Designers and behavioral scientists from RMIT University have created a font that could (could) help people remember information. Cognitive psychology was used in the process of creating Sans Forgetica. The scientific premise behind the font is this; since the font type is more difficult to read, the brain has to work harder and makes the reader remember that which is read more.

Learn more after the link and download Sans Forgetica for free today (PC/Mac compatible): https://sansforgetica.rmit.edu.au/

First rant of the year ahoy! —

I am not sure what is meant by ‘read more’ though. Whether ‘more’ means harder, slower, aloud, or repeatedly, basically what is being claimed is that the font tricks the brain into deeper processing. What I couldn’t find was whether that result took into account the participants’ invested interest or whether their behavior was altered because their participation was incentivized.

Had this font come out in 1925 during the era of The Staatliches Bauhaus (1919~1933), then yeah, I’d say this is some valuable research. However, it is 2021 and I’m going to go out on a limb and say that humanity has done a pretty great job being the forgetful twits we are, R-M-I-T University, you freaky overachievers you!

It is cool news really. I am just skeptical at the given reasoning behind making something more difficult in order to make something easier. Inducing dyslexia seems more apt an explanation, because really, what on earth is the precise metric for measuring knowledge anyway? The answer — no one knows, which is why this study can never be fully substantiated, by science. Not to be a smart-arse but, is that why your font is free? Because people who read and write are as fine as they have ever been? Or is it because Sans Forgetica is boring compared to this funky freak right here:

I think the undervalued variable here is that not-remembering has been classified broadly as being a negative trait. Learning is not a race nor should it ever be framed or scrutinized as such. Or is that crazy talk? Using behavioral science to engage an individual’s ineptitude is not an endeavor I would deem high principled (and yet, video games 😉 a rant for another time perhaps).

I love knowing people in the world dedicate themselves to understanding the processes of communication and memory development, but this to me is silly and far too short-sighted to be given freely without strings attached.

Alternatively, an easier option to retaining information would be to just chew gum (Andrew Scholey. University of Northumbria, Newcastle, UK, 2002).

Ranting is a writing trait I commit to from time-to-time. I may blurt the occasional profound truth, but overall I am only trying to grasp what my intuitive issue/s actually are, given the subject matter. I must type my mind, lest I forget.