As more and more apps and interfaces introduce dark mode (and as I happily switch them over to the dark side), I became interested in learning more about what caused this recent phenomenon, if users need it, and how it affects usability.

随着越来越多的应用程序和界面引入暗模式(并且我很乐意将其切换到暗面)，我开始对更多地了解导致这种现象的原因，用户是否需要以及如何影响可用性感兴趣。

Dark interfaces have been around for a long time (Adobe Creative Suite and Netflix to name a couple), but they’ve become a wildly popular option with users recently. In just the past year, the proliferation of dark mode options has inundated Apple and Android and across platforms, like Instagram and the Gmail app over the last few months.

黑暗界面已经存在很长时间了(Adobe Creative Suite和Netflix仅举几例)，但最近它们已成为用户的一种流行选择。 在过去的一年中，暗模式选项的泛滥已在过去几个月中淹没了Apple和Android，以及整个平台，如Instagram和Gmail应用程序。

Apple’s support page for installing dark mode on Mac claims the setting “makes it easier to stay focused on your work, because your content stands out while darkened controls and windows recede into the background.”

苹果公司在Mac上安装暗模式的支持页面声称该设置“使您更容易专注于您的工作，因为您的内容突出而暗的控件和窗口退回到后台。”

阅读真的更好吗？ (Is it really any better for reading?)

There is no merit to claims that dark mode improves focus and productivity, says Susanne Mayr, a human-computer interaction researcher at the University of Passau. In all of her studies, readers “detected more errors and/or read faster when dark text was presented on a light background than under reversed conditions.” This is backed up by how our eyes respond to light. When the background is bright, our pupils constrict which leads to a better image quality on the retina and improved perception of details, particularly small text on a phone screen. When the background is dark, our pupils dilate which leads to optical blurring. For some, dark mode themes with especially high contrast may even contribute to fatigue or strain.

帕绍大学的人机交互研究人员Susanne Mayr说，暗模式可以提高对焦和生产率毫无根据。 在她的所有研究中，“在明亮的背景上呈现深色文本比在相反的条件下，读者发现的错误更多，并且/或者阅读速度更快。” 这是我们的眼睛对光的React方式所支持的。 当背景明亮时，我们的瞳Kong会收缩，这会导致视网膜上的图像质量更好，并改善了对细节的感知，尤其是电话屏幕上的小文本。 当背景较暗时，我们的瞳Kong会扩张，导致光学模糊。 对于某些对比度特别高的暗模式主题，甚至可能会导致疲劳或疲劳。

Dark mode won’t help relieve eye strain from staring at your phone all day.

暗模式无法帮助缓解整天盯着手机的眼睛疲劳。

However, there is merit for why you would use dark mode to decrease brightness or cut out blue light, to limit eye soreness or fatigue while reading at night. Similar functions exist — blue light filters and adaptable brightness are widely available and solve the same problem, but they don’t solve the problem as visually or don’t even look that cool. Dark mode gives people the perception of control they want over their healthier digital consumption.

但是，为什么在夜间阅读时使用暗模式降低亮度或消除蓝光，以限制眼睛酸痛或疲劳，这是有好处的。 存在类似的功能-可以广泛使用蓝光滤镜和自适应亮度并解决相同的问题，但是它们无法像视觉上解决问题，甚至看起来也不那么酷。 暗模式使人们可以控制自己想要的健康数字消费。

Google claims that Android’s new dark theme for developers “improves visibility for users with low vision and those who are sensitive to bright light.” Dark mode can help people who have photophobia, which can cause bright light to trigger migraines. Other people who have vision conditions may find it easier to read bright text on a dark background, though there is less of a consensus.

谷歌声称，Android为开发人员提供的新的深色主题“为视力不佳的用户和对亮光敏感的用户提高了可见性。” 暗模式可以帮助患有畏光症的人，这可能导致明亮的光线触发偏头痛。 其他有视力障碍的人可能会发现，在黑暗背景下阅读明亮的文本会更容易，尽管共识尚少。

There is opportunity to better understand people with brain conditions, dyslexia, migraines, and autism, and their sensitivity to light and certain color combinations in the development of more impactful modes.

在开发更具影响力的模式时，有机会更好地了解患有脑部疾病，阅读障碍，偏头痛和自闭症的人，以及他们对光线和某些颜色组合的敏感性。

为您的平台实现暗模式？ (Implementing dark mode for your platform?)

There is a ‘might as well’ feel to dark mode’s slow addition across platforms— yet it changes the look of a product drastically. Its use is highly dependent on context and user preference. There is a notable lack of research on the topic, but it has become popular due to whatever the perceived benefits are to the user, rather than any scientific reason. Reasons for gravitating towards light or dark mode vary from “The darkness is depressing,” “Dark is easy on the eyes,” or “It just looks cool.”

