计步器的英文使用说明易懂吗？

Dept of Family Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.

J Phys Act Health. 2010 May;7(3):375-80. doi: 10.1123/jpah.7.3.375.

BACKGROUND

We evaluated readability and related features of English-language instructions accompanying pedometers, including reading grade level, layout/formatting characteristics, and emphasis of key points.

METHODS

We identified 15 pedometers currently available for purchase in the US. Reading grade level was calculated using Flesch-Kinkaid (FK) and SMOG formulas. Text point size was measured with a C-Thru Ruler. Page and illustration dimensions were measured to the nearest millimeter (mm) with a standard ruler. Layout features were evaluated using the criteria from the User-Friendliness Tool.

RESULTS

FK scores ranged from 8th to 11th grade, while SMOG scores ranged from 8th to 12th grade. Text point size averaged 6.9 +/- 1.9 (range = 4-11). Instructions averaged 8.7 +/- 9.0 (range = 0-36) illustrations, most about the size of a US quarter. While many instructions avoided use of specialty fonts (n = 12; 80.0%), most used a minimal amount of white space. Just 4 (26.7%) sets of instructions highlighted the target goal of 10,000 steps-per-day.

CONCLUSION

Pedometer instructions should be revised to meet the recommended 6th grade reading level. Paper size instructions are printed on should be enlarged, thereby allowing for larger text and illustrations, and additional white space. Recommended number of steps per day and proper pedometer positioning should also be predominantly highlighted.

背景

我们评估了伴随计步器的英文说明书的可读性和相关特征，包括阅读水平、布局/格式特征以及重点的强调。

方法

我们确定了美国目前在售的 15 款计步器。使用 Flesch-Kincaid（FK）和 SMOG 公式计算阅读水平。文本字号大小使用 C-Thru 标尺进行测量。页面和插图尺寸使用标准标尺以毫米（mm）为单位进行最接近的测量。布局特征使用用户友好性工具的标准进行评估。

结果

FK 分数范围为 8 至 11 年级，SMOG 分数范围为 8 至 12 年级。文本字号平均为 6.9 +/- 1.9（范围=4-11）。说明书平均有 8.7 +/- 9.0（范围=0-36）个插图，大多数插图的大小与美国 25 美分硬币差不多。虽然许多说明书避免使用特殊字体（n=12；80.0%），但大多数说明书使用了最小量的空白。只有 4 组（26.7%）说明书突出了 10,000 步/天的目标。