[OPLIN 4cast] OPLIN 4Cast #315: Eye of the reader

Wed Jan 2 10:30:02 EST 2013

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OPLIN 4Cast

OPLIN 4Cast #315: Eye of the reader
January 2nd, 2013

eye chartChristmas 2012 saw very heavy sales of tablet computers, which 
some say is bad news <http://www.techmeme.com/121221/p11#a121221p11> for 
e-readers. Why buy a device that is designed for nothing but reading 
books, especially when tablets (and smartphones) keep getting cheaper? 
You can't even watch a video on an e-reader! But there is one thing 
e-readers might have going for them; many people believe they're easier 
on the eyes because they use e-ink. Other folks, however, argue that the 
e-ink eye strain advantage is just a myth. And while some mobile devices 
may soon offer an extra e-ink screen, it's not because of our eyes.

  * LCD panel with 5 second refresh designed to stop eye strain
    <http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/lcd-panel-with-5-second-refresh-designed-to-stop-eye-strain-2012117/>
    (Geek.com/Matthew Humphries) "The panel stops eye strain by greatly
    reducing the refresh rate of the screen. Typically this can be 60
    times per second for a normal LCD. With a still image, SEL
    [Semiconductor Energy Laboratory] only needs to refresh this new
    panel once every 5 seconds. The backlight has also been tweaked so
    as not to produce light that has a wavelength below 420nm-light that
    is thought to harm your eyes. The end result is a panel that is very
    easy on your eyes yet still capable of performing like a typical LCD."
  * Russian YotaPhone promises dual 4.3-inch LCD and E Ink displays in
    Q3 of next year
    <http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/12/yota-devices-dual-screen-smartphone/>
    (Engadget/Sharif Sakr) "At the same time, Yota's own pre-installed
    software will pull notifications from the OS and allow them to stay
    up on the rear display for as long as they're needed, while placing
    almost no added burden on the 2,100mAh battery. By divvying up labor
    this way, the company says it can boost battery life by at least 50
    percent, while also improving readability in direct sunlight and
    allowing the time, messages, and other notifications to always be
    visible at a glance."
  * E-ink case turns the back of your phone into a second screen
    <http://www.wired.com/design/2012/11/popslate-e-ink-phone-case/>
    (Wired/Tim Maly) "Like all e-ink screens, it only consumes power
    when the display is changed. This allows for an always-on ambient
    visual interface. What can you do with a second screen on the back
    of your phone? A lot, it turns out. The most basic application is
    personalization. You can put pictures there and other people can
    look at them."
  * New study suggests E-ink is NOT better for your eyes than LCDs
    <http://www.the-digital-reader.com/2012/10/02/new-study-suggests-e-ink-is-not-better-for-your-eyes-than-lcds/>
    (The Digital Reader/Nate Hoffelder) "The results from the visual
    fatigue query were fairly close, though the LCD did rate marginally
    higher. Even the reading speed was virtually identical. In fact, the
    only major difference was when the test subjects were queried about
    general fatigue. LCD test subjects reported a higher general fatigue
    level than did E-ink test subjects, but that could be due to the
    size and weight of the iPad. E-ink is often described as being just
    like reading on paper, and that's why the scientists were surprised
    to discover that the results were so similar."

*/Ultraviolet fact:/*

The reference to "below 420nm" (420 nanometer) light wavelength in the 
first article means the LCD panel does not produce ultraviolet light, 
which can be harmful to your eyes (and the reason we're supposed to wear 
sunglasses in the summer).
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