In many kinds of articles, people say "LCD is eye friendly" or "less strain because of no flicker". However, I haven't seen any scientific evidence to proof this topic. People just generally believe in it. Since, eyes are very important to all computer users, I would like to hear your opinions.
I do not know of any studies of scientific proof one way or the other. I have heard people say that they prefer LCD’s and I have heard others say the opposite. Personally I think there is more to the issue than simply the technology used.
Proper ergonomics and lighting play just as an important role as the technology used. You are likely to find several things that can cause eyestrain, including glare on walls and reflections on the computer screen itself. Minimizing reflections and reducing ambient light are particularly important aspects of your physical-viewing environment. When your monitor power is off, it may surprise you to find that one of the reflections that you see is your own! In order to minimize reflections of things in front of your screen other than lights - including your own face - it helps to reduce the general light level (ambient illumination). Use window shades, blinds, or drapes to block out excessive sunlight, also reduce the internal ambient light if outside light cannot be reduced. Use proper lighting, overhead fluorescent lights tend to be an excessively bright source of ambient illumination, in addition to facilitating reflections. Reduce the lighting by using fewer light bulbs or use lower intensity bulbs and tubes. I recommend using indirect lighting with a dimmer control, such as stand up halogen lamps that reflect light off the ceiling.
Once you have your environment set up, reduce the contrast setting of the monitor. Resist the temptation to run your monitor too bright. White should be a pleasant white, it doesn't have to illuminate your room. Operate your monitor only at a comfortable brightness / contrast level. This may help your eyestrain. There are many sites on the Internet that explains how to set up the work environment, one of them can be found at the following link.
http://www.bigmonitors.com/learning_center/technology_101/ergonomics.htm
Good Luck
Jim Witkowski
Chief Hardware Engineer
Cornerstone / Monitorsdirect.com
Jim at http://www.monitorsdirect.com
Proper ergonomics and lighting play just as an important role as the technology used. You are likely to find several things that can cause eyestrain, including glare on walls and reflections on the computer screen itself. Minimizing reflections and reducing ambient light are particularly important aspects of your physical-viewing environment. When your monitor power is off, it may surprise you to find that one of the reflections that you see is your own! In order to minimize reflections of things in front of your screen other than lights - including your own face - it helps to reduce the general light level (ambient illumination). Use window shades, blinds, or drapes to block out excessive sunlight, also reduce the internal ambient light if outside light cannot be reduced. Use proper lighting, overhead fluorescent lights tend to be an excessively bright source of ambient illumination, in addition to facilitating reflections. Reduce the lighting by using fewer light bulbs or use lower intensity bulbs and tubes. I recommend using indirect lighting with a dimmer control, such as stand up halogen lamps that reflect light off the ceiling.
Once you have your environment set up, reduce the contrast setting of the monitor. Resist the temptation to run your monitor too bright. White should be a pleasant white, it doesn't have to illuminate your room. Operate your monitor only at a comfortable brightness / contrast level. This may help your eyestrain. There are many sites on the Internet that explains how to set up the work environment, one of them can be found at the following link.
http://www.bigmonitors.com/learning_center/technology_101/ergonomics.htm
Good Luck
Jim Witkowski
Chief Hardware Engineer
Cornerstone / Monitorsdirect.com
Jim at http://www.monitorsdirect.com
hammerhead
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Good points, I haven't seen any proof either, however...
A company I worked for who supply and support EPOS terminals were commisioned by a large chain to replace CRT's with LCD screens. We tested a few and the feedback we got from the users was almost 100% in favour of the LCD screens. OK, the study was hardly scientific (no control group, CRT's were old, LCD's weren't even the same size as the CRT's they were destined to replace) but even when compared with equivalent size (and quality, insofar as we could estimate) the LCD's won over CRT's resoundingly. Especially by those who had to stare at them for hours when auditing figures.
Personally, I much prefer LCD screens. I use a PC for 12 or more hours a day and after a long spell using a CRT I feel a kind of 'pressure' on my eyes, irrespective of the monitor's quality. Using an LCD I'm fine.
My instinct attributes that partly to the truly flat nature of the LCD, and also the difference between an electron gun firing directly at your eyes and the diffused light of an LCD. Doesn't constitute proof of course
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by hammerhead on 01/17/02 04:57 AM.</EM></FONT></P>
A company I worked for who supply and support EPOS terminals were commisioned by a large chain to replace CRT's with LCD screens. We tested a few and the feedback we got from the users was almost 100% in favour of the LCD screens. OK, the study was hardly scientific (no control group, CRT's were old, LCD's weren't even the same size as the CRT's they were destined to replace) but even when compared with equivalent size (and quality, insofar as we could estimate) the LCD's won over CRT's resoundingly. Especially by those who had to stare at them for hours when auditing figures.
Personally, I much prefer LCD screens. I use a PC for 12 or more hours a day and after a long spell using a CRT I feel a kind of 'pressure' on my eyes, irrespective of the monitor's quality. Using an LCD I'm fine.
