This is completely off-topic, but what is the deal with grey font colours on light backgrounds these days? It pointlessly makes it harder to read. I shouldn't have to open Firebug to change it to black before I start reading.
Apparently one cause is design mock-ups in which text is ipsum-loremed and muted to reduce distraction from the overall design.
Other useful tools include console-mode browsers, or plugins such as Readability Redux. Though I find my self increasingly editing out elements (in addition to fonts, especially static headers/footers) which get in my way.
I strongly agree with contrast rebellion. Having said that, a bright white background and black text is harder for me to read than a light grey background and blacktext.
But the back ground shouldn't be darker than #cccccc
I think, but I do not know, that some people with Aspergers prefer a lower contrast. (See, for example, early websites using silver background with black text.)
Yes on the contrast. RR does a dark-on-beige scheme on its rendered pages by default. I use MoonReader+ as a eBook reader on Android, it does similarly.
There was some research in the 1970s or 1980s about maximum readability for paper texts which arrived at similar conclusions. A dark brown text on matte cream paper tested best. I've read several books printed in this format, and found it quite readable. Though paper still beats screen for readability (but not grepping).
Great article. Another suggestion if you don't mind... the floating Steven Kovar block makes it difficult to zoom in and read in a mobile browser, as it floats on top of the text.
A friend of mine wanted his wordpress site's design updated, so I did so. He specifically requested the background be made grey, lowering the contrast from the default white, although he left the text black. He asserts that this makes it easier for him to read, which I find surprising considering that he's in his 50s.
Just a tip - If you use OSX, you could either use the Reader feature in Safari (or Clearly in Chrome) or even better just hit ctrl+option+command+8 to get into high contrast.
