Latent Semantic Analysis is used as a technique for measuring the coherence of texts. By comparing the vectors for two adjoining segments of text in a highdimensional semantic space, the method provides a characterization of the degree of semantic relatedness between the segments. We illustrate the approach for predicting coherence through re-analyzing sets of texts from two studies that manipulated the coherence of texts and assessed readers' comprehension. The results indicate that the method is able to predict the effect of text coherence on comprehension and is more effective than simple term-term overlap measures. In this manner, LSA can be applied as an automated method that produces coherence predictions similar to propositional modeling. We describe additional studies investigating the application of LSA to analyzing discourse structure and examine the potential of LSA as a psychological model of coherence effects in text comprehension.

Peripheral information is information that is not central to a person's current task, but provides the person the opportunity to learn more, to do a better job, or to keep track of less important tasks. Though peripheral information displays are ubiquitous, they have been rarely studied. For computer users, a common peripheral display is a scrolling text display that provides announcements, sports scores, stock prices, or other news. In this paper, we investigate how to design peripheral displays so that they provide the most information while having the least impact on the user's performance on the main task. We report a series of experiments on scrolling displays aimed at examining tradeoffs between distraction of scrolling motion and memorability of information displayed. Overall, we found that continuously scrolling displays are more distracting than displays that start and stop, but information in both is remembered equally well. These results are summarized in a set of design recommendations.

Systems that include multiple integrated displays distributed throughout the working environment are becoming prevalent. Compared to traditional desktop displays, information presented on such systems is typically separated at much wider visual angles. Additionally, since displays are often placed at different depths or are framed by physical bezels, they introduce physical discontinuities in the presentation of information. In this paper, we describe a study that utilizes a divided attention paradigm to explore the effects of visual separation and physical discontinuities when distributing information across multiple displays. Results show reliable, though small, detrimental effects when information is separated within the visual field, but only when coupled with an offset in depth. Surprisingly, physical discontinuities such as monitor bezels and even separation in depth alone do not seem to affect performance on the set of tasks tested. Following the findings, we provide recommendations for the design of hardware and software in multiple display environments. 1.

As video cameras become cheaper and more pervasive, there is now increased opportunity for user interfaces to take advantage of user gaze data. Eye movements provide a powerful source of information that can be used to determine user intentions and interests. In this paper, we develop and test a method for recognizing when users are reading text based solely on eyemovement data. The experimental results show that our reading detection method is robust to noise, individual differences, and variations in text difficulty. Compared to a simple detection algorithm, our algorithm reliably, quickly, and accurately recognizes and tracks reading. Thus, we provide a means to capture normal user activity, enabling interfaces that incorporate more natural interactions of human and computer.

Latent semantic analysis (LSA) is an automated, statistical technique for comparing the semantic similarity of words or documents. In this paper, I examine the application of LSA to automated essay scoring. I compare LSA methods to earlier statistical methods for assessing essay quality, and critically review contemporary essay-scoring systems built on LSA, including the Intelligent Essay Assessor, Summary Street, State the Essence, Apex, and Select-a-Kibitzer. Finally, I discuss current avenues of research, including LSA's application to computer-measured readability assessment and to automatic summarization of student essays.

In this paper, we explore the concept of code readability and investigate its relation to software quality. With data collected from human annotators, we derive associations between a simple set of local code features and human notions of readability. Using those features, we construct an automated readability measure and show that it can be 80% effective, and better than a human on average, at predicting readability judgments. Furthermore, we show that this metric correlates strongly with two traditional measures of software quality, code changes and defect reports. Finally, we discuss the implications of this study on programming language design and engineering practice. For example, our data suggests that comments, in of themselves, are less important than simple blank lines to local judgments of readability.

Literacy has recently emerged as a key item on the research agenda in medicine and public health. Researchers and practitioners are grappling with evidence that the reading ability of the average adult falls well below the reading level of educational materials, directives, forms, and informed-consent documents commonly used in the health field. The threats to effective communication and efficacious care have spurred interest in exploring strategies for more effective communication. In addition, increased attention to literacy may be driven by legal concerns for adequate protection of human subjects and ethical concerns for patient autonomy in informed-consent procedures. Methodological strides made since 1992, particularly in the form of new tools for rapid literacy measurement, have enabled a number of researchers to explore links between the literacy level of patients and health outcomes that will have critical policy implications. These investigations can best be undertaken through collaborative efforts between educators who understand the learning process and health professionals who understand the protocols used in health care and public health education. Findings will serve to enrich policy and practice.

ABSTRACT. Modest support was found for the "Dr. Fox Phenomenon": Management scientists gain prestige by unintelligible writing. A positive correlation (+0.7) was found between the prestige of 10 management journals and their "fog indices " (reading difficulty). Furthermore, 32 faculty members were asked to rate the prestige of four passages from management journals. The content of the passages was held constant while readability was varied. Those passages that were more difficult to read were rated higher in research competence.

The principles of readability are in every style manual. Readability formulas are in every word processor. What is missing is the research and theory on which they stand.

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