Re: [TC4R Symposium] A quick fix for line spacing

> *Solving a readability issue with line spacing*
>>
>> The problem, Suzette:
>
>
>
>> People with dyslexia often describe a problem of 'rivers of white' which
>> distract from the process of reading text. My experience is the reverse,
>> I'll call it 'grey merge' where a long paragraph becomes a grey mass in
>> which it is difficult to identify key words, to skim or track line by line.
>
> I tend to use zoomed text - mostly because with varifocal lenses I am use
>> the mid-visual range of the lens to view the screen. (I am post cataract
>> surgery - so my eyes are not able to adjust focal distance).
>> On screen, a little extra line spacing makes all the difference to
>> readability - each line is more clearly resolved, as are the words
>> themselves. Obviously there is a trade-off, I get less lines to the page,
>> which for many would be annoying, but for me the difference is between
>> readable and "can I be bothered?"
>> I once had a tool bar that could adjust line spacing at the touch of a
>> button - but it lost out to a browser upgrade some time back. I don't want
>> a style sheet, I just want the same ease of use as zoom with Control +.
>> Some websites are fine and text is set with added line height (eg Wikipedia
>> and many Wordpress themes). The problem is just where there is extensive
>> content set with default line spacing.
>>
>>
>>  The tech solution:
>
>
> Ian: When Suzette told me that she used to have a toolbar that allowed her
> to change the line height of text she read on web pages I decided to see
> what I could come up with in a coffee break. This code is the result. It
> isn't very smart -  it will actually decrease line height if it is already
> bigger than the number you have set, needs to be triggered on every page
> that you want to use it on, and can only be turned off by refreshing the
> page - but this is good enough for that occasional case when you need it.
> In fact, later in that same meeting I decided to give it a try for myself,
> and even though I have relatively good eyesight it really made a difference
> to readability on some pages.'
>
>
> The quick technical fix:
>
> 'This little bookmarklet  works in Firefox to set the line height of text
> on a page to whatever the number is you put at the end, in this case 1.3.
> If you want more space, you can increase to 1.5 or 2.0.
> It gets added to the Bookmarks and you just click on the bookmark when you
> need it.
>
> javascript:(function(lh){var%
>
>     20d=document,c='*{line-height:
>>
>>
>> '+lh+'%20!important;}',s=d.createElement('style');s.innerHTML=c;d.head.appendChild(s);})(1.3);
>>
>>     If you too suffer from 'grey merge' try it, or share it with others!
>>
>> Suzette, with many thanks to Ian.
>
>
>
>
>
> Suzette Keith
> Usability and Accessibility Consultant: requirements gathering and
> evaluation
> Digital Unite licenced tutor: getting started with email, shopping and
> travel.
>
>


-- 
Suzette Keith
Usability and Accessibility Consultant: requirements gathering and
evaluation
Digital Unite licenced tutor: getting started with email, shopping and
travel.