Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Tablets and other mobile devices can be tilted during use. This study examined the effect of tablet tilt angles on reading performance, target-tapping performance, wrist and forearm posture, user comfort and users' tilt angle preferences.
METHOD: Ten participants used tablets alternating among four different tilt angles: 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and a user selected angle. Head, neck, wrist and forearm postural data were collected, along with reading and target-tapping performance. Subjective, perceived impressions were gathered via Likert scale questions.
RESULTS: Neck flexion decreased significantly as tilt angle increased. The extreme tilt angles, 0° and 60°, were least preferred while the self-chosen tilt angle, averaging about 34°, was most preferred. Tapping performance was significantly better for the self-chosen tilt angle; however, this may be a practice effect. No effect of tilt was observed on reading performance or for forearm and wrist posture.
CONCLUSIONS: Tablet tilt angles should include a range of 20° to 50° at minimum.