The effect of tablet tilt angle on users' preferences, postures, and performance

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Ergonomics
• Usability Studies

Background:

• Mobile devices like tablets are frequently used in tilted positions.
• Understanding the impact of tilt angles is crucial for user comfort and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of various tablet tilt angles on reading and tapping performance.
• To assess the influence of tilt angles on user comfort, posture, and angle preferences.

Main Methods:

• Ten participants evaluated tablets at fixed tilt angles (0°, 30°, 45°, 60°) and a self-selected angle.
• Collected data included head, neck, wrist, and forearm posture, alongside reading and tapping task performance.
• User comfort and preferences were measured using Likert scale questionnaires.

Main Results:

• Increasing tilt angle significantly reduced neck flexion.
• The self-selected tilt angle (average 34°) was most preferred, while 0° and 60° were least preferred.
• Tapping performance was superior at the self-selected angle, though reading performance and forearm/wrist posture were unaffected by tilt.

Conclusions:

• Tablet use should accommodate a tilt angle range of 20° to 50° for optimal user experience.
• User-selected angles indicate a preferred range for comfortable and effective mobile device interaction.
• Ergonomic considerations for tablet design should incorporate adjustable tilt features within this recommended range.