nib@hound.UUCP (N.BENIMOFF) (12/03/88)
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
chrise@bcsaic.UUCP (Chris Esposito) (12/06/88)
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 One reference is: `ACE: A Color Expert System for User Interface Design' Barbara J. Meier Comp. Sci. Dept Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Found in the Proceedings of the ACM SIGGRAPH Symposium on User Interface Software Banff, Alberta, Canada October, 1988 -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "what if we can't tell the difference between AI and artificial stupidity? Chris Esposito | CSNET: chrise@boeing.com Boeing Advanced Technology Center | uucp: ...!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!bcsaic!chrise
andrea@hp-sdd.HP.COM (Andrea K. Frankel) (12/06/88)
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
trejo@nprdc.arpa (Leonard J. Trejo) (12/06/88)
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.
norman@sdics.ucsd.EDU (Donald A Norman-UCSD Cog Sci Dept) (12/06/88)
In article <1724@hp-sdd.HP.COM> andrea@hp-sdd.UUCP (Andrea K. Frankel) writes: ... 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 ... Umm, gulp, the professional scientist in me, coupled with being a professor, makes me say --- wait a moment! There is no evidence for these effects -- no scientific evidence, that is. And, moreover, it would be very difficult to get such evidence, because of the very large numbers of variables that would need to be controlled in such experiments. Yes, I know all about the popular literature on color. But just because it is popular doesn't mean it is correct. Color clearly has effects on mood and motivation, but the effects are apt to be subtle, to vary with multiple factors, and to differ across people (and probaboly differ for the same person at different times). There ARE standards for appropriate colors to be used: there will be a panel at the CHI 89 meetings on this topic. To the writer of the article who was at HP -- contact wanda Smith at HP who is expert on these matters (and who will be on the panel). don norman Donald A. Norman [ danorman@ucsd.edu BITNET: danorman@ucsd ] Department of Cognitive Science C-015 University of California, San Diego La Jolla, California 92093 USA UNIX: {gatech,rutgers,ucbvax,uunet}!ucsd!danorman [e-mail paths often fail: please give postal address and all e-mail addresses.]
andrea@hp-sdd.HP.COM (Andrea K. Frankel) (12/07/88)
In article <658@sdics.ucsd.EDU> norman@sdics.UUCP (Donald A Norman-UCSD Cog Sci Dept) writes: > > In article <1724@hp-sdd.HP.COM> andrea@hp-sdd.UUCP (Andrea K. Frankel) > writes: > ... 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 ... > >Umm, gulp, the professional scientist in me, coupled with being a >professor, makes me say --- wait a moment! There is no evidence for >these effects -- no scientific evidence, that is. And, moreover, it >would be very difficult to get such evidence, because of the very >large numbers of variables that would need to be controlled in such >experiments. Yes, I know all about the popular literature on color. You may notice (or maybe you didn't), that I said nothing about the spirituality of purple, the effect of yellow on the third chakra, assumptions about the psychology of the viewer, or anything in that vein. The description of the effects for red is the one that I have seen in reports from the medical world, and not the popular press. The most recent report concerned the time it took for wounds to clot, and showed a clear effect. I believe it *is* well documented, but I don't happen to have the references handy. >But just because it is popular doesn't mean it is correct. > >Color clearly has effects on mood and motivation, but the effects are >apt to be subtle, to vary with multiple factors, and to differ across >people (and probaboly differ for the same person at different times). I agree wholeheartedly. However, there is evidence for some effects that do not. To elaborate on the case of "red", the popular press reports that red = anger, and/or that red = sexual excitement. However, in the oriental cultures, red = joy. Similarly, in the west we associate white with purity, cleanliness, holiness; in the oriental cultures, white is associated with death. (We dress our brides and altarboys in white; they reserve it for shrouds. They dress their brides in red, which some westerners correlate with ladies of the night.) In my previous posting, I was very deliberately NOT getting into the cultural interpretations, but sticking with the underlying physiological phenomena - obviously, if red is raising the pulse and blood pressure, that could be interpreted as either joy or anger depending on the context. >There ARE standards for appropriate colors to be used: there will be a >panel at the CHI 89 meetings on this topic. [flame on] I hope they look past the ends of their own noses. WHY, oh why, do people refuse to look into the results obtained in other fields before concocting their own theories and rules? Simply waving it all off as popular press and therefore wrong isn't good enough. The putative experts aren't doing a great job, judging from the gawdawful user interfaces I keep getting subjected to. If you ever want to get past the stage of arguing about personal aesthetic preferences, you need to look at the research that has been done rather than assuming it can't exist! [flame off] And now I'll leave all you "experts" and go back to work... 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
