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The Ergonomic Use of Color in Computers

The color combinations you use when working on your computer are largely a matter of personal preference. There are also ergonomic considerations, however. If your work requires you to spend long periods looking at the screen, headaches or eyestrain can become a problem -- some colors and combinations are more likely to promote these than others. For computer presentations, it's important to choose colors that are easy to read at a distance as well as aesthetically pleasing.

  1. Display Polarity Considerations

    • If dark-colored characters are presented on a light-colored background, this is positive display polarity. Light-colored characters against a dark background is negative polarity. Positive polarity is familiar, since we're used to reading dark letters on white paper; reflections from nearby widows or other light sources are less of a problem. Negative polarity displays subdue screen flicker, while positive polarity can make it more intrusive. The contrast on a negative polarity display may also be superior. Some people find that negative polarity displays are easier on the eyes over long periods. Generally speaking there is no clear advantage to either polarity -- select the one you prefer.

    Contrast

    • In general, high-contrast is better than low-contrast. High-contrast combinations such as black and white are easier to read than, say, light gray and white or dark gray and black. If you have to strain to see text against a background, reading will become a struggle. That being said, some people find a slightly lower-contrast display more relaxing to read over long periods.

    Color Schemes

    • Strong primary colors such as bright red can be hard on your eyes no matter which background you use. For text, choose black and white or muted tones -- very light pastels, shades of gray and earthy tones like beige or brown are more comfortable to read than strident, clashing colors. Some colors, notably green and blue, are especially relaxing. Changing your color scheme once or twice during an especially long work period can help refresh and energize you. Different themes and "skins" are available for some applications to facilitate this.

    Computer Presentations

    • Presentations have their own specific requirements. Some color combinations, while acceptable for simple graphs, are a bad choice. Avoid using too many bright colors. Red tends to wash out when projected onto a screen, so should be avoided. Red text on a blue background or vice versa can be very uncomfortable to read, as can red and green combinations; color-blind people may find it impossible to discern text or graphic elements that rely on these combinations.

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