The Impact of Digital Device Configuration on Elementary Students' Experience of Writing Traditional Chinese Characters: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

The rapid development of digital devices and online learning platforms has increased the flexibility of education. However, younger elementary school students still struggle to learn Traditional Chinese in the digital environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of various digital equipment configurations on Chinese traditional writing on screens. Because of the numerous differences in device settings and setups, preliminary studies are necessary to eliminate ineffective parameters, thereby reducing experimental costs and minimizing the strain on children.In this study, 32 adult participants were recruited through experimental, observational, and interview methods. The variables were eight equipment configurations, visual line smoothness, smoothness of forearm movements, overall comfort, and the number of visual switches. The results revealed that the “horizontal dual-screen configuration” provided the most comfort overall, while the “vertical dual-screen configuration” had the least visual switches. These quantitative findings are further supported by the interview data, indicating that orienting the devices in the same direction may create a smoother viewing experience. However, left-right layouts with irregular screen angles can cause issues such as discontinuous vision and insufficient viewing distances.

Keywords: Digital learning, elementary school students, traditional Chinese characters, multiple digital device configurations, learning effectiveness

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005665