THE DEFAULT SETTINGS PROBLEM
Factory defaults are not for offices.
Many monitors ship with brightness and contrast set around 75/75.
These values help screens stand out under bright retail lighting, but in day-to-day
office work they often cause avoidable visual stress and energy waste.
Why “75” is not “fine”
Brightness drives the monitor’s backlight output. Contrast amplifies the separation
between dark and light areas. At high levels, whites become harsher and small text
feels “sharper”, but the image becomes more aggressive for the eyes.
In practice, the optimal setting depends on ambient light, panel type, workstation
position, and the individual user. That is why a one-time manual adjustment rarely
stays correct in flexible workplaces.