Digital Display Preference of Electronic Gadgets for Visual Comfort: A Systematic Review
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Abstract
Background: Digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, computers, and laptops are used for various purposes. The digital display quality has been improved, making it less tiring and more favoured among users. This study aimed to review the visual comfort of digital devices and the preferences of digital display settings that enhance the visual comfort experienced by digital device users.
Methods: A search of PubMed, EBSCO host MEDLINE Complete, Scopus database, Google Scholar, and manual citation review was conducted, covering the period between 2010 and 2022. The criteria were selected based on the PRISMA statements. The search mainly focused on finding the existing literature on digital devices that contribute to visual discomfort and digital device settings that provide better visual comfort.
Results: The database search resulted in 533 references via the application of Microsoft Excel. There were 28 studies included in the final assessment. Twelve studies accounted for digital devices that contributed to visual discomfort, while another sixteen studies for digital device settings provided better visual comfort.
Conclusion: Digital displays with high luminance contrast, positive polarity and adequate colour were preferred for better visual comfort. Meanwhile, smaller fonts were preferred for desktops and laptops, while larger fonts were favoured for smartphones. This study provides insights for digital display developers to learn and improve their display technology to fit the preferences expressed.
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6. Wu HC, Chiu MC, Peng CW (2016). Visual fatigue occurrence time when using hand-held intelligent devices. J Ambient Intell Human Comput, 7 (6): 829-835.
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8. American Optometric Association (2022). Computer vision syndrome. Available from: https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/computer-vision-syndrome?sso=y
9. Mohan A, Sen P, Shah C, Jain E, Jain S (2021). Prevalence and risk factor as-sessment of digital eye strain among children using online e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: Digital eye strain among kids (DESK study-1). Indi-an J Ophthalmol, 69 (1): 140-144.
10. Jaiswal S, Asper L, Long J, et al (2019). Ocu-lar and visual discomfort associated with smartphones, tablets and comput-ers: what we do and do not know. Clin Exp Optom, 102 (5): 463-477.
11. Golebiowski B, Long J, Harrison K, et al (2020). Smartphone use and effects on tear film, blinking and binocular vision. Curr Eye Res, 45(4): 428-434.
12. Kim J, Hwang Y, Kang S, et al (2016). Asso-ciation between exposure to smartphones and ocular health in ado-lescents. Ophthalmic Epidemiol, 23 (4): 269-276.
13. Long J, Cheung R, Duong S, Paynter R, As-per L (2017). Viewing distance and eye-strain symptoms with prolonged viewing of smartphones. Clin Exp Optom, 100 (2): 133-137.
14. Moon JH, Kim KW, Moon NJ (2016). Smartphone use is a risk factor for pe-diatric dry eye disease according to re-gion and age: a case control study. BMC Ophthalmol, 16 (1): 188.
15. Antona B, Barrio AR, Gasco A, et al (2018). Symptoms associated with reading from a smartphone in conditions of light and dark. Appl Ergon, 68: 12-17.
16. Maducdoc MM, Haider A, Nalbandian A, et al (2017). Visual consequences of elec-tronic reader use: a pilot study. Int Oph-thalmol, 37 (2): 433-439.
17. Kim DJ, Lim CY, Gu N, Park CY (2017). Visual fatigue induced by viewing a tab-let computer with a high-resolution dis-play. Korean J Ophthalmol, 31 (5): 388-393.
18. Hue JE, Rosenfield M, Saá G (2014). Read-ing from electronic devices versus hard-copy text. Work, 47 (3): 303-307.
19. Phamonvaechavan P (2017). A comparison between effect of viewing text on com-puter screen and iPad® on visual symp-toms and functions. Siriraj Medical Journal, 69 (4): 185-189.
20. Rosenfield M (2011). Computer vision syn-drome: a review of ocular causes and potential treatments. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt, 31 (5): 502-515.
21. Chu C, Rosenfield M, Portello JK, et al (2011). A comparison of symptoms after viewing text on a computer screen and hardcopy. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt, 31 (1): 29-32.
22. Köpper M, Mayr S, Buchner A (2016). Read-ing from computer screen versus read-ing from paper: does it still make a dif-ference? Ergonomics, 59 (5): 615-632.
23. Xie X, Song F, Liu Y, Wang S, Yu, D (2021). Study on the effects of display color mode and luminance contrast on visual fatigue. IEEE Access, 9: 35915-35923.
24. Dobres J, Chahine N, Reimer B. (2017). Ef-fects of ambient illumination, contrast polarity, and letter size on text legibility under glance-like reading. Appl Ergon, 60: 68-73.
25. Huang HP, Wei M, Li HC, Ou LC (2021). Visual comfort of tablet devices under a wide range of ambient light levels. Appl Sci, 11 (18): 8679.
26. Piepenbrock C, Mayr S, Buchner A (2014). Smaller pupil size and better proofread-ing performance with positive than with negative polarity displays. Ergonomics, 57 (11): 1670-1677.
