Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!ucsd!nprdc!trejo From: trejo@nprdc.arpa (Leonard J. Trejo) Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng Subject: Re: Color in Screen Displays Summary: There is no simple answer. Keywords: color, screen display, user interface, fatigue, ergonomics Message-ID: <1132@arctic.nprdc.arpa> Date: 5 Dec 88 22:30:36 GMT References: <2789@hound.UUCP> Sender: news@nprdc.arpa Reply-To: trejo@nprdc.arpa (Leonard J. Trejo) Organization: Navy Personnel R & D Center Lines: 111 In article <2789@hound.UUCP> nib@hound.UUCP (N.BENIMOFF) writes: >Does anyone know where I can find some good empirical data relating to >the following question: > >Are there colors that should be avoided in constructing a user interface >for presentation on a CRT due to fatigue factors? I.E., consider the >following scenario. We have a user who sits in front of a color CRT >looking at text and graphics for the better part of an 8-hour shift. >Are there colors that, more than others, might cause problems of a >fatigue or perceptual nature? > >Thanks for any help. > >Nick Benimoff >AT&T Bell Laboratories >att!hound!nib The question you ask does not yet have a simple answer. It is the subject of much current research. Sometime next year, Plenum will publish a book, entitled "Color in electronic displays," in which I and Harry Snyder will have a chapter on measurement of human performance and David Meister will have a chapter on human performance issues. A NATO working group (RSG-13) is sponsoring the book. Until the book appears, attached are some references that may be helpful to you. DOD-sponsored technical notes & reports can be obtained from DTIC (Defense Technical Information Center), Cameron Station, Alexandria, VA 22304-6145. Off the cuff, there are two critical factors to be aware of: 1. Do not use color contrasts that primarily produce blue-cone difference signals (e.g. blue text on yellow background, etc.) for small symbols. This will provide poor symbol edge definition, reduced legibility, and inadequate cues for accomodation--all of which will produce eye strain. Red- or green cone contrast is necessary for small symbols, and the addition of some luminance contrast is best. 2. Use a light background color (e.g. gray) rather than black. This will allow for better perceived levels of colored symbol saturation and better color discrimination across varying conditions of ambient illumination. REFERENCES Boynton, R. M. (1979). Human Color Vision. New York: Holt, _____ _____ ______ Rinehart, & Winston. Burnette, C. A. (1985) Uses of Color in Complex Information ____ __ _____ __ _______ ___________ Displays (HFOSL Technical Note 71-85-04). San Diego: ________ Navy Personnel Research and Development Center. Hardesty, G. K. C. & Projector, T. H. (1973). NAVSHIPS ________ Display Illumination Design Guide. Section I: Introduc- _______ ____________ ______ _____ _______ _ _________ tion to Light and Color. Annapolis: Naval Ship Research ____ __ _____ ___ _____ and Development Center. Heglin, H. J. (1973). NAVSHIPS Display Illumination Design ________ _______ ____________ ______ Guide. Section II: Human Factors (Technical Document _____ _______ __ _____ _______ 223). San Diego: Naval Electronics Laboratory. Meister, D. (1984). Human Engineering Data Base for Design _____ ___________ ____ ____ ___ ______ and Selection of Cathode Ray Tube and Other Display Sys- ___ _________ __ _______ ___ ____ ___ _____ _______ ____ tems (NPRDC Technical Report 84-51). San Diego: Navy ____ Personnel Research and Development Center. Merrifield, R. M. and Silverstein, L. D. (1986). The ___ development and evaluation of color systems for airborne ___________ ___ __________ __ _____ _______ ___ ________ applications: Fundamental visual, perceptual, and ____________ ___________ ______ __________ ___ display systems considerations (NADC Report No. 86011- _______ _______ ______________ 60). Warminster: Naval Air Development Center. MIL-STD-1472C (1981). Human Engineering Design Criteria for _____ ___________ ______ ________ ___ Military Systems, Equipment and Facilities. Washington, ________ _______ _________ ___ __________ D. C.: U. S. Department of Defense. Trejo, L. J., and Lewis, G. W. (1987). Brain mechanisms for human color vision. In A. M. Crawford and M. H. Metcalfe (Eds.) FY86 Independent Research/Independent ____ ___________ ________ ___________ Exploratory Development (NPRDC Special Report 87-1), ___________ ___________ January, San Diego: Navy Personnel Research and Develop- ment Center. Trejo, L. J., & Lewis, G. W. (In press). Sensitivity to hue differences measured by visual evoked potentials. In Proceedings of the First Navy Independent ___________ __ ___ _____ ____ ___________ Research/Independent Exploratory Development Symposium. ________ ___________ ___________ ___________ _________ Laurel, MD: Chemical Propulsion Information Agency. Wagner, D. W. (1977). Color Coding: An annotated bibliogra- _____ ______ __ _________ __________ phy (NWC Technical Publication 5922). China Lake: Naval ___ ___ _________ ___________ ____ Weapons Center. Wyszecki, G. & Stiles, W. S. (1982). Color Science: Concepts _____ _______ ________ and Methods, Quantitative Data and Formulae. New York: ___ _______ ____________ ____ ___ ________ John Wiley & Sons.