Why do we still use Portrait format (Page 3): Portrait vs landscape partly has to do with the visual angles of the human eye. In binocular vision the human eye angles are 135 deg...

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Portrait vs landscape partly has to do with the visual angles of the human eye. In binocular vision the human eye angles are 135 deg vertical and 200 deg horizontal. However, these are maximal angles over which the presence of light is sensed. The more important angles are those of the centrl vision. The nasal bridge limits each eye to about 45 degrees suggesting about 90 degrees for horizonatal central vision. But the center axis' of the eyes are spaced some 3,4 inches apart, so the central angle should exceed 90. I have seen quotations of 114 degrees horizontal. Is it any wonder that pribted pages read easier in portrait than landscape.

RolandDieter

Newspapers use narrow columns to make them easier to read. Standard European letter paper is a half-inch narrower than ours, and even this small difference makes it easier to read. If you would still prefer landscape, write some letters to friends using landscape format and see what feedback you get. I'll bet its negative.

Cletus Loc: Mongolia

"Judicious use of columns" hints at the reason. Long lines of words are harder to read than short lines of words. If a landscape page featured several columns of text, set in shorter lines than full screen width, landscape would be fine for text. Savvy word butchers and publishers, online and on paper, know how to make that happen, but most people do not. Look at what I just wrote .... it extends the full width of the "window," which usually is the whole width of the screen. Squeeze the window to make it a third of a screen wide. Notice how much easier it is to read? That's why portrait framing of text remains so useful.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

burkphoto wrote:

Ahh, our tax dollars at work...

Compliance is one thing. Creative presentation that complies is still possible.

Good point but there are always those that like compulsion. And their lack of creativity, if they are in control, they will, if possible compel you into compliance.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

RolandDieter wrote:

Newspapers use narrow columns to make them easier to read. Standard European letter paper is a half-inch narrower than ours, and even this small difference makes it easier to read. If you would still prefer landscape, write some letters to friends using landscape format and see what feedback you get. I'll bet its negative.

All of these comments are written in landscape. I find my head moving side to side and after a day of this I think I would have kink in my neck. It is easier and less tiresome to move your eye up and down the page, rather than to crane your neck.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

paulrph1 wrote:

All of these comments are written in landscape. I find my head moving side to side and after a day of this I think I would have kink in my neck. It is easier and less tiresome to move your eye up and down the page, rather than to crane your neck.

All mine were in vertical mode on an iPhone.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

repleo wrote:

I understand why we would want to choose between P... (show quote)

Landscape text causes more frequent misses of the next line and too long a line is hard on the eyes.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Do you read UHH with your ipad sideways?

Try it and you’ll experience why portrait mode for reading.