My instinct attributes that partly to the truly flat nature of the LCD, and also the difference between an electron gun firing directly at your eyes and the diffused light of an LCD. Doesn't constitute proof of course
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by hammerhead on 01/17/02 04:57 AM.</EM></FONT></P>
flamethrower205
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I must ask you...do U find the the brightness to bo too much? That is the only thing that bothers me from LCD's...is this normal??
My rice car will leave your R8500 in the dust!
My rice car will leave your R8500 in the dust!
hammerhead
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Not sure why this would be a problem flame?
The brightness and contrast can be altered just like on any CRT. Gamma and RGB can be adjusted from Windows if necessary.
The only problem I find with some LCD panels, is non-uniform brightness over the entire display. But that's mainly confined to laptops, owing to power constrictions.
My Samsung 150mp is perfect in that respect, as far as I can perceive
The brightness and contrast can be altered just like on any CRT. Gamma and RGB can be adjusted from Windows if necessary.
The only problem I find with some LCD panels, is non-uniform brightness over the entire display. But that's mainly confined to laptops, owing to power constrictions.
My Samsung 150mp is perfect in that respect, as far as I can perceive
flamethrower205
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Well, I set brightness to lowest, and it still seems too bright, compared to my CRT which I find is just perfect.
My rice car will leave your R8500 in the dust!
My rice car will leave your R8500 in the dust!
hammerhead
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Too bright at its lowest setting? You got another dud flame? :frown:
Try adjusting gamma in Windows. The facility should be available under advanced settings in display properties. Works pretty well on the POS CRT I'm using now!
Try adjusting gamma in Windows. The facility should be available under advanced settings in display properties. Works pretty well on the POS CRT I'm using now!
flamethrower205
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Lol, not another dud. Haven't even gotten 2nd yet. Compaq tells me that if they can't get the TFT7020 soon, then they'll hook me up w/ something better....I will try to bargain for 2 TFT5030's
But what I noticed on the TFT7020, and even on my freind's LCD which has a much lower brightness is that it was way too bright. Even w/ gamma low, it still illuminates my keyboard and hurts my eyes!
My rice car will leave your R8500 in the dust!
But what I noticed on the TFT7020, and even on my freind's LCD which has a much lower brightness is that it was way too bright. Even w/ gamma low, it still illuminates my keyboard and hurts my eyes!My rice car will leave your R8500 in the dust!
My experience has been that if I'm doing a lot of text reading for extended periods, the LCD (on my laptop) is easier on my eyes than the CRT. Both CRT's I use are AG tubes which aren't the best with text clarity but I think some people's eyes pick up on flicker more easily than others. Perhaps it's just all in our head.
Flamethrower I find that these new LCD panels are too bright too. I don't get it CRT's are plenty bright and most have the max luminance of around 160nits. Why do the LCD manuf. bother with making 250nits?
Maybee you should look at the Planar or Viewsonic 17inch models they are 220nits max and could be easier on your eyes?
Compaq LCD screens are too bright, 250nits is uncalled for.
Maybee you should look at the Planar or Viewsonic 17inch models they are 220nits max and could be easier on your eyes?
Compaq LCD screens are too bright, 250nits is uncalled for.
Hi, the9birds
Here is my opinion from personal experience (others may disagree since this is a subjective matter).
I've always been using CRTs and it felt OK for the most part concidering that my computer use was "casual" (no more than 1-2 hours a day)
However, just about a year ago (after changing jobs) my computer use jumped up to about 12hours/day.
At that point I really started feeling the strain.
There was pain similar to a headache (or mild migrane) somewhere behind the eyes every day. I had to take more brakes more often (watching a CRT screen for so long day in and day out, was wearing the stamina of my eyes bit by bit).
At the end of each day I had trouble focusing, whereas there was no such problem before, and my vision has always been 20/20 (without correction).
Even after following the optometrist's suggestions on how to minimize eyestrain by considering a variety of environmental factors the problem (headaches) although less prominent it was still there.
On a side note, among other things, the most comfortable display settings were found at ~30% brightness and 25-30% contrast (any more than that and my eyes would have vaporized by now). Also, from personal observation the contrast of the display was found to be responsible for most of the fatique (more so than the brightness).
About three weeks ago I decided to shop for a new display (instead of merely waiting to find out at what point my eyes would go bad irreversibly).
Fortunately there was a computer store nearby that had many professional grade monitors on the floor, from Mitsubishi Diamontron Pro 920 to LeCieElectron BlueIII to NEC FP955, Philips Brilliance 190P20, Sony... etc. (Getting a monitor online was out of the question, I had to see it physicaly with my own eyes).
After comparing several displays it became apparent to me that the LCDs were the easiest and most comfortable on the eyes. Whenever a professional grade CRT was standing next to an LCD (using the same type of Video Card), the text (and overall image) on the CRT appeared more muted and less clear. The CRTs just couldn't compete in image crispness or clarity with the flat panels at the same resolution.
