sans or sans serif

Possible questions for my report:

Are serifs merely an unnecessary encumbrance from the past soon to be phased out for good? Or do they really improve the overall legibility of a text?

Or

As history has marched on, the structure of type has changed but does that mean we have no need for the discipline of using sans and sans serif typefaces?

From recent findings and the discussion I had with my group today I have come to the conclusion that I could possibly look into how sans and sans serifs typefaces have changed and how or why they read different.

The feedback I received was interesting, useful and pretty much straightforward. The group all stated that when reading books or any large piece of text they do notice that a sans typeface is more commonly used for the main body text than a sans serif and asked why?

Do you think it would be harder or simple to read both within a piece of text as headings and body text? What about the people with learning difficulties such as those with dyslexia how would they read the two different typefaces?

I then realise that was another key point to research at this stage.

Researching online, looking at the books I gathered today in the library and the articles I collected I was most interested with an article by Adrian Frutiger on the website: Linotype.

Frutiger basically underlined everything there was to know about type and how it works especially when using sans serif typefaces; he also illustrated his article very well with past and recent images, which gave me more of an insight into how we see and read thing visually. (referring to articles: The loss of the serifs part 1 &2)

‘The ultimate sourcebook of classic and contemporary sans serif typography’

by Cees W. De Jong

Is a really good book fully illustrated and pretty much self explanatory but not what I’m quite looking for but will use some images to illustrate my report.

‘The Thames & Hudson manual of Typography’ by Thames and Hudson

A very detailed and analytic book however it could have given me a little more information on sans typefaces and not just sans serif and the others.

The next step I think I should take is to research a little further to make it clear and specific about what I want to write about. Also maybe carry out a survey possible online or ask those on the course, as I don’t have much time left just to see what kind of answers I get.

Well let’s just see how far it goes.

p.s guys could you kindly tell me what do you prefer san or a sans serif typeface? and maybe what typeface

Thanks

Natasha