Re: [IxDA Discuss] Readability of Reverse Color Text
From: J. Eric jet Townsend, snip - personal preferences Back in the late 80s, I remember reading studies showing that medium-orange on black was one of the best combinations in terms of readability and eye strain. No idea who did the study or if it was ever backed up with further research. As you, and a few others, have pointed out in this thread, there's a huge difference between what 'studies show' and what individuals actually prefer. The great thing is to try to offer flexibility, so that people can set their personal experiences up in a way that suits them. But also, to offer a decent original experience. And for most people, that's probably going to be a large size, familiar font that offers a good contrast between foreground and background. My personal recent experience of light fonts on a dark background is that many web sites in that combination have fonts that are too small. Is it a 'designer' thing? Who knows. A couple of further points (forgive me if you've heard this from me before, it's a constant rant): - it's hard to trust legibility research. The studies often over-simplify, use poorly designed materials, fail to understand the interrelationship of different factors in the examples, used technologies that are now years out of date, and have lots of other defects. I've been heard to say 'all legibility research is useless' but I probably exaggerated (a little). For a longer version of this rant, see my essay available from: http://www.upassoc.org/upa_publications/jus/2007november/jarrett.html - it's particularly challenging for users if you interleave white-on-dark with light-on-dark. I've repeatedly seen users fail to absorb information that's placed in white-on-dark headers between chunks of light-on-dark body text, and effect that is especially strong in forms. Best Caroline Jarrett Out now: Forms that work: Designing web forms for usability http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forms-that-Work-Interactive-Technologies/dp/15586071 02 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Readability of Reverse Color Text
From: Adrian Howard That may depend on your goals. I recall reading a study (and Google is failing me here - so I hope somebody can back me up here - it was about 10/15 years ago) where they monitored completion times for a task along with user satisfaction. Allowing folk to change the colour scheme made user satisfaction improve - but made task completion time slower. This was a desktop app - not a web app. Happy/happier users vs efficient users. Hmm. I expect that the study did show that, but surely it was testing one-off approach-and-use tasks rather than longer term usage? Just thinking it through: if you allow users to include an extra step (Adjust text so that it is comfortable) then I'd definitely expect task time to increase just because of the extra step. But I'd also expect users to prefer the comfortable display. This time penalty reduces for each subsequent task (providing the display corrections persist - I can imagine users getting rather grumpy if they had to tweak the display for every darn task). In real life, I suspect that users probably won't take the time to adjust the text etc for a one-off use of a web site or application. They are more likely to live with it for a short experience - particularly if it's only slightly unpleasant or mildly uncomfortable. If it's really horrible for them, or they're planning on longer term use, then it's worth the effort to do the adjustment. Thus, I repeat my recommendation that we should be offering a decent default setup. Best Caroline Jarrett Out now: Forms that work: Designing web forms for usability http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forms-that-Work-Interactive-Technologies/ dp/1558607102 http://www.amazon.com/Forms-that-Work-Interactive-Technologies/dp/product-de scription/1558607102 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Readability of Reverse Color Text
On Nov 20, 2008, at 1:37 PM, Caroline Jarrett wrote: Just thinking it through: if you allow users to include an extra step (Adjust text so that it is comfortable) then I'd definitely expect task time to increase just because of the extra step. But I'd also expect users to prefer the comfortable display. Of course, you are assuming that the result is a more comfortable display. Just because people think bright yellow text on a bright blue background is good doesn't make it so. Best, Jack Jack L. Moffett Interaction Designer inmedius 412.459.0310 x219 http://www.inmedius.com My goal is to build elegant products. The products that don't make people think when they should be doing, make people think when they should be learning, compel them by relating to them, and simply work. - Josh Viney Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Readability of Reverse Color Text
I wrote: Just thinking it through: if you allow users to include an extra step (Adjust text so that it is comfortable) then I'd definitely expect task time to increase just because of the extra step. But I'd also expect users to prefer the comfortable display. Jack Moffett replied: Of course, you are assuming that the result is a more comfortable display. Just because people think bright yellow text on a bright blue background is good doesn't make it so. Eh? I don't get it. Are you saying that you wouldn't allow users to judge for themselves whether they consider something to be set up to be comfortable or not? Well, I suppose there is a risk. We've probably all come across someone who's been experimenting with tuning a display and accidentally ended up with (say) white text on a white background. But so far, I've never come upon someone who has adjusted a display that to something that they find uncomfortable and kept it that way. I *have* observed users who have set their display up in a way that I considered to be thoroughly unpleasant, but on investigation there's always been a good reason for it. Example 1: (I've mentioned this before) A display set up with a clashing scheme of acid colours. Reason: user was colour-blind and suffered from migraines. He'd learnt over long experience what mixture worked for him. Example 2: (Just last week) An LCD display set up with nastily fuzzy text. A moment's diagnosis showed that the user had opted for a display resolution of about 75% of the native pixels for the display. Result: larger but (to my eyes) unpleasantly fuzzy. Reason: user had tried native resolution, and found it was too small to be comfortable. She'd tried both ways and was happier with the larger size. (Longer term solution would be to buy her a bigger monitor, but that's another problem). This whole sight thing is quite complex. As has been pointed out in this thread, with some people saying that the (generally recommended) convention of dark-on-light isn't good for them. Best Caroline Jarrett Out now: Forms that work: Designing web forms for usability http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forms-that-Work-Interactive-Technologies/ dp/1558607102 http://www.amazon.com/Forms-that-Work-Interactive-Technologies/dp/product-de scription/1558607102 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Readability of Reverse Color Text
