Why Dark Mode Reduces Your Productivity

Summary

The video discusses the pros and cons of dark mode in apps. It highlights that dark mode can extend battery life on OLED displays and reduce eye strain in low light, but may also decrease visual clarity, slow reading speed, and affect cognitive performance. The narrator suggests personal preference plays a key role in choosing between light and dark modes.

Takeaways

• 🔋 Dark mode can increase battery life, especially on OLED displays where black pixels don't consume power.
• 📱 For LCD displays, dark mode can still save power through local dimming, but the effect is less pronounced.
• 🌑 The power savings from dark mode can be minimal at default brightness but can be significant (39-47%) when brightness is at 100%.
• 👀 Dark mode is beneficial for reducing eyestrain, particularly in low-light conditions, by reducing the need for bright white pixels.
• 🌞 However, dark mode can also worsen eyestrain by causing a decrease in vision sharpness, known as the halation effect.
• 📚 Dark mode can negatively impact cognitive performance, slowing down reading speed and reducing the ability to spot spelling mistakes.
• 👓 Using dark mode with small font sizes can exacerbate the downsides, further reducing reading speed and increasing eye strain.
• 🌳 From an evolutionary perspective, our eyes are better adapted to spot dark objects against a light background, which is why dark mode might not always be optimal.
• 🏞️ The military uses this evolutionary trait in camouflage, highlighting the contrast between dark silhouettes and bright backgrounds.
• 💡 The choice between dark and light modes is largely a matter of personal preference, with some preferring dark mode at night and light mode during the day.

Q & A

What is the main benefit of using dark mode on devices with OLED displays?

The main benefit of using dark mode on devices with OLED displays is that it increases battery life because black pixels on an OLED display do not consume power.

Does dark mode save battery life on devices with LCD screens?

Dark mode does not significantly save battery life on traditional LCD screens because their power consumption is roughly the same regardless of the color of each pixel. However, modern LCD panels with local dimming can save some power in dark mode by turning off the backlight in zones that only contain black pixels.

How much power can dark mode save on devices at maximum brightness?

At maximum brightness, dark mode can reduce power consumption by 39 to 47%, which is a significant gain.

How does dark mode help in reducing eye strain?

Dark mode helps reduce eye strain by reducing the amount of bright white pixels, which can cause glare and make eyes feel tired more quickly, especially when using a device at night or in dimly lit rooms.

What is the halation effect and how does it affect readability in dark mode?

The halation effect occurs when white letters on a dark background appear blurry because our pupils open wider to let in more light, decreasing the sharpness of vision. This can make the letters bleed into the dark background, making them harder to read and increasing eye strain.

What impact does dark mode have on cognitive performance?

Dark mode can negatively affect cognitive performance, making reading slower and causing users to find fewer spelling mistakes when proofreading documents.

Why might dark mode be less effective with small font sizes?

Dark mode is less effective with small font sizes because it increases eye strain and reduces reading speed further. People often use small font sizes to fit more information on the screen, but this can be counterproductive.

What evolutionary context is provided to explain the disadvantages of dark mode?

Humans have evolved to hunt during the day, making our eyes adapted to spotting dark objects against a light background. This evolutionary trait explains why dark mode can make it harder to recognize shapes and read text.

How does the military use the evolutionary trait related to vision?

The military uses the evolutionary trait by advising against exposing oneself on a hilltop, as a dark silhouette can easily be identified against the bright sky.

What personal preference does the speaker mention regarding the use of light and dark modes?

The speaker mentions that they prefer using light mode during the day and dark mode at night, highlighting that the choice between light and dark modes often comes down to personal preference.