27. Piepenbrock C, Mayr S, Mund I, Buchner A (2013). Positive display polarity is advan-tageous for both younger and older adults. Ergonomics, 56 (7): 1116-1124.
28. Huang HP, Wei M, Ou LC (2019). Effect of text‐background lightness combination on visual comfort for reading on a tab-let display under different surrounds. Color Res Appl, 44: 54-64.
29. Shih YN, Huang RH, Lu SF (2013). The in-fluence of computer screen polarity and color on the accuracy of workers' read-ing of graphics. Work, 45 (3): 335-342.
30. Shih YN, Huang RH, Chiang HS (2009). Correlation between work concentration level and background music: A pilot study. Work, 33 (3): 329-333.
31. Morrice E, Murphy C, Soldano V, et al (2021). Assessing optimal colour and il-lumination to facilitate reading. Oph-thalmic Physiol Opt, 41 (2): 281-294.
32. Dobres J, Wolfe B, Chahine N, Reimer B (2018). The effects of visual crowding, text size, and positional uncertainty on text legibility at a glance. Appl Ergon, 70: 240-246.
33. Lee DS, Ko YH, Shen IH, Chao CY (2011). Effect of light source, ambient illumina-tion, character size and interline spacing on visual performance and visual fatigue with electronic paper displays. Displays, 32 (1): 1-7.
34. Huang SM (2019). Effects of font size and font style of Traditional Chinese char-acters on readability on smartphones. Int J Ind Ergon, 69: 66-72.
35. Ali AZM, Wahid R, Samsudin K, Idris MZ (2013). Reading on the computer screen: does font type have effects on web text readability? International Education Studies, 6 (3): 26-35.
36. Tian P, Xu G, Han C, et al (2022). Effects of paradigm color and screen bright-ness on visual fatigue in light environ-ment of night based on eye tracker and EEG acquisition equipment. Sensors (Ba-sel), 22 (11): 4082.
37. Na N, Suk HJ (2014). Adaptive luminance contrast for enhancing reading perfor-mance and visual comfort on smartphone displays. Optical Engineering, 53 (11): 113102.
38. Na N, Suk HJ (2015). Adaptive display lu-minance for viewing smartphones under low illuminance. Opt Express, 23 (13): 16912-16920.
39. Na N, Choi K, Suk HJ (2016). Adaptive lu-minance difference between text and background for comfortable reading on a smartphone. Int J Ind Ergon, 51: 68-72.
2. Mothar NMM., Hassan MBA, Hassan MSBH, Osman MN (2013). The im-portance of smartphone’s usage among Malaysian undergraduates. J Huma Soci Scie, 14 (3): 112-118.
3. Statista Research Department (2022). Num-ber of smartphone users in Malaysia from 2010 to 2020 and a forecast up to 2025. Available from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/494587/smartphone-users-in-malaysia/
4. Busch PA, Hausvik GI, Ropstad OK, Petter-sen D (2021). Smartphone usage among older adults. Comput Hum Behav, 121: 106783.
5. Geffroy B, Le Roy P, Prat C (2006). Organ-ic light‐emitting diode (OLED) tech-nology: materials, devices and display technologies. Polym Int, 55 (6): 572-582.
6. Wu HC, Chiu MC, Peng CW (2016). Visual fatigue occurrence time when using hand-held intelligent devices. J Ambient Intell Human Comput, 7 (6): 829-835.
7. Shamseer L, Moher D, Clarke M, et al (2015). Preferred reporting items for sys-tematic review and meta-analysis proto-cols (PRISMA-P) 2015: Elaboration and explanation. BMJ, 350:g7647.
8. American Optometric Association (2022). Computer vision syndrome. Available from: https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/computer-vision-syndrome?sso=y
9. Mohan A, Sen P, Shah C, Jain E, Jain S (2021). Prevalence and risk factor as-sessment of digital eye strain among children using online e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: Digital eye strain among kids (DESK study-1). Indi-an J Ophthalmol, 69 (1): 140-144.
10. Jaiswal S, Asper L, Long J, et al (2019). Ocu-lar and visual discomfort associated with smartphones, tablets and comput-ers: what we do and do not know. Clin Exp Optom, 102 (5): 463-477.
11. Golebiowski B, Long J, Harrison K, et al (2020). Smartphone use and effects on tear film, blinking and binocular vision. Curr Eye Res, 45(4): 428-434.
12. Kim J, Hwang Y, Kang S, et al (2016). Asso-ciation between exposure to smartphones and ocular health in ado-lescents. Ophthalmic Epidemiol, 23 (4): 269-276.
13. Long J, Cheung R, Duong S, Paynter R, As-per L (2017). Viewing distance and eye-strain symptoms with prolonged viewing of smartphones. Clin Exp Optom, 100 (2): 133-137.
14. Moon JH, Kim KW, Moon NJ (2016). Smartphone use is a risk factor for pe-diatric dry eye disease according to re-gion and age: a case control study. BMC Ophthalmol, 16 (1): 188.
