Positive display polarity is advantageous for both younger and older adults

@article{Piepenbrock2013PositiveDP,
  title={Positive display polarity is advantageous for both younger and older adults},
  author={Cosima Piepenbrock and Susanne Mayr and Iris Mund and Axel Buchner},
  journal={Ergonomics},
  year={2013},
  volume={56},
  pages={1116 - 1124}
}
The effect of display polarity on visual acuity and proofreading performance was investigated for younger and older adults. An advantage of positive polarity (dark characters on light background) over negative polarity (light characters on dark background) was expected for younger adults, but the effects on older adults were ambiguous. Light scatter due to residues in the senescent lens and vitreous humour could reverse the typical advantage of positive polarity. However, age-related changes… Expand
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Positive Display Polarity Is Particularly Advantageous for Small Character Sizes
TLDR
The findings are in line with the assumption that the typically higher luminance of positive polarity displays leads to an improved perception of detail and are important for the design of text on such displays as those of computers, automotive control and entertainment systems, and smartphones. Expand
Smaller pupil size and better proofreading performance with positive than with negative polarity displays
TLDR
Pupil sizes were smaller and proofreading performance was better with positive than with negative polarity displays, compatible with the hypothesis that the positive polarity advantage is an effect of display luminance. Expand
Greater effect of contrast polarities on visual acuity measurements using chart with shorter wavelength background
Our study aimed to explore the effect of positive and negative polarities on visual acuity measurements by utilizing black and white as a text against background with three distinct colours. Visual… Expand
Effects of ambient illumination, contrast polarity, and letter size on text legibility under glance-like reading.
TLDR
Legibility thresholds were measured under glance-like reading conditions using a lexical decision paradigm, testing two type sizes, display polarities, and ambient illuminations (near-dark and daylight-like) to indicate that legibility thresholds, quantified as the amount of time needed to read a word accurately, were highest for the negative polarity configurations under dark ambient illumination, indicating worse performance. Expand
Influence of contrast polarity on the accommodative response☆
Purpose To assess the changes in the accommodative response of the eye while reading a text under different contrast polarity conditions: black letters on white background (BoW condition) and white… Expand
Age-related differences in the legibility of degraded text
TLDR
Differences in performance between older and younger participants are used to suggest how older participants’ performance could be approximated to facilitate maximally usable designs. Expand
Short-term effects of text-background color combinations on the dynamics of the accommodative response
TLDR
The results revealed that the text-background color combination modulates the accommodative and pupillary dynamics during a 2-minutes reading task, and the blue-red combination induced a heightened accommodative response, whereas positive polarities were associated with more variability of the accommodation response and smaller pupil sizes. Expand
Effects of high pixel density on reading comprehension, proofreading performance, mood state, and physical discomfort
TLDR
Reading comprehension, reading speed, and proofreading performance are unaffected by pixel densities above 132 ppi, but reading from high-resolution screens seems to be less exhausting at least subjectively. Expand
Reading from computer screen versus reading from paper: does it still make a difference?
TLDR
Re-assessment of the differences in proofreading speed and performance, well-being, and preference between computer screen and paper was conducted, and a book-like positioning of screens seems necessary to minimise eyestrain symptoms. Expand
The Effects of Brightness Difference on Visual Perception of Characters
TLDR
The study found that black background had shorter comparison time and better visual performance than grey and white backgrounds on the whole and visual perception of negative polarity was better than positive polarity, and the layering of visual perception at different brightness levels was obtained. Expand
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References

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TLDR
Readability of text presented on computer screens is better when the overall display luminance level is high, as in positive polarity displays (dark letters on light background). Expand
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TLDR
In a series of experiments, proofreading performance was consistently better with positive polarity than with negative polarity displays (light text on dark background), independent of ambient lighting and chromaticity. Expand
Legibility and Subjective Preference for Color Combinations in Text
TLDR
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This study ascertained that CRTs using a positive display polarity (dark characters on bright background) are ergonomically more appropriate for VDT operators than ones using a negative display… Expand
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Abstract The following paper deals with the question of whether VDUs with positive polarity or negative polarity are preferable from the ergonomic point of view. It discusses to what extent… Expand
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TLDR
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TLDR
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