Too close to a TV... DANGEROUS?!

[Justin]

I don't know if this has been discussed before, but for those of you using a TV for MAME cabinets, is it not generally accepted that a TV must be watched from at least a few feet away?  I've been playing MAME on my 27" Trinitron TV today, for about 30 minutes, and my eyes where literally crying in tears (no, not just joy , LOL!) because of how close I was.

So, what's your take on this?  TVs on MAME cabinets mean you'll end up 2 feet away from the screen, and clearly this is not the way TVs are intended to be watched.   Any difference with Wells Gardner monitors that I should be aware of in this respect?   I am starting to think that using a TC is a bad bad idea for this reason alone.
 

[rampy]

Hmmm.. i always thought that was just a wives tale (or rather something my mom would say) and wasn't true...

Question: how is your PC interfaced to your TV? is it via svideo, composite or other?

I can see if you were using composite out to your TV how it would make you strain more...

Wonder if transparent grey smoked plexi discussed in a another thread would alleviate some of eye strain issues.

Actually I just remembered an old article about PC use and eye strain... and usually water eyes means you don't have sufficient ambient/room light or something (I don't really remember)

*shrug*

rampy

[Auntie MAME]

I've been staring at a monitor of some type since 1981 and my eyes are no worse for the wear.  It sounds like and old wives tale, like don't swim for an hour after eating.

[Brad Lee]

I always get yelled at for readin the paper in the dark, that's gotta be worse than sitting too close to the tube. I spent many a year sittin infront of the 2600 with no adverse effects

[)p(]

I really hate any display below 85 hz. One of the main reasons I went with a pc monitor in my cab...

Luckily now we have alos 100hz tv's, here in europa the pal standard has always been 50 hz...if you are sensitive to it like me you actuall see the flicker in daylight  

peter

[rhoelsch]

Well, we'll make it easy, for those TV+cab owners that can respond:

How large is your TV, What type of hookup, and Does it strain your eyes?

(as no one wants to invest in creating a cab only to discover that it melts your eyes like in the Raiders of the Lost Ark finale ):  

P.S. - Shouldn't this be in the monitor/video forum?

[Jakobud]

24" Sony Wega. Svideo.  No strain for me.

[Tehrasha]

I've been playing MAME on my 27" Trinitron TV today, for about 30 minutes, and my eyes where literally crying in tears (no, not just joy , LOL!) because of how close I was.

Most likely you are not blinking often enough and your eyes are drying out.  Look in the mirror and see if you have a nasty horizontal band of bloodshot across your eyes.  When I first got into computers, especially FPS games, I would get so wrapped up in the game and concentrating on the screen that I would literally forget to blink.  I kept a bottle of eye drops nearby for a couple weeks untill I became used to the computer and now I dont have a problem or a need for the drops.

Also, check the brightness of your TV.  When you are that close to the screen you may want to back off on the brightness a bit.  Especially if the room is dark. (like an arcade)

Another problem of extended play is that your eyes will focus intensly on the screen and when you are done everything will be blurry till yours eyes realize that there is life beyond 15 inches away.

All you really need to do is take a break now and then.
Thats what the pause button is for.

[lightspeed]

I've heard that it won't really hurt your eyes per se, but it can be uncomfortable.

I bought a 25 inch TV for my cab, and find it to be a bit too large to view comfortably.  This is be mostly due to the lower refresh rate - the "flicker" can get to me.  

[SNAAAKE]

TV SUCK YO ! # % !  

sorry but it does...i cant imagine playing very close..its just annoying..my eyes hurt..honest opinion  

[Justin]

Has anyone found a 25" TV with S-Video?   I think 27" is too big..  although the extra size would be nice for those vertical games in horiz screen....

[Dartful Dodger]

TV SUCK YO ! # % !  

sorry but it does...i cant imagine playing very close..its just annoying..my eyes hurt..honest opinion  

(( )) Reading that post made my eyes and head hurt.

Last time someone asked, I found a health page that explained how and why sitting close to a TV hurt your eyes was a myth.  I couldn't find it, but I found this one.  http://www.eyecaredoctor.com/tips.html

It doesn't permenantly hurt your eyes, just tires your eyes out, same thing that happens when you play on a monitor, or read a book.  

Like Tehrasha says:

All you really need to do is take a break now and then.
Thats what the pause button is for.

[Thorn]

I read somewhere that the first color TVs (1950's) gave off some type of radiation and it could be hazardous to sit too close. This may be where the "old wives tale" began.  

[CitznFish]

just use a smoked plexi-glass cover for the TV. Oscar did this and said it looked better, but I bet since it isn't as bright it would be easier on the eyes.


http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=4779

[Distortion]

just use a smoked plexi-glass cover for the TV. Oscar did this and said it looked better, but I bet since it isn't as bright it would be easier on the eyes.


http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=4779

I was just about to say the exact same thing, but then I saw your post.  Damn you! LOL

[CitznFish]

just use a smoked plexi-glass cover for the TV. Oscar did this and said it looked better, but I bet since it isn't as bright it would be easier on the eyes.


http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=4779

I was just about to say the exact same thing, but then I saw your post.  Damn you! LOL

HEheh I'm learning quickly around here.