Backlit keyboards are pretty popular right now, even for non-gamers.
They look cool and for most computer users it just makes sense to have your keyboard backlit.
But do they help or hinder concentration?
That’s what we’re going to take a look at in this post.
Do backlit keyboards distract you?
There is no evidence, or relevant studies, to say that a backlit keyboard is a distraction for a computer user. That applies to both laptops and desktop computers.
But there are a lot of people who feel that backlit keyboards are very distracting, especially in low-light situations.
Their theory is that the bright LEDs are too much of a distraction when you’re trying to focus on something else.
Others feel that backlit keyboards are helpful because they allow you to see the keys better in low-light situations. This makes sense because this is the exact environment backlit keyboards are designed for.
Obviously, it makes far more sense to simply turn on a light in the room than rely on a backlit keyboard, but maybe you live in a home or apartment where you can’t do that because it would wake other people up.
Or you just want to cut down on your utility bill.
Animated vs. static back-lighting
A backlit keyboard can be set up (depending on the software provided) to have either static multicolored lights or animated lighting schemes.
There’s pretty much zero risk of a keyboard with static lighting becoming a distraction, but the animation patterns could potentially stray into your peripheral vision and cause your eyes to focus on the pretty lights instead of your work/game.
But there’s a reason why that typically shouldn’t happen unless your keyboard is lit up like a fireworks display on July 4th or New Years’ Eve.
We explain what that is in the next section.
Foveal view
The human eye is designed to focus clearly on objects in front of it but not to the sides or rear – we have hunters’ eyes.
Yes, you can see a certain amount of your surroundings in your peripheral vision, but have you ever paid attention to how clear those images you see actually are?
This is best demonstrated with an experiment.
Sit upright in a chair and look at an object in front of you. Now without glancing to either side pay attention to how “blurred” the objects in your peripheral vision are.
This is something called foveal view.
Your eyes simply cannot detect a high level of detail outside of your foveal view, and that includes a backlit keyboard.
You’re aware that the light source is there but your eyes are focusing on the screen in front of you instead.
So, from a physiological point of view, a backlit keyboard cannot distract you unless you’re staring directly at it.
Adjustable lighting
Every backlit keyboard we’ve seen allows you to either adjust or disable the LED lighting functions.
So, if you are someone who finds backlit keyboards distracting, there are a few things that you can do to minimize the effect:
· You can either turn the brightness down
· Disable the backlight altogether
· Choose a color scheme that doesn’t distract you
But that’s only if you find the lights are actually visible in your peripheral vision.
Touch typing
The vast majority of people who use a computer on a daily basis don’t look at the keyboards when they type – they touch-type instead.
This is the default setting for the vast majority of computer users.
So touch typists should not even be aware that their keyboards
If you’re staring at the keyboard then yeah, sure, you could find the animated LED patterns are distracting
But apart from that you’ll be busily typing away without looking at your keyboard for more than a split second.
Wrapping things up
At the end of the day, it’s up to each individual person to decide whether or not they want a backlit keyboard.
They are definitely not for everyone!
But, they can be very helpful for the majority of computer users.
So, it’s up to you to decide whether or not they are right for you.
