Posted by
timothy
on from the mmmm-lcds-are-great dept.
SunPin writes "Slashdotters are doomed. An article from Reuters describes serious health problems from using CRTs (they call them "VDT") for too long. Studies show that we need more studies." So go ahead and expense a three-head LCD setup for your desk.
Study this!
by
Blackneto
·
· Score: 5, Interesting
It's not just the CRT, it's the SITTING. All day in one position, gee I wonder if thats going to have an effect on you. The only damage I've had from sitting in front of a monitor at work for 10 years is 100 more pounds on my frame than I should have.
-- Ursula Andress, Catherine Deneuve, and Charo, twice...
The article doesn't mention or theorize why these symptoms are occuring. We don't know that LCDs are necessarily a solution to the problem, even if they're generally better on the eyes.
Mental symptoms such as lethargy, anxiety and "reluctance to go to work," as well as sleep-related problems including insomnia and fatigue, were most common among workers who spent more than 5 hours a day glued to their computer screen.
Maybe it's just from staring at a fixed object without moving for long periods of time? Staring at a textbook for five hours would probably give me those symptoms as well in the short term.
Better than flat screen: get one of these
by
rufusdufus
·
· Score: 3, Interesting
I just got a new Hitachi CP-SX5500W. It is a bright projection LCD that does better than 1280x1024. I am using it for my main computer display. I now have a 72+ inch display. Woohoo! No CRT strain here!
LSD^H^H^HLCD
by
RAMMS+EIN
·
· Score: 3, Interesting
Fortunately, I've mostly ditched CRTs for LCD. I use my laptop to control all the computers I administer, and I connect the CRT I have only in emergency cases, i.e. when the machine won't run sshd so that I can't log in to it. LCDs (I think they are more correctly called TFTs?) are energy-efficient, produce next to no radiation, are small, and don't flicker. On the flip side, they're more expensive and less flexible (resolutionwise) than CRTs. However, 1024x768 is the only resolution I use, and I'm glad to pay a little more for all the goodies I get.
--- Shaw's Principle:
Build a system that even a fool can use, and only a fool will want to use it.
As a read it I felt like it was answering my problems. Through college I gradualy found my self in front of computers for greater amounts of time and now feel like as they describe, I can't sleep for crap any more. I ether sleep for 15hrs a day or don't sleep at all. Hell it's 5am and I'm up. I was tired a bit ago, but no more, I have to study for a test but don't feel like it, but I'm up because I'm wanting to study.
One year after starting my job I got all the symptoms mentioned. I have to sit in front of the computer all the day (>8hrs). I had pains in my shoulders, neck, and lower back, I had eyestrain, and my index finger hurt from using the scroll wheel (that's why a 1-button-mouse is a good thing:-). I also developed some neurotic behavior including anxiety (9/11 helped much to make things worse:-(), and I didn't like the job very much, also the colleagues and the whole environment is really great - also the job is easy and well paid.
I coped with it mostly by doing one thing: sports. Since I go to the gym 3 times a week, everything went back to normal. No pain, no fear.
Re:safety goggles?
by
SecGreen
·
· Score: 4, Interesting
Don't knock the safety goggles.. My brother works in a manufacturing plant, and while he was using a high-speed bandsaw to take a sample of a metal part for destructive testing, the part self destructed sending a _very_ high velocity projectile directly at his face. The face shield absorbed some of the impact as it cracked, and the safety glasses under the face shield distributed the remaining force accross the bridge of his nose and cheekbones. He had a broken nose and racoon-style black eyes for a couple weeks, but at least he still has the use of both eyes.
And we computer geeks have the nerve to whine about our arses getting sore... There's a simple solution: Drink 2 quarts of water every work day. You'll be surprised how many levels this will work on: 1. You'll have to get up and take a walk to the loo at least every hour. This excercise and stretching will help eliminate the aches & pains. 2. With the extra water, your body will be more efficient at eliminating toxins, and you'll generally feel better and more alert. 3. Keeping a steady flow of water will eliminate cravings for junk food & soda. This will have the long term effect of making you more attractive to the opposite sex!
Considering that most of the symptoms (including eye-strain) can be compounded by cronic dehydration, this regimin is worth a try!
regards, -sg
-- Dupe posts are/.'s tacit protest on the rights of users to time-shift content...
Slashdot Mirror
It's not just the CRT, it's the SITTING. All day in one position, gee I wonder if thats going to have an effect on you.
The only damage I've had from sitting in front of a monitor at work for 10 years is 100 more pounds on my frame than I should have.
Ursula Andress, Catherine Deneuve, and Charo, twice...
I just got a new Hitachi CP-SX5500W. It is a bright projection LCD that does better than 1280x1024. I am using it for my main computer display. I now have a 72+ inch display. Woohoo! No CRT strain here!
Fortunately, I've mostly ditched CRTs for LCD. I use my laptop to control all the computers I administer, and I connect the CRT I have only in emergency cases, i.e. when the machine won't run sshd so that I can't log in to it. LCDs (I think they are more correctly called TFTs?) are energy-efficient, produce next to no radiation, are small, and don't flicker. On the flip side, they're more expensive and less flexible (resolutionwise) than CRTs. However, 1024x768 is the only resolution I use, and I'm glad to pay a little more for all the goodies I get.
---
Shaw's Principle:
Build a system that even a fool can use, and only a fool will
want to use it.
Please correct me if I got my facts wrong.
As a read it I felt like it was answering my problems. Through college I gradualy found my self in front of computers for greater amounts of time and now feel like as they describe, I can't sleep for crap any more. I ether sleep for 15hrs a day or don't sleep at all. Hell it's 5am and I'm up. I was tired a bit ago, but no more, I have to study for a test but don't feel like it, but I'm up because I'm wanting to study.
Well guess it's time to make coffee
One year after starting my job I got all the symptoms mentioned. I have to sit in front of the computer all the day (>8hrs). I had pains in my shoulders, neck, and lower back, I had eyestrain, and my index finger hurt from using the scroll wheel (that's why a 1-button-mouse is a good thing :-). I also developed some neurotic behavior including anxiety (9/11 helped much to make things worse :-(), and I didn't like the job very much, also the colleagues and the whole environment is really great - also the job is easy and well paid.
I coped with it mostly by doing one thing: sports. Since I go to the gym 3 times a week, everything went back to normal. No pain, no fear.
Don't knock the safety goggles.. My brother works in a manufacturing plant, and while he was using a high-speed bandsaw to take a sample of a metal part for destructive testing, the part self destructed sending a _very_ high velocity projectile directly at his face. The face shield absorbed some of the impact as it cracked, and the safety glasses under the face shield distributed the remaining force accross the bridge of his nose and cheekbones. He had a broken nose and racoon-style black eyes for a couple weeks, but at least he still has the use of both eyes.
And we computer geeks have the nerve to whine about our arses getting sore... There's a simple solution: Drink 2 quarts of water every work day. You'll be surprised how many levels this will work on:
1. You'll have to get up and take a walk to the loo at least every hour. This excercise and stretching will help eliminate the aches & pains.
2. With the extra water, your body will be more efficient at eliminating toxins, and you'll generally feel better and more alert.
3. Keeping a steady flow of water will eliminate cravings for junk food & soda. This will have the long term effect of making you more attractive to the opposite sex!
Considering that most of the symptoms (including eye-strain) can be compounded by cronic dehydration, this regimin is worth a try!
regards,
-sg
Dupe posts are