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From: damian@bruce.cs.monash.OZ.AU (Damian Conway)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: My eyes are sore ...
Message-ID: <2790@bruce.cs.monash.OZ.AU>
Date: 1 Aug 90 08:02:09 GMT
References: <12453@rouge.usl.edu>
Organization: Monash Uni. Computer Science, Australia
Lines: 38

In <12453@rouge.usl.edu> pcb@gator.cacs.usl.edu (Peter C. Bahrs) writes:

>After several hours at the machine looking at text, high res graphics,
>and movement, my eyes tell me to take a break. What can be done?

Recognize that your visual system is designed for looking for predators on the
savanna,  not text on the screen (or on a page for that matter).  They get
tired of focusing at 1-3 feet.  Try looking up and out a window every 10-15
minutes (this also gives your grasping limbs a break from the unnatural task
of pecking keys!)

>Buy a higher resolution monitor?

Resolution contributes to ease of recognition and hence decreases psychological
strain but does not help the physical eye strain caused by close focusing (as
far as I can determine.)  Try turning down the brightness and moving the
monitor back a few feet. Check the chromatic contrast between the text and the
background (Eg: blue text on a red background will trash your eyes really fast!)

>I am looking for some research references to optical solutions for eye strain.

No idea, but I'd be skeptical.

>In particular topics such as add on computer screen devices and/or eye goggles

What you want is a 100ft DiamondVision giant screen about 100 yards from your
desk ;-) or something that creates the same effect.

damian

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