Microsoft Typography | ClearType information | Microsoft ClearType overview
		Microsoft ClearType™ Overview Note: This Web page is provided for historical interest only. This content has not been updated since ClearType was originally announced in November 1998. ClearType support is now built into various Microsoft products. For the very latest ClearType news please visit our ClearType information page. What is ClearType technology? With ClearType font technology, the words on your computer screen look as smooth as the words on a piece of paper. This improvement in readability will accelerate the adoption of electronic books (eBooks) and the overall migration from paper to electronic forms. Book publishers can expect eBooks to provide consumers with a high-quality reading experience; font designers will have a rich new palette to take advantage of; and consumer demand for high-resolution flat-panel displays may grow significantly. Manufacturers of small portable devices should see new enthusiasm for color LCD monitors, which can now more affordably deliver both color and high resolution. How does ClearType technology work? Traditional computer font rendering assumes that each pixel is either "on," appearing as a tiny individual black square, or "off." Some letters appear jagged on the computer screen because they are formed from many of these tiny squares. ClearType font technology improves upon this "on/off" choice by addressing the area beyond the traditional pixel boundary. This approach is the foundation of ClearType. With ClearType, letters on the computer screen appear smooth, not jagged. ClearType font technology works with existing systems. Readability on CRT monitors will be improved somewhat, but it will be dramatically improved on color LCD monitors with a digital interface, such as those found in laptops and high-quality flat desktop displays. What are Microsoft's plans for ClearType technology? Microsoft is exploring how to include ClearType in future products. No release dates have been set. What others are saying after seeing ClearType: "The ClearType technology represents one of the primary keys that will allow our industry to unlock the door to making eBooks real and readable." - Martin Eberhard, CEO, NuvoMedia Inc. "The increased clarity and definition of text resulting from the application of ClearType technology is stunning. This breakthrough should accelerate the development of long-talked-about form factors such as eBooks." - Trey Smith, Vice President, Advanced Consumer Products, Compaq Computer Corp. "Most in the industry assumed that the next breakthrough in display technology would be in the electronics and would invariably be more expensive. Incredibly, ClearType is a software-only breakthrough, and it is simply stunning." - James Sachs, CEO, SoftBook Press "ClearType is the greatest advance in font technology in more than a decade - since work on grey-scale screen fonts was done at the MIT Media Lab. It produces startlingly readable text on LCD displays for fonts that are normally too small to be read comfortably, especially by us older folks. Readable screen fonts are a keystone technology that solves one of the classic problems that have blocked wide-scale adoption of electronic books, as important as reducing weight and implementing appropriate software and user interfaces. I am delighted that we appear to be on the brink of realizing a vision we've had for over three decades." - Andries van Dam, Thomas J. Watson Jr. Fellowship, University Professor of Technology and Education, Professor of Computer Science, Brown University, Member of Microsoft Research Advisory Board "With ClearType, for the first time there's enough resolution to make a page that really looks like print, with well-formed and correctly positioned characters. And better yet, it's all done with software, by taking advantage of the fact that every LCD panel has more intrinsic resolution than the manufacturer claims." - Butler Lampson, Senior Researcher, Microsoft Research "As a leader in mobile information appliances, Vadem realizes the significance of the ClearType technology. This is truly a breakthrough. Looking at an LCD display with ClearType can be like reading regular print. It will move electronic publishing a quantum leap forward." - Henry Fung, CTO, Vadem ######### Microsoft and ClearType are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. For more information, press only: Darrin Swaim, Waggener Edstrom, (503) 245-0905, darrins@wagged.com this page was last updated 15 November 1998 © 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of use. comments to the ClearType group: how to contact us
	Microsoft Typography | ClearType information | Microsoft ClearType overview