Reading on the Go: An Evaluation of Three Mobile Display Technologies

Abstract

As mobile technology becomes a more integral part of our everyday lives, understanding the impact of different displays on perceived ease of use and overall performance is becoming increasingly important. In this paper, we evaluate three mobile displays: the MicroOptical SV-3, the Sony Librie, and the OQO Model 01. These displays each use different underlying technologies and offer unique features which could impact mobile use. The OQO is a hand-held device that utilizes a traditional transflective liquid crystal display (LCD). The MicroOptical SV-3 is a head-mounted display that uses a miniature LCD and offers hands free use. Finally, the Librie uses a novel, low power reflective electronic ink technology. We present a controlled 15-participant evaluation to assess the effectiveness of using these displays for reading while in motion.