Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!uflorida!gatech!hubcap!ncrcae!ncr-sd!hp-sdd!andrea From: andrea@hp-sdd.HP.COM (Andrea K. Frankel) Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng Subject: Re: Color in Screen Displays Keywords: color, screen display, user interface, fatigue, ergonomics Message-ID: <1724@hp-sdd.HP.COM> Date: 5 Dec 88 20:25:35 GMT References: <2789@hound.UUCP> Reply-To: andrea@hp-sdd.UUCP (Andrea K. Frankel) Organization: Hewlett-Packard, San Diego Division Lines: 54 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? You could check out the experiments on the physiological effects of colour: red (especially bright) raises the pulse and blood pressure, tending to produce short-term alertness (and, after an extended exposure, increased irritability!). Yellow and orange tend to make people do whatever they're doing faster (which is why most fast-food emporiums decorate in same); blues and greens have a calming effect. There is a certain shade of pink which has been experimented with in correctional and mental facilities, which (if memory serves me) has a strong calming effect at first, but after 30 minutes has a rebound effect in terms of triggering violence. Personally, I find that colour fatigue is best avoided by providing user control of the palette (a la Microsoft Windows or X Windows interfaces). Once I find a set of colours that works well for me (balancing the "focus" problem with distinguishability and fatigue factors), I can work much longer without fatigue or vision problems. However, the palette that works for me produces rather interesting reactions from my coworkers! For X, I tend to favor soft lavender-on-black for windows I'm writing in for extended periods, and a bright cyan on black for windows where I need to quickly spot details; the cursor, border, and mouse sprite for those take on the third of that trio. Miscellaneous details in dark Violet, and an occasional-use window in white-on-deep-lavender. Add a black-and-white bitmap background (currently set to some charming parrots) and some classic yellow-on-red-plaid postits, and no decorator would touch it with a ten foot pole. In MS Windows, I use a black-on-light-cyan window, and set the borders such that the active window has a red border and the inactive ones go grey. Few people can stand working at my terminal or PC very long, but hey, it works for me! And the default colour combinations make me feel ill or sleepy in very short order. Subversive question du jour: now why is it that the "plebians" who are "merely" users of VDT applications aren't normally given access to the colour palette? Andrea Frankel, Hewlett-Packard (San Diego Division) (619) 592-4664 "...I brought you a paddle for your favorite canoe." ______________________________________________________________________________ UUCP : {hplabs|nosc|hpfcla|ucsd}!hp-sdd!andrea Internet : andrea%hp-sdd@hp-sde.sde.hp.com (or @nosc.mil, @ucsd.edu) CSNET : andrea%hp-sdd@hplabs.csnet USnail : 16399 W. Bernardo Drive, San Diego CA 92127-1899 USA