I read a journal article on the effects of readability on retention and thought I'd take a stab at explaining the conclusions in a visual manner. I create presentations for my blog at http://blog.researchplan.com. If you try my experiment, post your results there!

1. UGLY print
How science says readable just isn’t so
memorable when it comes to fonts
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2. A few years ago, I
watched this film
about typeface.
It explained the
origins of a font
known as
“Helvetica” (Arial
to Windows
users)
It might sound dull, but I found it
fascinating.

3. So, the idea of
Helvetica is that it’s
supposed to be a
nice, neutral face.
You can use it on street
sights, menus, catalogs,
documents, logos,
presentations – anything
you like, really.
It’s a clean, all-purpose font.

4. Helvetica
Image source: HelveticaFanatic (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

5. Helvetica
Image source: HelveticaFanatic (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

6. Helvetica
...you get the idea.
Image source: HelveticaFanatic (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

7. But this recently published study
from the journal Cognition
suggests that easily-read fonts
have a big drawback --
-- the information they
supply is a lot harder for
readers to remember.

8. It’s not exactly a surprising finding.
Human beings are
highly visual creatures.
Our brains process
images long before they
process words.
That’s why the font we use conveys
meaning no matter what the words say.
Image source: HellsGeriatiric (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

9. Don’t believe me?
Let’s try some examples.
Image source: HellsGeriatiric (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

10. If I told you a child
had made this slide, do
you think you’d be
more likely to believe
me…
Image source: HellsGeriatiric (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

11. …than you might if I
told you that a
child made this
slide?
Image source: HellsGeriatiric (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

12. What if I used this font to tell
you that I was going off to war?
Or used this one to tel you I wanted to
work with children?
Image source: HellsGeriatiric (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

13. What if I used
this font on
my tombstone?
Once again, I’m sure you see
where I’m going with this.
But that brings us to an
important point…
Image source: HellsGeriatiric (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

14. Image source: HellsGeriatiric (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

15. …than you’ll
remember this one.
Image source: HellsGeriatiric (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

16. Let’s try an experiment.
Time yourself for 60 seconds, and try to
remember all of the words in this list:
Paperback Quasar
Android Carriage
Caller Toolbox
Train Bowtie
Rottweiler Lemonade
Snow drift Sneeze
Vacuum Silver
Image source: HellsGeriatiric (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

17. Now, quickly, write down
as many as you can
remember.
Try to picture the words.
When you can’t remember any more,
give yourself one point for every word
you got right.
Image source: HellsGeriatiric (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

18. Now, try again.
Time yourself for 60 seconds, and try to
remember all of the words in this list:
Neutrino Plant
Wagon Asteroid
Drill set Telephone
Cumberbund Automobile
Orange Juice Scottish Terrier
Cough Iceberg
Mercury Mop
Image source: HellsGeriatiric (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

19. Once again, write down
as many as you can
remember.
Try to picture the words.
When you can’t remember any more,
give yourself one point for every word
you got right.
Image source: HellsGeriatiric (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

20. How’d you do?
Here’s my score:
Exercise 1 Exercise 2
11 9
The words were very similar. All I did
was change their order.
I’d love to see how we all compare. Post
your results in the comments below!
Image source: HellsGeriatiric (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

21. I’m not sure about you, but
I had a much easier time
visualizing the first set.
When I got to the second set, I
tended to skim over the words and
immediately forget them.
Something in my brain was
telling me that the second set
of words weren’t as important
for me to remember.
Image source: HellsGeriatiric (Flickr.com) Used Under Creative Commons License.

22. I find this phenomenon
extremely interesting.
It suggests that our brains
actually get lazy when we
make things too convenient.
Could it be that one reason
children struggle in school is
because printed text doesn’t
require them to think as hard?
Image source: Microsoft.

23. Consider this
implication: We’ve got more
information available now
than ever before.
The simple act of walking down
the street exposes you to dozens
of pieces of printed information.
Yet our brains are learning to ignore
it all because the font’s too plain.
Image source: Microsoft.

24. Maybe everything
we think we know
about design is
based on our
brain’s desire to
conserve its own
energy.
Image source: Microsoft.

25. It’s certainly
worth considering…
Image source: Microsoft.