Effects of screen size on subtitle layout preferences and comprehension across devices

Abstract

The present study sheds light on the possible effects that screen size can have on preferences and comprehension of audiovisual material content shown with subtitles. Three video excerpts with subtitles displayed on three devices with different screen size (monitor, tablet, and smartphone) were presented to 30 participants, who were asked to fill out preference and comprehension questionnaires after viewing the subtitled film excerpt. The aim of this study was to provide new empirical evidence on viewers’ needs and preferences of readability by analyzing the reception of subtitles across screens. The results obtained indicate that smartphone devices had the most unsatisfactory effects, suggesting the need to undertake further research on small screens to improve subtitling reading performance and adapt subtitles according to the screen size.