The Effect of Color and Positional Noise on Reading Performance in Human Vision

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Reading can be described as a complex cognitive process of decrypting signs to create meaning. Eventually, it is a way of language achievement, communication, and sharing information and ideas. Changing lighting and color are known to improve visual comfort and the perceptual difficulties that affect reading for those with poor vision.
 AIM: This study aims to investigate the effect of changing the wavelengths and different levels of positional noise on reading performance for participants with best-corrected distant visual acuity (BCVA) of 6/6 or better.
 METHODOLOGY: Twenty English speakers with BCVA 6/6 or better were asked to read words presented in a printed format. The stimuli were black print words in a horizontal arrangement on matte white card. They were degraded using positional noise produced by random vertical displacements of the letter position below or above the horizontal line on three levels.
 RESULTS: Introducing positional noise affected word recognition differently with different wavelengths. The role of short wavelength in enhancing orthographic reading and word recognition is clear – they reduce the effects of positional noise. The error rate and duration time have different effects with different wavelengths, even when positional noise is introduced.
 CONCLUSION: The reading rate is not affected by changing the wavelength of the light. However, the mean differences in wpm were affected by changing the wavelengths. Also, introducing positional noise affects word recognition differently with different wavelengths.

The Effect of Colors and Positional Noise on Reading Performance with Non-words-Part 2

“…When introducing positional noise, the reading rate decreased for all wavelengths, and this reduction did not vary with different colors. The findings of the current study were different from our previous study with real words and therefore, unexpected [13], especially for the short wavelength. This means that the effects of colors are varied as varied of cortical processing with different reading types and that was an interesting finding.…”

“…This study has shown that the reading speed of non-words was not significantly affected by different wavelengths of light for the participant readers. This is what we expected and consistent with the results of our previous study with changing colors [13]. Furthermore, the mean differences in wpm were reduced more with the long-wavelength compared to with the mid and short wavelengths, with and without positional noise.…”

“…Furthermore, the mean differences in wpm were reduced more with the long-wavelength compared to with the mid and short wavelengths, with and without positional noise. This is in line with the results of our previous study with real words [13], [14], [15], [16], [17]. This provided evidence for the fact that there is a cortical process that affects reading performance under long wavelengths.…”

“…However, the reading rate for non-words under the short wavelength was no better than under the other wavelengths, as for real words, and that was different from what we expected. This is presumably because the noise level increases due to positional noise interfering with non-words [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], or it may be because reading parallel processing is different for lexical and sub-lexical items, and each has functionally independent routes of reading at the whole-word level [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]. This finding also provides evidence that different colors have different cortical effects by reducing the effects of positional noise on orthographic reading, word recognition, and word identification.…”

“…This means that the effects of colors are varied as varied of cortical processing with different reading types and that was an interesting finding. This may be because of the increased noise levels or because positional noise interferes with non-words or disrupts word identification [13], [14], [15], [16], [17]. Furthermore, it may be because reading parallel processing is different for lexical and sub-lexical items, and each has functionally independent routes of reading at the whole-word level [1], [2], [3], [4], [5].…”