Baren Digest Thursday, 8 August 2002 Volume 20 : Number 1920 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: G Wohlken Date: Wed, 07 Aug 2002 09:19:08 +0000 Subject: [Baren 18873] Eyestrain and Nausea from computer screen Mike I just checked to see where my resolution is and it looks like it's at 75 hertz, so I shouldn't be feeling so bad from it. Maybe I do need to take the suggestion Darrell made about 15 minutes of eye rest every hour. Hard to do, though, when you are deep into some engrossing work. Gayle >Sometimes people get 'sick' when the refresh rate (how rapidly the >'picture' can be displayed per) is too low -- on some monitors, when you >bump them up to a higher resolution, the refresh rate is >reduced.. for computer monitors is above 70 hertz -- > >One thing you can try which costs 'nothing' is to turn the brightness and >contrast down a bit. Then you'll only suffer eye-strain. Or set the >resolution down to 640x480 or whatever resolution you can so that the >refresh is above 70hz -- that may help. > > ------------------------------ From: ArtfulCarol@aol.com Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 11:12:04 EDT Subject: [Baren 18874] Re: firemans prints Hi, 31 prints were sold for $45 each and amount was sent to: Fire Donations 3214 50 St. Suite 303 Gig Harbor, WA 98335 I think it is perfectly Ok to charge more!! John, I hope you are feeling fine now. I told each of the 253 viewers about you and the Baren Group. They were appreciative and amazed. By the way my Modem was cooked by an electrical storm and out of order. It was picked up by DELL on Monday afternoon and it was just returned to my door -fixed, with a corrective repair action report ---Wed morning. From NY to TN and back! 1 day... Free! What a service! I can relate the above to woodblocks--it gave me extra time to do experiments with cut and print Carol Irvington, NY. ------------------------------ From: "PHARE-CAMP,PATTI (HP-USA,ex1)" Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 13:25:38 -0400 Subject: [Baren 18875] RE: Baren Digest V20 #1919 "This doesn't relate to printmaking directly, but to looking at computer screens and getting almost nauseated..." Gayle and others, safety while using our tools IS directly related to any printmaker. The computer is a valuable printmaking tool. Your symptoms are an immediate red flag of an ergonomics issues. Gayle I sent you a document telling you how to reset your monitor's refresh rate, I'm including the text for the rest of you. Since we spend a lot of time on the computer reading Baren the issue of ergonomics is on topic... RESET YOUR REFRESH RATE (Windows) If you find yourself experiencing eye fatigue, over all fatigue, nausea or headaches your problem is probably due to the REFRESH setting on your monitor. The way televisions and monitors work is with oscillating light. What you see on the screen is not a constant image; it's made up of light waves that flicker on and off imperceptivity, starting from the bottom of your screen and moving up to the top. The speed in which this flicker moves is called the refresh rate or refresh frequency. Resetting the refresh to a higher speed or frequency can make considerable difference in your energy levels. First of all make sure you're sitting at least an arms length from your monitor. Then if you're a windows user follow the steps below. (Mac users, sorry it's been so long I forget how to reset the Mac refresh, but I'm sure it's easier than windows...) 1. With curser in computer desktop click the right mouse button. 2. Highlight PROPERTIES in the pop up window and click the left mouse button. 3. Left click the SETTINGS tab in the new pop up window. 4. Left click ADVANCED, your screen may go black for a second then come back with a new pop up window. 5. Left click MONITOR in the new window. 6. Left click the arrow by REFRESH FREQUENCY. 7. Highlight and left click anything 72 (85 is better) and up, the higher the number the better. 8. Left click OK. 9. In the new pop up left click OK, your screen may blacken for a second it will reappear. 10. Left click YES in the new pop up window. This should improve your visual health when working with computers. If your monitor doesn't't have a higher refresh setting you should try to get one that does. This usually is the reason for computer related health problems, but it's often not the only reason. If you are still experiencing problems with eye fatigue and/or nausea you can try a couple of other fixes they are numbered in order of priority. 1. Florescent lighting also works in oscillating waves that make it flicker. When you combine this with the flicker of your monitor refresh, even a higher refresh rate probably won't make much difference. You do have options; replace the lighting, turn off the florescent and turn on an incandescent desk lamp while using the computer or get a special lampshade that diffuses the florescent lighting. 2. Glare from overhead lighting can exasperate eye fatigue. Get a "Glare Screen" for your monitor. These screens fit over the front of the monitor and work very well to eliminate glare. 3. Go to your eye doctor and ask for a prescription for special computer glasses. Don't forget to take frequent breaks. We focus so intently on what's happening in our computer that we don't blink as often as we should. This is very fatiguing. Set your computer to remind you to get up and walk away at least once an hour. Exercise your eyes by slowly scanning the room and briefly focusing on various items at various distances. While you're at it, open and close your hand making a tight fist then stretching the fingers out, shake your hands vigorously then stand up and stretch toward the ceiling. Your health is very important to your quality of life and your efficiency as a worker. Computers are a lot of fun and a valuable tool, but like any tool we have to practice safety measures when we use them. ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V20 #1920 *****************************