Now a commonplace viewing option for mainstream computer software on pcs, macs, apple and android phones; it's surprising that the NOW portal doesn't have a dark mode.

Viewing black text on a white background, especially for extended periods of time, contributes significantly to eye strain - and can be a real limitation for some students as well as staff. This issues is more keenly felt by all as a result of the increase in remote working due to the pandemic.

Though there are many supportive software packages and indeed the various operating systems of modern computer devices have options to try and force white text on a black/darker background - these are often heavy-handed solutions that can easily break webpages and other software; rendering links and content unusable.

This idea proposes to create a formal dark mode for the NOW portal and, ideally, provide an example for the other university websites to follow suit.