Gazit Tali, Tager-Shafrir Tair, Zhong Hua-Xu, Hung Patrick C K, Cheung Vien
Department of Information Science, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
Department of Educational Counseling, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Jezreel Valley, Israel.
Ergonomics. 2025 Mar 25:1-14. doi: 10.1080/00140139.2025.2483451.
With the pivotal role that dark mode plays in user interface design, its widespread adoption across various applications and operating systems is evident. This study aims to investigate the potential effects of different background modes (light and dark) using cognitive ability tests and collect demographic variables for analysis. A total of 173 participants from diverse geographic regions worldwide completed an online survey comprising cognitive tests. The experimental results demonstrate that cognitive scores were higher in light mode compared to dark mode. Additionally, younger adults performed significantly better than older adults in light mode, while participants with academic education scored higher than those without in dark mode. In both modes, men outperformed women. A majority of females prefer light mode, while a higher proportion of males feel comfortable with both modes. These findings address the gap in understanding the impact of dark mode, offering practical insights in inclusive design practices.
