Book People Archive

Re: Monitors: not quite perfect, yet.

> >You may well feel your eyes adjust, but not because the monitor is in
some
> >way 'a distant point'.  Optically it *is* a flat (ish) surface.
>
> Actually, I'm referring to the way the eye perceives it.  I can't remember
> where I had it explained to me, but because of the way a monitor works,
the
> human eye doesn't look at it as it would a piece of paper, and this is
what
> affects me.  My eyes feel like they're looking past the monitor, and they
> feel sore after awhile.

and

>...  As for flat panels, they've got similar problems.
> Less apparent flicker, but the distance thing is still a problem.  I'm
sure
> technology will eventually come up with solutions to my little
nit-picking,
> though.  I'm more than able to work with the machines I use.
>
> --Andrew Lee Hunn

I can understand some sort of problem with your eyes possibly perceiving
monitor flicker (especially noticeable when the screen is mostly white and
refresh rate is low).
But how on earth can you be having a problem with flat screens?  There is no
refresh there.  What you are seeing on a flat screen is no different then on
a piece of paper.
There are only two things I can think of that might be the problem.
1) Resolution - try using a larger font on your flat-screen monitor.
Possibly an anti-aliased font you are using is giving your type a fuzzy
effect, which may seem wrong to your eyes.

2) Screen brightness.  Try holding a piece of paper next to the screen and
adjusting the brightness and contrast until they are roughly similar.  That
should be easier on the eyes anyway.

Apart from that, you should have no problem with LCD flatscreens.  And in my
opinion, you should be having no problem with a high-quality CRT that cannot
be solved by adjusting brightness/contrast, making certain the refresh rate
is high (around 100-120 should be possible and plenty now-days), and that
the text is not too small and fuzzy.