A new dissertation in film science at the University of Gothenburg shows that the size of the screen has a great effect on the understanding, feeling of presence and empathy for the film's characters. But it has not only to do with the actual size of the screen, but also the external factors that the screen, or the medium, brings with it.
"The special thing about movie experiences in smartphones is that smart mobiles have few social, temporal or spatial limitations," says doctoral student Kata Szita who conducted the study, in a press release.
On the mobile, the viewer is not bound to a particular room or time, but can watch movies whenever and wherever they want. Distracting sound or visual effects often distances the viewer from the film and interrupts the sense of presence. However, the survey showed that the so-called millennial generation had a greater habit and therefore easier to make films on the mobile phone.
"For them, viewing on mobile screens can be as comfortable, enjoyable and effective as viewing on a large screen," says Kata Szita in the press release.