On Nov 20, 2008, at 3:20 PM, Caroline Jarrett wrote: Eh? I don't get it. Are you saying that you wouldn't allow users to judge for themselves whether they consider something to be set up to be comfortable or not? No, I was simply pointing out that task time might increase because the user unwittingly ended up with a customized display that, despite their claim to prefer it, may be more difficult to view. Best, Jack Jack L. Moffett Interaction Designer inmedius 412.459.0310 x219 http://www.inmedius.com Good designers relentlessly generate lots of ideas and open-mindedly consider alternative solutions. At no time are good designers frightened to entertain a crazy, competing, or uncomfortable idea. - Karl Ulrich Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Readability of Reverse Color Text
Back in 2002 we have conducted a test on Legibility and Readability on the screen. One of the axis analyzed was color. With the limitations of our research, the differences when we were considering objective results where minimum and get clearer when we ask subjective opinions. The results are published here: Legibility and readability on the World Wide Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=35797 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Readability of Reverse Color Text
Hey all, Reverse color text (white text on a black background) seems to come up in our discussions from time to time, and usually someone chimes in that it's less readable. However, I know quite a few programmers who switch their editors to a reverse color scheme due to eyestrain, including myself. And the statement that reading black text on a white screen is like looking at ants on a lightbulb has always rung true with me. So, here's a little research on the subject: http://www.joedolson.com/articles/2006/08/on-the-readability-of-inverted-color-schemes/ According to the study, the readability is the same either way so long as the type is adjusted correctly, and it comes down to personal preference. Just thought I would share that and see if anyone has thoughts. Loren - http://acleandesign.com Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Readability of Reverse Color Text
Hi, I did not read all this research but I am curious if studies have shown black on white to be more tiring on the eyes for a length of time or other side effects (due to the back lit nature of the screen and staring at it for a long time). I wonder if any optometry or ophthalmologist schools/research centers have looked into this. Actually come to think about it, all the eye charts I've been tested with are black on white. I'd be surprised if there studies out there to test this. ? 'mark Loren Baxter wrote: Hey all, Reverse color text (white text on a black background) seems to come up in our discussions from time to time, and usually someone chimes in that it's less readable. However, I know quite a few programmers who switch their editors to a reverse color scheme due to eyestrain, including myself. And the statement that reading black text on a white screen is like looking at ants on a lightbulb has always rung true with me. So, here's a little research on the subject: http://www.joedolson.com/articles/2006/08/on-the-readability-of-inverted-color-schemes/ According to the study, the readability is the same either way so long as the type is adjusted correctly, and it comes down to personal preference. Just thought I would share that and see if anyone has thoughts. Loren - http://acleandesign.com Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Readability of Reverse Color Text
I'd be interested to see that research too. There is a difference between black text on a white screen, and black ink on white paper. The screen is much brighter and at a much worse resolution - so the eye tests (or any other printed text) are difficult to compare to a computer. Loren - http://acleandesign.com On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 5:08 PM, Mark Ahlenius [EMAIL PROTECTED]wrote: Hi, I did not read all this research but I am curious if studies have shown black on white to be more tiring on the eyes for a length of time or other side effects (due to the back lit nature of the screen and staring at it for a long time). I wonder if any optometry or ophthalmologist schools/research centers have looked into this. Actually come to think about it, all the eye charts I've been tested with are black on white. I'd be surprised if there studies out there to test this. ? 'mark Loren Baxter wrote: Hey all, Reverse color text (white text on a black background) seems to come up in our discussions from time to time, and usually someone chimes in that it's less readable. However, I know quite a few programmers who switch their editors to a reverse color scheme due to eyestrain, including myself. And the statement that reading black text on a white screen is like looking at ants on a lightbulb has always rung true with me. So, here's a little research on the subject: http://www.joedolson.com/articles/2006/08/on-the-readability-of-inverted-color-schemes/ According to the study, the readability is the same either way so long as the type is adjusted correctly, and it comes down to personal preference. Just thought I would share that and see if anyone has thoughts. Loren - http://acleandesign.com Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Readability of Reverse Color Text
Disregarding how quickly or efficiently studies have shown that we can parse text under different color combinations... I'm somewhat light sensitive and I can easily say that black text on a white screen is something I can only handle for an hour or two at most when I'm looking at a computer screen. I use a Mac and Adobe CS*, so this means I take breaks on a regular basis to let my eyes cool down. When I'm writing code, however, green or orange text on a black background is wonderful. I can sit in front of an editor all day long in these colors and only take breaks to stretch my arms. It might be more difficult for me to read the text (I honestly haven't noticed a difference) but the overall amount of light hitting my eyes is much lower and I can work more hours. Back in the late 80s, I remember reading studies showing that medium-orange on black was one of the best combinations in terms of readability and eye strain. No idea who did the study or if it was ever backed up with further research. -- J. Eric jet Townsend, CMU Master of Tangible Interaction Design '09 design: www.allartburns.org; hacking: www.flatline.net; HF: KG6ZVQ PGP: 0xD0D8C2E8 AC9B 0A23 C61A 1B4A 27C5 F799 A681 3C11 D0D8 C2E8 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
