Preference for the Background Lighting of a Display Influenced by Media and Image Features

Abstract

Background Light devices demonstrate the potential effect of media-sync light behind the display, allowing users to extend the media-watching experience. Investigations are necessary to examine the relationship between media properties and users' preferences. Methods We conducted an online survey to explore user experiences on display background lightings (N=64). We considered ten genres of media and selected four alternative images for each genre. Participants were exposed to 40 pairs of media consisting of without or with background lighting that surrounded the display frame. The Hue Play Bar from Philips was employed, and the lighting was generated by synchronizing the light bar with the monitor. Based on the assessment scores and text answers, we identified the relationship between image features and background lighting preference. Results We found that the type of media influenced the preference for background lighting (F(39, 2457) = 7.86, p <.01). Also, four image features, such as brightness, saturation, complexity, and image-depth, influenced the preference. In general, participants preferred background lighting when watching dark or bright media. However, they disliked the background lighting when the media is highly saturated, complex, or deep in image-depth. Conclusions We investigated users’ preference for adding light to the display periphery and carried out the image-based survey. Across 10 genres, we identified the image factors and their characteristics that influence the preference for the background lighting. Finally, based on the empirical findings, we discussed the potentials and applications of background lighting to enhance the media viewing experience.