Cover not available

Article published In: Information Design Journal
Vol. 28:1 (2023) ► pp.53–92

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload PDF
EPUB logo with download linkDownload EPUB
authorization required

Type does matter!

A systematic literature review on typographic considerations in publications on electronic documentation in aviation and medicine

ORCiD logo with link | Griffith University
ORCiD logo with link | Griffith University
ORCiD logo with link | Griffith University
ORCiD logo with link | Griffith University
Published online: 10 May 2023
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/idj.22019.sch
Abstract
Electronic documentation is gaining importance in aviation and medicine. However, the literature on typographic conventions is rather scattered. Therefore, this systematic literature review examined the landscape of literature addressing typography in electronic documentation in aviation and medicine. The research examined the presence of typographic considerations, level of depth, choice of medium and documentation examples. The results demonstrate that out of 65 publications, 35 address typography in varying depth and often rely on inherited misconceptions. Typographic conventions are transferred from physical to electronic mediums without questioning and remain undervalued. These findings highlight the need for improved legibility in electronic documentation.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Research design
    • Literature search and screening
    • Data analysis
  • Results
    • Presence of typographic considerations & depth of information
    • Typographic considerations
    • Examination of documentation examples
  • Discussion
    • Superficial engagement with typography & disciplinary segregation
    • No differentiation between analogue and electronic documentation
    • Over-reliance on generic recommendations
    • Implications of findings
    • Research agenda
  • Conclusion
    • Limitations of the research
  • Data availability statement
  • Disclosure of interest
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
References (25)
References
Beier, S. (2016). Letterform Research: An academic orphan. Visible Language, 50(2), 64.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Beier, S., & Larson, K. (2010). Design Improvements for Frequently Misrecognized Letters. Information Design Journal, 181, 118–137. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Beier, S., & Oderkerk, C. A. T. (2022). Closed letter counters impair recognition. Applied Ergonomics, 1011, 103709. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Booth, A., Sutton, A., & Papaioannou, D. (2016). Systematic approaches to a successful literature review: Second edition. SAGE.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Borchard, A., Schwappach, D. L. B., Barbir, A., & Bezzola, P. (2012). A systematic review of the effectiveness, compliance, and critical factors for implementation of safety checklists in surgery. In Annals of surgery (Vol. 256, Issue 6, pp. 925–933). Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Burian, B. K. (2006). Design Guidance for Emergency and Abnormal Checklists in Aviation. Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting Proceedings, 50(1), 106–110. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Chaparro, A., Keebler, J. R., Lazzara, E. H., & Diamond, A. (2019). Checklists: A review of their origins, benefits, and current uses as a cognitive aid in medicine. Ergonomics in Design, 27(2), 21–26. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Clebone, A., Burian, B. K., Watkins, S. C., Gálvez, J. A., Lockman, J. L., & Heitmiller, E. S. (2017). The development and implementation of cognitive aids for critical events in pediatric anesthesia: The Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Critical Events Checklists. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 124(3), 900–907. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cornelius, A. M. (2017). Buchstaben im Kopf. Was Kreative über das Lesen wissen sollten, um Leselust zu gestalten. (1st ed.). Verlag Hermann Schmidt.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Degani, A. (1992). On the typography of flight-deck documentation. National Aeropnautical and Space Administration.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Degani, A., & Wiener, E. L. (1993). Cockpit checklists: Concepts, design, and use. Human Factors, 35(2), 345–359. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Evans, D., McCahon, R., Barley, M., Norris, A., Khajuria, A., & Moppett, I. (2015). Cognitive Aids in Medicine Assessment Tool (CMAT): Preliminary validation of a novel tool for the assessment of emergency cognitive aids. Anaesthesia, 70(8), 922–932. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Federal Aviation Administration. (1995). Human performance considerations in the use and design of aircraft checklists. U.S. Department of Transportation.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Filek, J. (2013). Read/ability. Typografie und Lesbarkeit. Niggli Verlag.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gabriele, S. (2006). The Role of Typography in Differentiating Look-Alike/Sound-Alike Drug Names. Healthcare Quarterly (Toronto, Ont.), 9 Spec No, 88–95. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lupton, D. (2016). Digitised health, medicine and risk. Health, Risk & Society, 17(7–8), 473–476. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Maneechaeye, P., Maneechaeye, W., & Potipiroon, W. (2021). Operating Room and Flight Deck: What Do These Places Have in Common? Siriraj Medical Journal, 73(10), 710–720.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mitchell, M., & Kan, L. (2019). Digital technology and the future of health systems. Health Systems & Reform, 5(2), 113–120. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
National Transportation Safety Board. (1988). Safety Recommendation A-88-72. National Transportation Safety Board.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Petticrew, M., & Roberts, H. 1949. (2006). Systematic reviews in the social sciences: A practical guide (1st ed.). Blackwell Pub. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Pickering, C., & Byrne, J. (2013). The benefits of publishing systematic quantitative literature reviews for PhD candidates and other early-career researchers. Higher Education Research and Development, 33(3), 534–548. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Senbekov, M., Saliev, T., Bukeyeva, Z., Almabayeva, A., Zhanaliyeva, M., Aitenova, N., Toishibekov, Y., & Fakhradiyev, I. (2020). The Recent Progress and Applications of Digital Technologies in Healthcare: A Review. International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications, 2020(Journal Article), 8830200–8830200. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tiefenthaler, M. (2020). Die un-heimliche wirkung von typografie. [URL]
Unger, G. (2018). Theory of type design. Nai 010.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Verdaasdonk, E., Stassen, L., Widhiasmara, P. P., & Dankelman, J. (2009). Requirements for the design and implementation of checklists for surgical processes. Surgical Endoscopy, 23(4), 715–726. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cited by (1)

Cited by one other publication

Sari, Jasinta Kartika & Choirun Nisak Aulina
2024. Peningkatan Kemampuan Mengenal Huruf pada Anak Usia 4-5 tahun melalui Media Seruf (Serok Huruf) di Taman Kanak-Kanak. Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini 1:4 ► pp. 16 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 11 december 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue