strobe protection

[KTC]

I am reading 'Striped to the Bone' of the Wave series and it talks about the ill effects of strobe lights. Is there a cover I can get to put in front of my computer screen to protect me somewhat? I mean something that I can see through but that might cut out some of the strobe? I get headaches from my screen so after reading this I'm wondering if this would help (if it exists)

 

[Commander Borg]

Hi, you could buy a flatscreen. And there is also a kind of protectiontool available (Radiationfilter) just search the net.
Best regardt

 

[manitoban]

Hi Commander Borg,

Welcome to the forum. :) We recommend all new members post an introduction in the Newbies section telling us a bit about themselves, and how they found their way here. You can read through the many newbie introductions to get a feel for how others have done it. Thanks.

 

[mcb]

I am reading 'Striped to the Bone' of the Wave series and it talks about the ill effects of strobe lights. Is there a cover I can get to put in front of my computer screen to protect me somewhat? I mean something that I can see through but that might cut out some of the strobe? I get headaches from my screen so after reading this I'm wondering if this would help (if it exists)

Are you using an LCD monitor? As noted, these monitors do not have the same issues as CRT monitors. They do not "flicker," which is where the strobe effect comes from, although they do commonly have a frame rate of 60 Hz for updating the pixels on the screen.

If you are using a CRT monitor, set the refresh rate as high as practical within the range for which the monitor is designed to operate. It should be at least 72 Hz, but preferably higher. If the monitor won't go that high, get rid of it. I am able to see the flicker when a monitor refreshes at 60 Hz, and it is very distracting. Apparently many people don't see it, but it can still affect you. Then there is the EMF radiation -- CRTs don't just flicker; they are surrounded by fluctuating magnetic fields. I think it is best to just "dispose of properly."

There is no filter or cover that will prevent flickering light from reaching you (unless it totally obscures the screen). People might try to sell you such things, but don't be fooled. If you buy a good-quality LCD monitor, you should not need anything else in front of it. If glare is a potential problem then look for a matte finish LCD.

Old-style florescent lights also flicker at relatively low frequencies, although I rarely see those any more (again, I can stand and watch them flicker). I use an LED desk lamp by my computer. It has adjustable color temperature and brightness, and doesn't flicker one bit. (But see also Are You Getting Enough Sleep? Sleeping properly?.)

 

[KTC]

Thanks Megan,
Loll, you are speaking a language quite foreign to me. I have a mac if that gives you any other info. My headaches are possibly from spending so many hours glued to my screen on this forum.. I will look into the sleeping, I know I lack it as I am an awfully light sleeper and spend much of the night wondering whether I am actually dreaming in my sleep or just thinking... I think ALOT :/

 

[mcb]

If your Mac is running OS X, open System Preferences and click "Displays." That will show you the refresh rate. If you are using an LCD monitor (including the built-in one) it will probably say 60 Hz, which is quite OK. If you are using a CRT monitor, however, then you want the refresh rate to be as high as possible within the range that the monitor can use.

I am a relatively new Mac user (2 years or so) and I don't know what their history is with refresh rates. In the past PCs have usually defaulted to 60 Hz, giving people headaches and other problems, because that was a "good, safe setting" (for the monitor!--who cares about the user). Unless you knew to change it, you were subjected to 60 Hz refresh. I learned about it out of necessity, because after many years of working with computers I can't tolerate slow refresh. I would make them fix their own PCs before I could look at their screens!