User preferences and associations with light or dark interfaces

La digitalización nos lleva a estar más horas delante de las pantallas, y por ello, el impacto que tiene en la salud es foco de investigación en la actualidad. En este sentido, la polaridad de contraste juega un papel relevante en el diseño de las interfaces. En la literatura, hay trabajos que comparan la polaridad de contraste en pantallas digitales y obtienen resultados favorables para la polaridad de contraste positiva. Estas investigaciones sobre la legibilidad de las pantallas digitales han demostrado una "ventaja de polaridad positiva”. Sin embargo, la instrumentalidad no es el único valor en una experiencia. La calidad hedónica resulta importante cuando se habla de las experiencias y la percepción de los usuarios. El objetivo de esta investigación es conocer cuál es la percepción de los usuarios ante las interfaces en modo claro u oscuro mediante el Test de Asociación Implícita (IAT) y conocerlo en distinción del género. El test (n=141) ha consistido en dos partes: i) Medida implícita mediante IAT y ii) Medida explicita mediante un cuestionario. Los resultados muestran que el IAT permite conocer la preferencia preexistente de los participantes respecto al modo claro u oscuro, más concretamente, muestra un efecto pequeño hacia el modo claro-positivo

Effect of lighting on emotional states and behavioral intentions in urban transitional spaces

Extending precedent studies on ambient lighting and its effects on people's perceptions, this study explored the influence of lighting on the users' emotional states in the urban transitional space at nighttime. The investigation of stimulus factors and their effects on individuals' emotional state (arousal/pleasure) and behavioral intentions (avoidance/approach) as positive engagements can provide the key to what makes urban transitional spaces a final destination in the public realm. The main question was the extent to which light intensity and the color temperature of lighting influence people's emotional states and behavioral responses in these urban transitional spaces.The current study employed technology as a mechanism to represent and manipulate existing environmental lighting conditions. A 2 (warm lighting vs. cool lighting) x 2 (dim lighting vs. bright lighting) factorial experiment was conducted. All digital perspectives were initiated into four different lighting conditions: (a) bright lighting with warm color, (b) dim lighting with warm color, (c) bright lighting with cool color, and (d) dim lighting with cool color. A Rico Theta S camera and Cupix software were used to capture and develop the environment's spherical tour, and Adobe Photoshop was employed to manipulate the lighting condition of each scenario.Participants were randomly assigned to one of the four lighting conditions and navigated through the specific spherical image (360 degrees). At the end of the experiment, participants were asked to rate their feelings and intentions by completing a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. This method allows designers to compensate for other factors in the surroundings and minimize external influences that might impact the users' emotional states or decision-making. It was predicted that both light intensity and the color temperature of light would influence individuals' perceptions and psychological responses. Results showed, there is a positive relationship between the CCT of light and the participants' rating of the levels of pleasure and arousal as well as how individuals' approach or avoid an urban transitional space because of their lighting conditions. The current study contributes to a better understanding of lighting characteristics on peoples' willingness to approach and avoid urban transitional spaces