Legibility of Noto Sans Sinhala font features for small-scale digital device screens

Abstract

The increasing reliance on digital devices for reading and communication emphasizes the importance of optimized fonts, especially for languages with complex scripts such as Sinhala. This study discusses optimized Sinhala fonts for small-scale digital screens and aims to pinpoint the anatomical features of a font that enhance legibility on such devices. A preliminary visual analysis was conducted to select the most suitable Sinhala font for the study, with Noto Sans Sinhala emerging as the preferred choice due to its legibility. Subsequently, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the legibility of Noto Sans Sinhala, further identifying its anatomical features that influence letter misidentification. The study also identifies the most misidentified letters in the chosen font. Anatomical features highlighted as distinct visual features (DVF) impacting letter misidentification were assessed, emphasizing their significance in font legibility focused on Sinhala. The practical implications of this research include providing valuable insights for designers to optimize Sinhala fonts for digital platforms, ultimately enhancing user experience and communication in Sinhala.