croot@lynpac.oz (Admin) (12/09/88)
In article <1724@hp-sdd.HP.COM> andrea@hp-sdd.UUCP (Andrea K. Frankel) writes: >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? From some work long ago, all I CAN remember is that you should never use red-on-blue or vice-versa (eg. red text on blue background). Apparently the eye adjusts its focus slightly for some colours, red and blue being the worst two (This sounds like crap - and probably is - but the original assertion is true), therefore the eye *cannot* focus properly since one of the red/blue foreground/background will be slightly out of focus. I know that on my terminal, I find it very hard to read. Matt. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "life? don't talk to me about life!" Matt Atterbury. :-) :-( :-) :-( "klaatu nikto barada" Lynwood Pacific, Sydney, Australia. :-( :-) :-( :-) matt@lynpac.oz.au (Europe/Internet) || uunet!munnari!lynpac.oz.au!matt (UUCP) -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "life? don't talk to me about life!" Matt Atterbury. :-) :-( :-) :-( "klaatu nikto barada" Lynwood Pacific, Sydney, Australia. :-( :-) :-( :-) matt@lynpac.oz.au (Europe/Internet) || uunet!munnari!lynpac.oz.au!matt (UUCP)
bph@buengc.BU.EDU (Blair P. Houghton) (12/14/88)
In article <234@lynpac.oz> croot@lynpac.oz (0000-Admin) writes: >In article <1724@hp-sdd.HP.COM> andrea@hp-sdd.UUCP (Andrea K. Frankel) writes: >>In article <2789@hound.UUCP> nib@hound.UUCP (N.BENIMOFF) writes: > >From some work long ago, all I CAN remember is that you should never use >red-on-blue or vice-versa (eg. red text on blue background). Apparently >the eye adjusts its focus slightly for some colours, red and blue being >the worst two (This sounds like crap - and probably is - but the original >assertion is true), therefore the eye *cannot* focus properly since one of >the red/blue foreground/background will be slightly out of focus. I know >that on my terminal, I find it very hard to read. Matt. It's physics, and due to the achromaticity of the lens. Red and blue, being at opposite ends of the spectrum (ROYGBIV and all that) refract to very different angles in the eye. This explains the fact that they are focussed differently. I say this because many such things (e.g. misdetermination of intensity due to differences in contrasting surroundings) are a result of retinal processing and Higher Neural Function. This one just happens to have a purely physical basis. (I'd expect that the visual system was capable of eliminating the problem through some sort of processing, but it doesn't.) The really interesting thing is that they appear (it's a Famous Optical Illusion) to be at different distances from the eye, when clearly they are not, considering that it is very difficult to determine distance from focus alone, and parallax is nonexistent if the two colors are in the same plane. Perhaps that slight misfocus is perceived as a separate object. Perhaps not. It's easy to get fooled by these things. --Blair "White on DarkOliveGreen."
u-adomma%ug.utah.edu@wasatch.UUCP (Alex Dommasch) (12/14/88)
In article <234@lynpac.oz> croot@lynpac.oz (0000-Admin) writes: > >From some work long ago, all I CAN remember is that you should never use >red-on-blue or vice-versa (eg. red text on blue background). Apparently >the eye adjusts its focus slightly for some colours, red and blue being >the worst two (This sounds like crap - and probably is - but the original >assertion is true), therefore the eye *cannot* focus properly since one of >the red/blue foreground/background will be slightly out of focus. I know >that on my terminal, I find it very hard to read. Matt. > I recently read an article in Scientific American where they discussed just this phenomenon. It turns out that the boundary recognition cells in the retina (or whereever) only operate on luminance information, not color information. So with red on blue, or any other pair of colors with similar luminances, the eye really sees no boundary at all, and the characters wander all over the place, or don't form at all. Alex. ================ Alex Dommasch u-adomma@ug.utah.edu Salt Lake City, Utah