Timeline for Users stating that the redesign is too bright?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
16 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Jan 25, 2015 at 20:04 | comment | added | DA01 | Let us continue this discussion in chat. | |
| Jan 25, 2015 at 20:04 | comment | added | DA01 | @VilleNiemi lots of websites use white backgrounds. That's why I'm skeptical here. Not that you are incorrect, but it's odd that if this were the reason people were complaining about the OP's site, then they'd be complaining about hundreds and thousands of sites on the internet--not just the OPs. This is an interesting general answer about white backgrounds in general--but doesn't seem to address the specific issues the OP is having (given that it's a common thing). | |
| Jan 25, 2015 at 18:32 | comment | added | Ville Niemi | @DA01 The layout is one part of it, but the more important part is the usage pattern. Something used for typing will typically have user take breaks from staring. And if the screencap is typical the text to background ratio of the site was lower than normal. The same was actually true of their previous style, but it had slightly more varied backgrounds. Am I really only one who has been specifically told not to use white backgrounds for websites because people will complain? | |
| Jan 25, 2015 at 18:05 | comment | added | DA01 | @VilleNiemi I get what you are saying, but it's not unique to the layout of that particular site. Lots of sites--not to mention things like MS Word--are laid out that way so it'd be extremely odd that this particular issue of sodium channels and ions is the cause of people not liking this particular site. | |
| Jan 25, 2015 at 9:54 | comment | added | Ville Niemi | @DA01 Actually, looking at just how low the text per area ratio of the site is, maybe using a larger font would be a good suggestion to make? //EDIT Also, paper doesn't glow, it uses reflected light and isn't usually that bright, our eyes just automatically compensate for based on ambient light so we know it is white even if it really looks grey or even pink due to lighting. So this issue really can't happen with paper, just with media that can be brighter than ambient light. | |
| Jan 25, 2015 at 9:51 | comment | added | Ville Niemi | @DA01 It isn't an issue to have black on white, as long as we spend more time looking at the darker parts. If you look at the design, people reading the text would be mostly seeing the white background all the time, the text does not cover enough area and there is nothing else to really break it. Comparing to stackexchange (also near black on white), it is obvious this site has lot less white on the part people focus on. Also, Rogers explanation might be better for the Twitter part tbh. I am just focussed on the people seeing it too bright part. And that is due to large expanses of white. | |
| Jan 25, 2015 at 1:59 | comment | added | DA01 | @VilleNiemi It's all very interesting science, but I don't know that it really fits the context of the question. Again, this isn't something out of the ordinary. Most modern GUI's have rather bright backgrounds and rather dark text--not to mention that most printed content is exactly the same. | |
| Jan 24, 2015 at 21:43 | comment | added | Ville Niemi | In fact, it is not about contrast or even brightness. It is too much white, which contains all colors and stimulates all photoreceptors, all the time. | |
| Jan 24, 2015 at 21:38 | comment | added | Ville Niemi | @DA01 See above and for a citation, I must admit I totally forget what this is called and can't find it (it is one of those days... my google-fu has abandoned me), but you can read on Visual phototransduction to see the fundamental issue, which is that the cells work with ion flows that are supposed to balance out, but won't if one type of stimulus dominates. I probably should rewrite my answer as both you and Dane seemed to misunderstand my point to mean that black-on-white by itself is an issue. | |
| Jan 24, 2015 at 21:32 | comment | added | Ville Niemi | @Dane Just to be clear, the issue is not with "black text on white background", the issue is with the ratio of time spent looking at white versus looking at something not white. The cells get depleted of calcium (and enriched in sodium), that prevents release of glutamate, and eyes see "blinding bright". You look at something darker, sodium channels open, a bit later the calcium channels open, and bit later glutamate is released. Balance is restored. More time you spent getting depleted on calcium, less responsive your eyes get on small dark shapes and harder it is to read fast. | |
| Jan 24, 2015 at 21:09 | comment | added | Dane | Actually, this text is #333 gray, which lessens the contrast. Hmm. | |
| Jan 24, 2015 at 21:01 | comment | added | Dane | Aren't we looking at a white background with dark text right now as we read your answer? | |
| Jan 24, 2015 at 19:26 | comment | added | DA01 | Do you have citations for this ("cells in your retina getting tired")? It goes against most everything modern GUIs provide (we spend most of our day staring at bright backgrounds with dark text) | |
| Jan 24, 2015 at 14:33 | comment | added | Alan Hollis | I really like the subtle texture idea, I might well give that a go. Also as you state I think the site is "cleaner" now than it was, and because we have less dark patches that could be causing fatigue, another thing to investigate. Thank you :) | |
| Jan 24, 2015 at 14:21 | history | edited | Ville Niemi | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
added 62 characters in body
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| Jan 24, 2015 at 14:15 | history | answered | Ville Niemi | CC BY-SA 3.0 |