The large selection of computer monitors available make it difficult to choose which one is right for you. Here are some not so well kown tips for you to make a better decision.

Speed, Refresh Rate: Monitors come usually with 4, 8 or 16 ms (millisecond) refresh rates. For smaller monitors (15″, 17″ and 19″) and if you are doing mostly office work 4 or 8 ms are the better choice. For larger monitors (20″ and up) 16 ms can be sufficient, the bigger the monitor the less important the refresh rate.

• However, if you watch movies or play fast games, faster refresh rates are then also recommended for larger monitors.
• When working mostly with text, like office work, browsing, text processing, etc. a monitor over 19″ is not recommended as the text gets really small. And the distance to the monitor needs be more than the recommended 25″

Bigger screens have sometimes issues with an even brightness all across the panel. They can be brighter in the center and “fade out” to the corners. The bigger the screen the more likely that’s to happen.

If you consider getting a Wide-Screen 19″ monitor. They are really good to watch DVDs. But their screen surface is about 8% smaller than a regular 19″ monitor. For office work and occasional move watching, the regular 19″ is the better choice.

A contrast ratio[tag-tec] of 500:1 is recommended. Higher is usually better, but 500:1 or 600:1 is good for office work. A contrast ratio of 1000:1 is not double of a 500:1 [tag-ice]contrast ratio. A higher contrast ratio also means higher energy consumption, higher heat and more out-gassing.

Ideally, the monitor is height adjustable, so you can set the top of the screen just below your eye level.

A lighter color monitor frame is better than a black or charcoal color. This reduces eye strain and computer-vision-syndrome.

And last, CRT monitors, the heavy bulky, power consuming, high radiation, full of lead monitors are not anything to consider anymore.

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Much like the first Americans who experienced nuclear power, or a TV set in their home, the health repercussions of computers are not entirely known. It is a sobering thought that those who have spent their lives bathed in the glow of their monitors may find themselves decades from now in poor health, with conditions caused from any number of harmful emissions from their desktops, whether chemical or electromagnetic.

The Hot Topic

Like stilted houses on hurricane coasts, laptops of today seem to be climbing higher and higher off of workspaces in dorm rooms, offices and coffee shops. The “hot” issue with laptops is exactly this. Batteries in laptops run hot; sometimes so hot that they can cause the computer to shut down, that is, if the user can still handle the keys. As a result, these notebook computers are being hefted higher and higher off of their desks. Sometimes this is done with proper stands and other times with books or coasters, either way it is meant to allow for proper heat ventilation.

A recent report by Stephen H. Wildstrom on Business Week Online sheds more light as to why exactly most laptops run so hot. According to the article, the problem lies with the lithium ion batteries nestled inside of most modern laptops. Lithium ion batteries are great because they generate enough power to support high performance laptops with high processing speeds. However, as the battery meets the processor’s need for power, it heats up. This is mainly due to the fact that laptops are small, compact and very poor at allowing heat to escape from their innards.

While overheated laptops are certainly an inconvenience and uncomfortable to use, there are more potentially lethal and destructive surprises waiting within lithium ion batteries. Wildstrom says that lithium ion batteries rely on electronic circuits, a sort of fail-safe so to speak, to prevent violent chemical reactions. Unfortunately, as of late, these systems seem to be failing in the notebook computers of a couple major notebook manufacturers.

However, heat doesn’t seem to be the only problem facing the laptops of today. In order to compensate for the heat, cooling fans blast on at a high RPM, generating a noise that sounds like a fighter jet turning on its afterburners directly overhead.

While laptops are good for people when on the go, it seems that many people are simply using their notebooks all the time, even when seated at their home office, or designated workplace.

Because of this, the user’s productivity goes down due to the distracting blasts of noise from the cooling unit, his health is jeopardized and put at risk due usually poor ergonomic setup of the workplace and to the overheated batteries, when in reality, they could be using other methods of computing that would prove more productive.

Turning Green

So how are these problems to be solved? A better ergonomic choice is to use a notebook stand with an external keyboard and mouse to have a better physical position, with the notebook battery removed. However the noise and the higher level of radiation are still there.

What can be done?

The best choice is a silent and environmentally friendly desktop computer. The computer can be tucked away; the keyboard, mouse and monitor can be set up ergonomically. Ideally the screen is about 25 inches away. The top of the screen is at eye level. The keyboard and mouse are in a light color to keep the contrast difference to the monitor to a minimum and help reduce potential eyestrain.

Constant exposure to electromagnetic radiation due to not so well shielded computer cases and electronics increases stress levels as the body has to spend energy to maintain its own energy field. Once you start working with a well shielded and silent computer you’ll feel the difference very quickly.

A high quality, green and silent computer can also increase productivity up to 20%. Michael Kim of InspiredTraffic.com reported increases of 10 to 20% since switching to a GreenMachineShop.com desktop. He had been using mostly his notebook before. Now the notebook is only for the road. As a side effect, he reduced his electricity bill by about 30%. The silent computer made him turn off all other noise sources in the office. And he feels fresher after the work day is done.

He also reports that the TCO’03 compliant monitor causes much less stress to his eyes than before. The TCO’03 rating means that the monitors are built to the highest ergonomic and environmental standards.

To the best of our knowledge, GreenMachineShop.com’s desktops are currently the only truly “green computers.” Although many other companies say their computers are “green” because they offer a buy back program and eliminated heavy metals, mostly lead, this simply isn’t going to improve health conditions in the workplace or at home if the computers themselves are constructed in an unhealthy way.

