Readers tell websites that F is key to success

A RECENT survey of how eyes read a web page shows that most users read in an F shaped pattern.

The test, which has been carried out by boffins working for the Nielsen Norman Group, monitored what the eye balls of 232 users were doing when they looked at web pages.

Much to their surprise they found that users first read in a horizontal movement, usually across the upper part of the content area.

Next, they move down the page a bit and then read across in a second horizontal movement that typically covers a shorter area than the previous movement.

Lastly they scan the content's left side in a vertical movement. The group has published pictures of a typical reading here here, but if the report is correct then it could have a few implications for web designers and news sites.

Firstly no one is going to read text word-by-word and most are only going to read the first two paragraphs.

In other words, you are all tabloid readers and if you have got this far in a story you are in an incredible minority. So really I write what I like about your mother down here and you will never know. [You're fired Nick. Ed.] µ