Even so, my first pick was a CRT; thinking that as long as it has a high refresh rate it should be fine.... but... that thinking proved wrong.
After one week with the brand new CRT the eyestrain was not reduced. Furthermore, at 1280 X 1024, the text appeared too hard to read (my eyes had a hard time focusing on it). Only at 1152 X 764 the image was clear enough for my standards and comfort.
So, at the end of the day I (relactantly due to high price) decided to try a flat panel.
After two weeks of continuous use I must admit the LCD was one decision that I never regreted. None of the fatique symptoms ever came back. Furthermore, at 1280 X 1024 the text "miraculously" doesn't look microscopic as it did with the CRT. As a matter of fact I can read 8pt text from six feet away and I am not straining. Twelve hour days are going by without any problem associated with my eyes.
To sum it all up, it is not clear to me what is it exactly about CRT that puts such a burden on my eyes. Is it radiation? Refresh rates? Sharpness? A combination of factors? Unknown factors (such as other types of particles emited by the tube)? Excessive sensitivity from my part?
However, I do know what I feel, and the Flat Panel just feels more comfortable (actually it feels the *most* comfortable).
Again, this is just an objective opinion from someone with probably more sensitive vision than most. (The same way that I can smell more subtle smells than many and hear more subtle noises than many).
In the bottom line, if you work more than 10hours a day on a computer and you experience eyestrain, chances are that an LCD will help a lot.
Here is my opinion from personal experience (others may disagree since this is a subjective matter).
I've always been using CRTs and it felt OK for the most part concidering that my computer use was "casual" (no more than 1-2 hours a day)
However, just about a year ago (after changing jobs) my computer use jumped up to about 12hours/day.
At that point I really started feeling the strain.
There was pain similar to a headache (or mild migrane) somewhere behind the eyes every day. I had to take more brakes more often (watching a CRT screen for so long day in and day out, was wearing the stamina of my eyes bit by bit).
At the end of each day I had trouble focusing, whereas there was no such problem before, and my vision has always been 20/20 (without correction).
Even after following the optometrist's suggestions on how to minimize eyestrain by considering a variety of environmental factors the problem (headaches) although less prominent it was still there.
On a side note, among other things, the most comfortable display settings were found at ~30% brightness and 25-30% contrast (any more than that and my eyes would have vaporized by now). Also, from personal observation the contrast of the display was found to be responsible for most of the fatique (more so than the brightness).
About three weeks ago I decided to shop for a new display (instead of merely waiting to find out at what point my eyes would go bad irreversibly).
Fortunately there was a computer store nearby that had many professional grade monitors on the floor, from Mitsubishi Diamontron Pro 920 to LeCieElectron BlueIII to NEC FP955, Philips Brilliance 190P20, Sony... etc. (Getting a monitor online was out of the question, I had to see it physicaly with my own eyes).
After comparing several displays it became apparent to me that the LCDs were the easiest and most comfortable on the eyes. Whenever a professional grade CRT was standing next to an LCD (using the same type of Video Card), the text (and overall image) on the CRT appeared more muted and less clear. The CRTs just couldn't compete in image crispness or clarity with the flat panels at the same resolution.
Even so, my first pick was a CRT; thinking that as long as it has a high refresh rate it should be fine.... but... that thinking proved wrong.
After one week with the brand new CRT the eyestrain was not reduced. Furthermore, at 1280 X 1024, the text appeared too hard to read (my eyes had a hard time focusing on it). Only at 1152 X 764 the image was clear enough for my standards and comfort.
So, at the end of the day I (relactantly due to high price) decided to try a flat panel.
After two weeks of continuous use I must admit the LCD was one decision that I never regreted. None of the fatique symptoms ever came back. Furthermore, at 1280 X 1024 the text "miraculously" doesn't look microscopic as it did with the CRT. As a matter of fact I can read 8pt text from six feet away and I am not straining. Twelve hour days are going by without any problem associated with my eyes.
To sum it all up, it is not clear to me what is it exactly about CRT that puts such a burden on my eyes. Is it radiation? Refresh rates? Sharpness? A combination of factors? Unknown factors (such as other types of particles emited by the tube)? Excessive sensitivity from my part?
However, I do know what I feel, and the Flat Panel just feels more comfortable (actually it feels the *most* comfortable).
Again, this is just an objective opinion from someone with probably more sensitive vision than most. (The same way that I can smell more subtle smells than many and hear more subtle noises than many).
In the bottom line, if you work more than 10hours a day on a computer and you experience eyestrain, chances are that an LCD will help a lot.
flamethrower205
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I do notice how crisp text looks on an LCD. At 1280x1024 the several CRT's I've looked at display the text somewhat fuzzy, while the LCD is crystal clear (if it's the native res). I wish there could exist a monitor that did excelled in every attribute a monitor has. I've yet to see one.
flamethrower205
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Hehe, after sitting in front of an LCD, I can't stand the fuzziness of CRT.
My rice car will leave your R8500 in the dust!
My rice car will leave your R8500 in the dust!
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