Authors:
Maneerut Chatrangsan
1
and
Helen Petrie
2
Affiliations:
1
Department of Computer Science, University of York, Deramore Lane, York, U.K., Faculty of Business Economics and Communications, Naresuan University and Thailand
;
2
Department of Computer Science, University of York, Deramore Lane, York and U.K.
Keyword(s):
Digital Text, Tablet Computer, Text Colours, Background Colours, Older Readers, Younger Readers.
Abstract:
This study investigated the effects of text and background colour on tablet computers on reading performance and preferences for older and younger readers from two countries, Thailand and the UK. In the UK, 30 older (65 to 85 years) and 30 younger (18 to 23 years) participants took part; in Thailand 20 older (60 to 71 years) and 20 younger (20 to 23 years) participants. Participants skim read texts on a tablet computer presented in five combination of text and background colours (black text on white background, white on black, black on buff, sepia on buff and black on light blue) and answered multiple-choice questions about each text. Reading time and comprehension were measured and preferences for text/background colour combinations. Older participants in both countries took significantly longer to read the texts than younger participants and in Thailand older participants answered significantly fewer questions correctly than younger participants. However, the colour combinations ha
d no significant effects on performance measures. On preferences for colour combinations, only the younger UK participants expressed significant trends, preferring and black/buff and black/light blue. Further research with larger samples of participants is needed to determine whether there are any clear preferences for text/background colour combinations in each country. In the meantime, black text on a pale background, either white, buff or pale blue can be recommended for presenting text on tablets to both older and younger readers in both countries.
(More)