Is the inverted text better for your eyes?

Pjama · 10-09-2018, 05:05 PM

Is reading on the Oasis 7” with white text on the black background actually better for your eyes?

I’ve set mine to this all this week, as I’m testing out kcladyz's observation that she gets better battery life this way.

Is it as good for your eyes as reading using the 'comfort light' on other readers? Or is there still blue light reaching your eyes?

Barbara1955 · 10-09-2018, 05:08 PM

This is not something any one can answer but You.

Pjama · 10-09-2018, 05:12 PM

I was hoping someone that knows something about the physics/properties of light waves would be able to help with a scientific answer.

j.p.s · 10-09-2018, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pjama

I was hoping someone that knows something about the physics/properties of light waves would be able to help with a scientific answer.

At the same light brightness setting, inverted mode will send much less light to your eyes, so the amount of blue light will also be much less.

vrf · 10-09-2018, 06:31 PM

I thought I'd like the inverted reading mode, but haven't used it much. When reading in the dark, there is something about E-ink flashing from dark to light for each page turn that is briefly uncomfortable for me. I guess if your eyes are adjusted to the lower levels of the black page, then that glimpse of the white page is a bit like an oncoming car at night.

I do sometimes like the dark mode on an iPad, but of course that stays dark the whole time.

j.p.s · 10-09-2018, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vrf

I thought I'd like the inverted reading mode, but haven't used it much. When reading in the dark, there is something about E-ink flashing from dark to light for each page turn that is briefly uncomfortable for me. I guess if your eyes are adjusted to the lower levels of the black page, then that glimpse of the white page is a bit like an oncoming car at night.

I do sometimes like the dark mode on an iPad, but of course that stays dark the whole time.

Do you have your Oasis set to refresh every page? The other setting seems to be Once per chapter and after illustrations. Even a single flash is too much for me, so I don't use invert mode myself.

Little black dribbles from deferred refresh bother me a lot, but the Oasis is much improved and I don't notice any.

Gronk · 10-09-2018, 07:31 PM

I'd really like to try inverted text but my Oasis doesn't have it.

Wearever · 10-09-2018, 07:57 PM

I tried reading with the white on black text and didn't like it. So I switched back. I did try leaving the inverted text on when I closed my Oasis 2 with the cover, like kcladyz was trying but it didn't help with my battery unfortunately. I do believe her if she says she gets better battery life from doing that. You may have better results too. I'm borderline awful with my battery usage anyway.

j.p.s · 10-09-2018, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gronk

I'd really like to try inverted text but my Oasis doesn't have it.

Only the 2017 Oasis with the 7" screen has it. It is hidden under

Settings -> All Settings -> Accessibility -> Invert Black and White

Deskisamess · 10-09-2018, 08:23 PM

I'm not a fan. I tried it on my Oasis but found, in a dark room, it reduced the contrast too much. I turned the lighting up brighter, which didn't help.

On a backlit device the white text, even with the screen light turned way down, the letters were like little shards of light. Not pleasant at all, it was very hard on my eyes.

I should mention, when I read in bed, I take my glasses off, and hold the device about 7" from my eyes. I'm sure that has something to do with my dislike of inverted text.

The only time I've found inverted text to be a benefit is if I'm using my iPad mini or my iPhone in a bright place, like in the sun or under a bright overhead light.

Gronk · 10-09-2018, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Only the 2017 Oasis with the 7" screen has it. It is hidden under

Settings -> All Settings -> Accessibility -> Invert Black and White

It's not there either. Thanks though. Mine was advertised as 8th generation, whatever that means.

DuckieTigger · 10-09-2018, 11:40 PM

Unfortunately when I turn my inverted mode on, my Oasis insists on turning the light on minimum up so high that it is unusable bright. In the dark it looks more like grey and nowhere close to black. So I settled for regular mode with light at 1.

patrickt · 10-10-2018, 07:36 AM

We got the answer years ago when all books switched to black paper with white print. That pretty well settled it.

vrf · 10-10-2018, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Do you have your Oasis set to refresh every page? The other setting seems to be Once per chapter and after illustrations. Even a single flash is too much for me, so I don't use invert mode myself.

True... I do have it set to full refresh, and it may be better with that setting off.

Another annoying thing with the inverted text page turns (on full refresh) is that it seems to quickly render the page in standard black-on-white before inverting to white-on-black. It feels... glitchy.

