Larger is Much Better 1

Does the size of the screen relate to the speed with which work can be done?

Simmons and Manahan at the Compaq Computer Corporation conducted two studies to determine user performance and preference differences among people using different sized monitors. They had people perform tasks using monitors that were 15 inches, 17 inches, 19 inches and 21 inches (measured diagonally). Users that performed search activities using Microsoft's Word and Excel, and also browsed the Web, took less time to complete the tasks when using the 21 inch monitor. The test subjects preferred using the 19 inch monitor.

In a follow-on study, users required reliably less time to perform using both the 19 inch and 21 inch monitors. Again, they preferred the 19 inch monitor. These studies demonstrate that monitor size can have a positive effect on the performance time of certain tasks, particularly those that involve the searching of large amounts of data.

 

Larger is Much Better 2

Is there any value in buying larger monitors or having larger Web pages?

In another study, DiPierro, Nachman and Raderman at the University of Maryland, attempted to determine the effect of screen size on the speed of navigating the web. They compared performance using small, medium and large screens. There was no difference between the small and medium screens, but the large screen elicited performance that was about 26% faster than the medium screen. Again, with these tasks the larger the window, the shorter the time required to perform the tasks.