A Field Observation of Display Placement Requirements for Presbyopic and Prepresbyopic Computer Users

User-selected display placement for young computer users (prepresbyopes) and older computer users with presbyopia, wearing multifocal lens correction, has been observed in field settings, but not while both groups used the same display size or illumination technology. A field study was conducted to examine placement of an 18.5-inch, widescreen LCD display for prepresbyopes and presbyopes using multifocal lens correction. Both groups viewed the 18.5“ display for four days as they performed their usual computer tasks at their workstations. Multifocal wearers selected a display height that was lower than computer users who did not have presbyopia. As a result the eye-to-screen angle for presbyopes was significantly lower than prepresbyopes. The findings potentially affect proper design and selection of adjustable display supports. Measures of gross body posture and text size were also collected. Multifocal wearers did not choose seated postures different from prepresbyopes. Additionally, the majority of both groups viewed text at arc angles smaller than ANSI/HFES 100–2007 and ISO 9241–3 recommendations.