However, this might be one of the keys as to why people spend longer on these apps when this mode is enabled вЂ“ because it reduces legibility and makes reading more effortful. MayrвЂ™s research initially proposed that these effects might be reversed for elderly populations, but found this wasnвЂ™t the case. When looking at a black background, the opposite effect occurs, and dilated pupils make it harder to focus on the text. The researchers put this down to the fact that when we look at a bright background, our pupils constrict and increase acuity while scanning text. On these tasks, participants both read faster and/or spotted more mistakes in the positive polarity condition. The study involved participants carrying out both visual acuity tests and proof reading tasks. Research published in 2013 by psychologists Cosima Piepenbrock and Susanne Mayr showed that accuracy and performance are better in positive polarity conditions (i.e. If the contrast is the same between normal and dark modes, she says we might not expect a difference in legibility, although our familiarity with black text on a white background might offer this display mode a slight edge. In terms of readability, ensuring a higher contrast between text and background is more important than colour scheme, according to Cox. You can also make use of the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Limiting screen time is the top tip from the Mayo Clinic. Adjust your screen at or below eye level вЂ“ having your screen above eye level can dry your eyes out further.Д«ut the best solution might be to drag yourself away from your computer altogether. You might want to check light sources around you too вЂ“ glare from overhead lighting reflected on your screen can make it harsher. For the device itself, recommendations include raising the contrast of your screen, or adjusting the brightness so itвЂ™s no lighter or darker than your surroundings. If truly concerned about eye strain or dryness, you might be better off investing in artificial tears or a matte screen for your device. Conversely, in a brightly lit environment, a darker screen can actually force your eyes to work harder. вЂњIn a darkened room, the darker colours of dark mode could be perceived as less jarring and lull people into spending longer using the app,вЂќ says Aneesha Singh, professor of human-computer interaction at UCL. In a dimly lit environment, where the main light source is your screen, the greater the eye strain provoked by a brightly lit display. However, the effort of looking at a screen can vary a lot depending on your surroundings. One of the oft-repeated claims about dark mode is that itвЂ™s exactly that, but is this based on fact? Anna Cox, a professor of human-computer interaction at UCL, dispute this is the case, saying, вЂњIвЂ™m not aware of any robust evidence that white text on black background reduces eye strainвЂќ. No wonder then, that anything offering a solution to this condition is touted as a miracle cure.

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