The speed and accuracy of reading horizontal, vertical, and circular scales

Abstract

"The speed and accuracy of reading comparable horizontal, vertical, and circular scales has been studied by means of a film… . The vertical scale is clearly less easy to read than either of the other two displays, particular difficulty being experienced near its ends. The success of the circular scale may be attributed to the fact that it presents a smaller area to be scanned. The shape of the visual field and the relative ease of moving the eyes from side to side, rather than up and down, are thought to account for the greater accuracy on the horizontal scale." (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)