even when vieing WYSIWYG.
> Two theories that I've just made up (Caution: these are both "pre-coffee"
> theories early in the morning)
> 1) It's cultural. Even the youngest among us on this list grew up learning
from
> paper, and we're more accustomed to absorbing information presented that way.
> If so, then as years pass we'll find on-screen will become dominant.
> 2) It's in the brain. A piece of paper does not move. A screen image flickers,
> and while it's -fast-, the brain -can- perceive the flicker. Perhaps the brain
> processes the information in a different way, because the brain perceives
> motion? If so, then on-screen will have a serious handicap for a long, long
> time.
Very interesting. And not bad for "pre-coffee" thinking! An
additional theory, one I derived from your number two, is
3) Our eyes fatigue faster reading a computer screen (because of
the flicker) than when reading hard copy. When our eyes are
tired, we are more apt to miss things.
Beverly Parks
bparks -at- huachuca-emh1 -dot- army -dot- mil