The Next Step

Now its time for you to decide what is the best way to improve your surroundings. Think of your families or employees well being. Create the healthiest and most environmentally friendly computer workplace and reap the immediate benefits.

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Over the past week “Computer Vision Syndrome” has been in the news. The latest story in “The Frederick News-Post” titled “Prolonged computer use can lead to vision problems”.

The article states that more than 88 million people who use computers for more than 4 hours per day suffer from computer vision syndrome, that’s about a quarter of the total population of the U.S.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates the enormous cost for workman’s comp, to the economy, and employers: In 2002, employers reported a total of 487,900 lost workdays due to work-related musculo-skeletal-disorders (MSDs), representing nearly 50% of all lost work days. On top of these productivity costs, employers have paid approximately $20 billion annually in direct worker’s compensation costs. Indirect costs, like lower productivity at work, etc. add another $60 billion, for a total of $80 billion dollars.

The articles quotes Dr. Frishman, an optometrist from Frederick, Maryland, that the top of the monitor should be at the same level when you stretch your arms out. That would mean that I had to dig my monitor into my desk. The correct location of the monitor is: top of screen at or just below eye level, not shoulder/arm level.

Here are 8 tips to reduce or even eliminate most symptoms:

• Use a TCO’03 compliant monitor. Not only are they more environmentally friendly than other monitors, TCO’03 also requires compliance with ergonomic standards: contrast, resolution, brightness, adjustability, etc.
• The area behind the monitor should be lit, too. If it is all dark around your monitor (or TV for that matter), the eye has to constantly adjust between bright and dark.
• Use a light colored keyboard. Dark, black keyboards create eye strain for the same reason. Ideally the area on your desk where the computer is should be in “lighter” colors.
• If you need reading glasses, they won’t work with your computer. The monitor should be about arms length away (25?), books and papers only about the length of your forearm (15?). Ask your optometrist what he can do for you. Zeiss Optical has special lenses called “Gradal RD”
• Avoid glare, reflections, etc. from windows, lamps, etc.
• Look away at least every 15 minutes, look out the window. For example in Germany, every computer worker has to be able to look out a window from their chair.
• The human attention span is typically between 20 and 45 minutes. Find your attention span, set an alarm and walk away from your desk for a couple of minutes (if you can, don’t blame me if you get fired)
• If you use a notebook, the notebook has to be off your desk to bring you monitor to eye level. Get a notebook stand. This will also prolong the life and increase the stability of your notebook, because it runs cooler. Don’t forget to remove the battery when it is charged.

What are you waiting for? Time to change your habits and office layout?

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Yesterday I saw an article by Meg Nugent of Newhouse News Service in the local newspaper about Computer Vision Syndrome.

Computer [tag-tec]eye strain[tag-tec] caused by low quality monitors, too much time spent in front of a computer monitor, or poor ergonomic setup, with reflection glare, etc.

The picture coming with the article shows a 4 or 5th grader hunched over a notebook, eyes about 4 inches away from the screen. The correct distance is about 25 inches. The correct distance for reading on paper – books, newspapers, etc. – is about 15 inches.

Rule of thumb: Sit arm length away from the monitor and the length of your forearm from all printed matter.

If you are using a notebook, that would mean your arms should be stretched, if you are an adult. Small kids can’t even reach the keyboard!!! Does it make sense to type with stretched arms?

What the article didn’t mention, eye strain can also be caused or additionally worsened by a black keyboard. Everybody, even people who type with 10 fingers, look up and down between keyboard and monitor. The contrast difference between a black/dark keyboard and the bright lit screen creates additional eye strain.

Being hunched over a notebook is causing bad posture, the spine is round, the head tucked between shoulders. Most people hunch over and then look up a little bit, while ideally the neck should be straight and the chin slightly tilted towards the chest. Hands and arms are all clawed in.

Being hunched over not only curves the spine and shortens the muscles in the front but also takes volume away in the chest and doesn’t the person to breathe freely.

If it has to be a notebook, please give yourself or your kid a break and use a notebook stand to get the screen into correct position and plug in an external keyboard to allow for an upright and ergonomic posture.

Make sure there is no reflection on the screen from windows, etc.
Your eyes, your whole body will say thank you and feel much fresher once your done working.

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The recent battery problems, facing a number of notebook manufacturers are not really a surprise as the http://blog.greenmachineshop.com/8/extend-notebook-battery-life-and-rake-some-health-benefits/
View »technology is not fully under control just yet. An online resource for battery information recommends to charge the battery to 40 percent capacity and store it in a cool place, when using a laptop plugged into an electrical outlet (see www.batteryuniversity.com, Part 2, BU34).

Unfortunately, many notebooks do not work with the battery unplugged. What can be done?

Is it time to rethink how we use notebook and desktop?

No question, notebooks are great for people who need mobile computing, but (too?) many people use them all the time, even when sitting at their desks. The higher heat shortens the lifetime of electronics and battery, the higher noise level and the not-so-ergonomic setup can reduce productivity and cause health issues. Using a desktop computer whenever possible and a laptop when necessary could be a better solution.

With more software and data available online at all times, it isn’t that difficult anymore to switch between computers. A little configuration allows almost seamless transitioning between them.

We have customer that report they are 10-20% more productive since they moved away from “all notebook” use and now use mostly a silent and better shielded computer. They also feel fresher and have more energy after a full work day.

Reducing muscle and joint strain in the hands, wrists, arms, neck, shoulders and back is a “common side effect” for people when they use less notebook and switch on to a better keyboard and monitor in the right location on the desk.

For all who want to find out more about noise, ergonomics and electromagnetic radiation, click here for our Free E-Class.

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