Xref: utzoo alt.folklore.computers:7431 comp.misc:10644
Path: utzoo!utgpu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!samsung!emory!wuarchive!rice!uupsi!oswego!news
From: dab@Oswego.EDU (David Alan Bozak)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers,comp.misc
Subject: Re: Coding in lowercase - references?
Summary: it's true, in general
Message-ID: <1990Nov28.193148.1300@oswego.Oswego.EDU>
Date: 28 Nov 90 19:31:48 GMT
References: <20517.273e9e6b@merrimack.edu>
Reply-To: dab@oswego.Oswego.EDU (David Alan Bozak)
Organization: SUNY at Oswego, Oswego, NY
Lines: 42

In article <20517.273e9e6b@merrimack.edu> gerlekm@merrimack.edu writes:
>Help -
>
>Some time ago, on one of these groups, yet another discussion occurred
>on whether programs should be coded in upper or lower or even mixed
>case letters.  Someone claimed that lower case was better, because our
>eyes are more trained ("used to") to lowercase letters -- does anyone
>have a reference for this, or any related studies?
>
>One of my profs thinks I'm making this up, and I need proof :-)
>Thnaks in advance.
>
>[  M.P.Gerlek, Wanna-Be At Large
>[  Disclaimer: Yes, Mom, I'll play nice.
>[  {uunet,bbn,ulowell}!samsung!hubdub!mpg
>[  "Speaker-to-workstations."

It is true, in general.  Upper case letters have a high degree of
confusability - check most any good perception handbook and you will
find a fair amount of research on this.  There are simply few
distinguishing features available to your perceptual system, especially
relative to the larger number of features available in lower case
(or mixed case).  So lower case should be easier to read if your
measurement is speed and accuracy.

On the other hand, there are certainly other factors at work - perceptual
set (expectations) and the like.  Overall, however, for speed and
accuracy (and likely less fatigue over time), lower case should be
preferable.

(I don't have references on reading at hand, but try D. E. Rumelhart,
1970, A multicomponent theory of perception of briefly exposed
visual displays, _Journal of Mathematical Psychology_, volume 7,
191-218.  That ought to get you to a better reference.)

-dab

         /\           David Alan Bozak, Computer Science Department
        /  \          SUNY College at Oswego, Oswego, NY  13126 (315) 341-2347
  _____/____\_____    Internet: dab@rocky.oswego.edu                     
 /    /      \    \          or dab%rocky.oswego.edu@nisc.nyser.net     
/____/        \____\  UUCP: {cornell!devvax,rutgers!sunybcs}!oswego!rocky!dab