Effects of VDT leading-display design on visual performance of users in handling static and dynamic display information dual-tasks

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of speed (250 and 300 wpm), text/background color combination (white-on-black, black-on-white, blue-on-yellow, blue-on-white, red-on-white, and green-on-white), jump length (0.35, 0.7, and 1.05 cm), and display position (above- and below-static information) of leading-display information on the subject's visual performance at two different visual display terminal (VDT) screens (CRT and TFT-LCD). Subjects were asked to handle two tasks at the same time, i.e., a search task for static information and a reading task for leading-display information. The results of this study showed that the subject's visual performance on the static-information searching task was not significantly different under different levels of all leading-display factors. The factors of jump length and text/background-color combination of the leading display had significant effects on the subject's comprehension on the leading-display reading task. When the jump length was at 0.35 and 0.7 cm, the subjects’ comprehension was better than that at 1.05 cm. Regarding the color combinations of the leading-display text/background, the effects of the factor on the subjects’ comprehension can be classified into two categories. The first priority effect was that of the background color on the leading display. Under the condition of white background color of the static information, the experimental results showed that the leading displays with white background color resulted in higher subjects’ comprehension. The second was the effect of the color difference. Experimental results showed that leading display with greater color differences of the text/background color combinations resulted in higher subjects’ comprehension. Relevance to industry Leading display is a widely used dynamic information display medium in the design of websites. The results of this study demonstrate the user’s comprehension of the different designs of leading displays. Suggestions from this study may assist website designers in devising a more adequate leading display for promoting greater comprehension on the part of users.