Examining Potential User Experience Trade-Offs Between Common Computer Display Configurations

Objective To determine how ultrawide (UW) and dual displays configurations can influence neck biomechanics and performance compared to a single display. Background Studies have assessed neck kinematics and performance when using dual displays, but these studies have used screen sizes smaller than today's display size, have inconsistent participant placement, and few have assessed these two variables together. Methods Seventeen participants completed five tasks on six display configurations. Neck kinematics and performance were tracked for each configuration. Results Centered configurations produced significantly different median neck rotation angles compared to secondary configurations (p < .001) for three of the tasks. A 34" curved UW display with a longer viewing distance produced similar neck kinematics to a single 24" display with the potential to also reduce screen interactions. When compared to single, the benefit of secondary versus centered monitors was dependent on the type of task being performed. Users may prefer the UW, centered dual, and secondary dual configurations over the single display. Conclusion The benefit of secondary versus centered displays is dependent on the type of task being performed. Dual displays are still beneficial but should be used with a monitor arm to switch between centered and secondary configurations as necessary. Future work should look at larger UW displays to see if these results hold compared to dual display configurations. Application The results can be used to make evidence-based guidelines for displays based on size and task. Researchers can use this information to design future studies looking at specific configurations.