Atunah · 10-10-2018, 01:44 PM

I would think it depends on ones eyes. I tried it, but after like 5 minutes, my eyes start watering from straining. The white letters just "floating" around on the black screen. Its not comfortable for me at all. And yes, I tried different light setting. Didn't make a difference. It just kind of "dissolves" the straight line of sentences. For lack of better way explaining that.

10-09-2018, 05:05 PM	#1
Pjama Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 2891014 Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: US Device: Kindle Scribe, Kobo Clara 2E, Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle PW 2015, KOA3	Is the inverted text better for your eyes? Is reading on the Oasis 7” with white text on the black background actually better for your eyes? I’ve set mine to this all this week, as I’m testing out kcladyz's observation that she gets better battery life this way. Is it as good for your eyes as reading using the 'comfort light' on other readers? Or is there still blue light reaching your eyes?

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10-09-2018, 05:08 PM	#2
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	This is not something any one can answer but You.

10-09-2018, 05:12 PM	#3
Pjama Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 2891014 Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: US Device: Kindle Scribe, Kobo Clara 2E, Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle PW 2015, KOA3	I was hoping someone that knows something about the physics/properties of light waves would be able to help with a scientific answer.

10-09-2018, 06:31 PM	#5
vrf Addict Posts: 218 Karma: 1300000 Join Date: Dec 2004 Device: Oasis 2, Voyage, Paperwhite 2, Kindle Touch, Kindle Keyboard, iPad Pro	I thought I'd like the inverted reading mode, but haven't used it much. When reading in the dark, there is something about E-ink flashing from dark to light for each page turn that is briefly uncomfortable for me. I guess if your eyes are adjusted to the lower levels of the black page, then that glimpse of the white page is a bit like an oncoming car at night. I do sometimes like the dark mode on an iPad, but of course that stays dark the whole time.

10-09-2018, 07:31 PM	#7
Gronk Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 500356 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: Oasis, Voyage, PW2, Sony PRS 950, 350	I'd really like to try inverted text but my Oasis doesn't have it.

10-09-2018, 07:57 PM	#8
Wearever Wizard Posts: 1,063 Karma: 10944084 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: New England Device: Oasis 2,Voyage, Kindlle hdx 8.9, Ipad mini 4. Air 2	I tried reading with the white on black text and didn't like it. So I switched back. I did try leaving the inverted text on when I closed my Oasis 2 with the cover, like kcladyz was trying but it didn't help with my battery unfortunately. I do believe her if she says she gets better battery life from doing that. You may have better results too. I'm borderline awful with my battery usage anyway.

10-09-2018, 08:23 PM	#10
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,775 Karma: 45827761 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	I'm not a fan. I tried it on my Oasis but found, in a dark room, it reduced the contrast too much. I turned the lighting up brighter, which didn't help. On a backlit device the white text, even with the screen light turned way down, the letters were like little shards of light. Not pleasant at all, it was very hard on my eyes. I should mention, when I read in bed, I take my glasses off, and hold the device about 7" from my eyes. I'm sure that has something to do with my dislike of inverted text. The only time I've found inverted text to be a benefit is if I'm using my iPad mini or my iPhone in a bright place, like in the sun or under a bright overhead light.

10-09-2018, 11:40 PM	#12
DuckieTigger Wizard Posts: 4,764 Karma: 246906703 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: USA Device: Oasis 3, Oasis 2, PW3, PW1, KT	Unfortunately when I turn my inverted mode on, my Oasis insists on turning the light on minimum up so high that it is unusable bright. In the dark it looks more like grey and nowhere close to black. So I settled for regular mode with light at 1.

10-10-2018, 07:36 AM	#13
patrickt Wizard Posts: 1,221 Karma: 8381518 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2	We got the answer years ago when all books switched to black paper with white print. That pretty well settled it.

10-10-2018, 01:44 PM	#15
Atunah Wizard Posts: 1,817 Karma: 23400001 Join Date: May 2012 Location: USA Device: K1/K3/BasicK Voyage/Oasis1/Oasis3	I would think it depends on ones eyes. I tried it, but after like 5 minutes, my eyes start watering from straining. The white letters just "floating" around on the black screen. Its not comfortable for me at all. And yes, I tried different light setting. Didn't make a difference. It just kind of "dissolves" the straight line of sentences. For lack of better way explaining that.