15. Antona B, Barrio AR, Gasco A, et al (2018). Symptoms associated with reading from a smartphone in conditions of light and dark. Appl Ergon, 68: 12-17.
16. Maducdoc MM, Haider A, Nalbandian A, et al (2017). Visual consequences of elec-tronic reader use: a pilot study. Int Oph-thalmol, 37 (2): 433-439.
17. Kim DJ, Lim CY, Gu N, Park CY (2017). Visual fatigue induced by viewing a tab-let computer with a high-resolution dis-play. Korean J Ophthalmol, 31 (5): 388-393.
18. Hue JE, Rosenfield M, Saá G (2014). Read-ing from electronic devices versus hard-copy text. Work, 47 (3): 303-307.
19. Phamonvaechavan P (2017). A comparison between effect of viewing text on com-puter screen and iPad® on visual symp-toms and functions. Siriraj Medical Journal, 69 (4): 185-189.
20. Rosenfield M (2011). Computer vision syn-drome: a review of ocular causes and potential treatments. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt, 31 (5): 502-515.
21. Chu C, Rosenfield M, Portello JK, et al (2011). A comparison of symptoms after viewing text on a computer screen and hardcopy. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt, 31 (1): 29-32.
22. Köpper M, Mayr S, Buchner A (2016). Read-ing from computer screen versus read-ing from paper: does it still make a dif-ference? Ergonomics, 59 (5): 615-632.
23. Xie X, Song F, Liu Y, Wang S, Yu, D (2021). Study on the effects of display color mode and luminance contrast on visual fatigue. IEEE Access, 9: 35915-35923.
24. Dobres J, Chahine N, Reimer B. (2017). Ef-fects of ambient illumination, contrast polarity, and letter size on text legibility under glance-like reading. Appl Ergon, 60: 68-73.
25. Huang HP, Wei M, Li HC, Ou LC (2021). Visual comfort of tablet devices under a wide range of ambient light levels. Appl Sci, 11 (18): 8679.
26. Piepenbrock C, Mayr S, Buchner A (2014). Smaller pupil size and better proofread-ing performance with positive than with negative polarity displays. Ergonomics, 57 (11): 1670-1677.
27. Piepenbrock C, Mayr S, Mund I, Buchner A (2013). Positive display polarity is advan-tageous for both younger and older adults. Ergonomics, 56 (7): 1116-1124.
28. Huang HP, Wei M, Ou LC (2019). Effect of text‐background lightness combination on visual comfort for reading on a tab-let display under different surrounds. Color Res Appl, 44: 54-64.
29. Shih YN, Huang RH, Lu SF (2013). The in-fluence of computer screen polarity and color on the accuracy of workers' read-ing of graphics. Work, 45 (3): 335-342.
30. Shih YN, Huang RH, Chiang HS (2009). Correlation between work concentration level and background music: A pilot study. Work, 33 (3): 329-333.
31. Morrice E, Murphy C, Soldano V, et al (2021). Assessing optimal colour and il-lumination to facilitate reading. Oph-thalmic Physiol Opt, 41 (2): 281-294.
32. Dobres J, Wolfe B, Chahine N, Reimer B (2018). The effects of visual crowding, text size, and positional uncertainty on text legibility at a glance. Appl Ergon, 70: 240-246.
33. Lee DS, Ko YH, Shen IH, Chao CY (2011). Effect of light source, ambient illumina-tion, character size and interline spacing on visual performance and visual fatigue with electronic paper displays. Displays, 32 (1): 1-7.
34. Huang SM (2019). Effects of font size and font style of Traditional Chinese char-acters on readability on smartphones. Int J Ind Ergon, 69: 66-72.
35. Ali AZM, Wahid R, Samsudin K, Idris MZ (2013). Reading on the computer screen: does font type have effects on web text readability? International Education Studies, 6 (3): 26-35.
36. Tian P, Xu G, Han C, et al (2022). Effects of paradigm color and screen bright-ness on visual fatigue in light environ-ment of night based on eye tracker and EEG acquisition equipment. Sensors (Ba-sel), 22 (11): 4082.
37. Na N, Suk HJ (2014). Adaptive luminance contrast for enhancing reading perfor-mance and visual comfort on smartphone displays. Optical Engineering, 53 (11): 113102.
38. Na N, Suk HJ (2015). Adaptive display lu-minance for viewing smartphones under low illuminance. Opt Express, 23 (13): 16912-16920.
39. Na N, Choi K, Suk HJ (2016). Adaptive lu-minance difference between text and background for comfortable reading on a smartphone. Int J Ind Ergon, 51: 68-72.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 52 No 8 (2023) | |
| Section | Review Article(s) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v52i8.13396 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Digital devices Visual comfort Display polarity Color contrast Luminance contrast Font size | ||
| Rights and permissions | |
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
How to Cite
1.
Muhamad N, Nor Amali NA. Digital Display Preference of Electronic Gadgets for Visual Comfort: A Systematic Review. Iran J Public Health. 2023;52(8):1565-1577.
