We can guess how far a user is from the screen, whether they are reading a website, tablet or PC from their phone, but more and more web pages are viewed on ultra-high definition displays and smart TVs. So the user can be anywhere from one to five meters away.

However, the larger the screen – the less the estimated distance. That’s why TV manufacturers recommend the optimal range for viewing depending on the screen size. For obvious reasons, a small screen will not be convenient to view from a great distance due to limitations in the field of recognition of details by the human visual system. There is a threshold beyond which the human eye cannot discern critical details.

This also applies to virtual reality, where long text would be a bad idea for UX, but where the same laws of distance perception apply. Creating texts in virtual reality is more difficult due to image clarity and three-dimensional factors.

With portable devices, everything is easier – the distance is usually not more than the distance of the outstretched hand, but with large desktop displays, the distance can be greater. The user can recline in a chair while the display is on the opposite side of the table. Users often do not even lean towards the screens when reading text on them.

When viewed from a long distance, most users will prefer to enlarge individual elements, as well as use more accessible screen space, especially on large displays.