The Effects of Gradual Change in Background Color of Software on Calculation Task

Abstract

Nowadays, many people want to reduce their fatigue in use of computer devices by improving software. We have already proposed the method that would reduce user's fatigue using color effect in our previous study: the gradual change in background color in certain software was expected to entrain psycho-physiological states of the user. In this study, effectiveness of the method was investigated through experiment with calculation task. We newly developed calculation software that changes its background color gradually. The experiment compared a case of gradually changed color with cases of not changed color. Blue and white were employed as colors in the experiment, and the experiment was conducted with three conditions; gradual change from white to blue, blue, and white. As the indices in the experiment, number of calculation responses, ratio of correct answers, questionnaire with impression for the task, and heartbeat interval were employed. Part of experimental results showed that the change in color elicited higher effects on ratio of correct answers. Furthermore, in the condition with the change in color, larger heartbeat intervals during the task were observed. However, with the condition changing the color, number of responses in the calculation task was smallest. These results showed a possibility that the proposed method make the user calm psycho-physiologically in tasks with the computer software.