• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.191-202
• /
• 2019

This study examines the effect of luminance contrast ratio of character on readability and visual fatigue during an hour-long reading session while using a tablet PC in ambient environments having low luminance limited to $25cd/m^2$. Experiments were conducted with four patterns of the tablet's luminance contrast ratio of characters, namely 1:2.5, 1:4.5, 1:6.5, and 1:8.5, in low ambient luminance of $9cd/m^2$ and $25cd/m^2$. The obtained results show that the characters can be easily read at the luminance contrast ratio of character of 1:8.5 under surface luminance of $25cd/m^2$. Visual fatigue was evaluated through a subjective survey of symptoms. Physical, psychological, and visual fatigue were observed at a surface luminance of $9cd/m^2$, whereas solely visual fatigue was felt at a surface luminance of $25cd/m^2$. By assessing the physical fatigue using the value, it has been found that smaller the luminance contrast ratio of character, greater is the CFF variation rate. Furthermore, readability is poor and visual fatigue can be observed when the surface luminance is lower than the ambient luminance. However, readability can be improved by increasing the luminance contrast ratio of character to a value of 1:8.5. Thus, in low luminance environments, luminance contrast ratio of characters can affect readability and fatigue. Consider providing the full form of "CFF" so that the acronym can be used unambiguously throughout the manuscript.