The use of screens during a conference or event has been indispensable for decades, whether they serve to display presentations, digital posters, signage or as comfort monitors for presenters. Yet a common problem is that the information on those screens is not always easy to read for visitors. This is often because the distance from the screen to the visitor is too far, making small details difficult to see. This is not something you want, as important information may not be legible. Fortunately, that problem is easily prevented; there is a formula that calculates exactly what the ideal screen size is for the viewing distance of your visitors.
It is important not to sit too far from a screen, however sitting too close to a screen does not feel pleasant either. In the past it was often said, that sitting too close to a screen was bad for your eyes, nowadays this is less true. The latest screens have a much sharper display, even at close range. Too close is still not good aesthetically, because then you will see the pixels (image points), but it is no longer as harmful. The recommended viewing distance to the screen therefore depends on both the screen’s diagonal size and the resolution. The most common resolutions are explained below.