黑暗模式在各个平台上的缓慢添加有“强大的感觉”，但它会极大地改变产品的外观。 它的使用高度依赖于上下文和用户偏好。 对该主题的研究明显不足，但由于对用户的任何感知利益，而不是任何科学原因，它已广受欢迎。 趋向于亮或暗模式的原因有很多，例如“黑暗令人沮丧”，“黑暗容易使人眼神”或“看起来很酷”。

Dark mode has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a ‘Color Inversion’ option on Android and some other early adopters. But maybe it’s time to be more strategic when it comes to using dark mode. Whether as an option or a default interface, it’s best to consider the following:

自从暗淡模式作为Android和其他一些早期采用者的“颜色反转”选项开始以来，它已经走了很长一段路。 但是也许在使用暗模式时应该更具策略性。 无论是作为选项还是默认接口，最好考虑以下几点：

Design primarily for the context of use.

主要针对使用环境进行设计。

If users are often in a dim environment, a bright rectangle glaring at them is not ideal. In fact, it reduces the odds that users would even look at the screen, and they might just choose not to use your product.

如果用户经常处于昏暗的环境中，那么瞪着他们的明亮矩形并不理想。 实际上，它降低了用户甚至看屏幕的几率，他们可能只是选择不使用您的产品。

Or are they going to be using the application outside in the sunlight? Dark themes can be hard to read in the sun. Google Maps users can notice that the map turns dark as the sun goes down. Your eyes no longer have to adjust as you switch between the bright display and the dark road ahead. ‘Automatic at sunset’ is an option on the Twitter app.

还是他们将在户外阳光下使用该应用程序？ 黑暗的主题在阳光下很难看懂。 Google Maps用户可以注意到，太阳下山时，地图变暗了。 在明亮的显示和前面的黑暗道路之间切换时，您的眼睛不再需要调整。 Twitter应用程序上的选项是“日落时自动”。

Consider your audience.

考虑一下您的听众。

Are people staring at the screen for long periods of time with dense data? Twitter, for example, found that users spent more time in its app when dark mode was turned on. Older users who are used to working in Excel and Word are most likely going to hate your dark theme.

人们是否长时间盯着屏幕看密集的数据？ 例如，Twitter发现，打开暗模式时，用户在其应用程序中花费了更多时间。 习惯于使用Excel和Word的旧用户很可能会讨厌您的黑暗主题。

Keep track of design basics.

跟踪设计基础。

Don’t downplay size, spacing, or contrast just because a design is in dark mode. Because dark themes have no hue values and can be paired with anything, a UI designer should be able to work with the same ease, regardless of the color scheme. This doesn’t mean contrast and color should be sacrificed — a dark interface simplifies the interface yet can make elements less likely to stand out among the crowd.

不要仅仅因为设计处于黑暗模式就淡化了尺寸，间距或对比度。 因为深色主题没有色相值，并且可以与任何主题配对，所以无论采用哪种配色方案，UI设计人员都应能够轻松地进行操作。 这并不意味着要牺牲对比度和色彩-黑色的界面可以简化界面，但可以使元素在人群中脱颖而出的可能性较小。

Consider why products use dark interfaces.

考虑为什么产品使用深色界面。

If we look to Spotify — an app where darkness is a key part of its design — we can see how the effectiveness of dark mode is dependent on the design’s goals. Spotify wanted to put an emphasis on the music, the artwork, photographs of artists, and important navigation buttons, like play. Everything else fades into the background. It achieves its goal of simplicity and creating an almost movie theater-like experience.

如果我们关注Spotify(一个黑暗是其设计关键部分的应用程序)，我们将看到黑暗模式的有效性如何取决于设计目标。 Spotify希望重点关注音乐，艺术品，艺术家的照片以及重要的导航按钮(例如播放)。 其他所有内容都会淡入背景。 它实现了其简单性的目标，并创造了一种类似于电影院的体验。

Go a step further and consider the psychology behind user motivations.

更进一步，考虑用户动机背后的心理。

Nowadays, users expect the option to turn on dark mode. If users opt in based on their perception of power-conservation and health-related benefits that dark mode represents, they will probably feel good from interactions with the color scheme because it will remind them of these benefits. If they want to feel cool, they will likely feel cool when dark mode is on. Alignment with self-concept, perceived benefit, and the emotional messages conveyed by the aesthetic is critical.

如今，用户希望该选项打开暗模式。 如果用户基于对暗模式所代表的节能和与健康相关的利益的理解而选择加入，则他们可能会从与配色方案的交互中感觉良好，因为它会使他们想起这些好处。 如果他们想感到凉爽，则在黑暗模式开启时他们可能会感到凉爽。 与自我概念，感知的利益以及美学传达的情感信息保持一致至关重要。

Since many of us look at our screens 24/7 — and often at night — there needs to be more research done about the healthiest ways to present screens. Right now, many gaps exist, especially among those with visual impairments. Dark mode may be a serviceable update for now — and a cool-looking one at that — but there is potential for something bigger and better if companies prioritize research of this type of accessibility.

由于我们中的许多人全天候(24/7)观看屏幕(通常是在晚上)，因此需要对显示屏幕的最健康方法进行更多的研究。 目前，存在许多差距，特别是在视觉障碍者中。 暗模式目前可能是一种有用的更新-看起来很酷-但如果公司优先研究这种可访问性，则有可能做得更大更好。