In response to Monday’s note about new tests for computer-weary eyes (CI No 3,323), Cornerstone Imaging Inc’s Doug Erickson writes to explain why staring at a computer screen all day is very different to reading ink on a page and how new technologies are trying to solve the problem. Erickson says monitors rely on a small amount of fuzziness to operate. If there was no fuzziness, you could not create colors. Colored phosphors glow and their intensity and the intensity of the other next to it are what make the colors, so monitors are inherently fuzzy. Technologies, like [Cornerstone’s] SuperFocus and high contrast coatings help to make images on the monitor appear to be more like paper. Because we know that paper is the most efficient way to read, but an awful way to run your business, monitors must be able to emulate paper closely to not effect users reading ability. For so long, monitors have been poor emulators of paper. New technologies and a focus on image quality help to create monitors that are more paper-like. Unfortunately, most people using monitors are still using poor-quality monitors, so they will have adverse effects. They will experience eye fatigue, the need for special glasses, and even other harsh physical aliments (back and neck pain). It is widely believed that high quality monitor will help to reduce these physical problems. Bottom line – people using low quality monitors will have eye-related problems. Users who upgrade to higher quality monitors and they will see their eye-related issues decrease.
