> But I use a computer quite a lot. Especially lately.
>
> I avoid CRTs, and use mostly the LCD screens.
>
> What is known about these new "flat" LCD screens? Do lots of
> folks have trouble from exposure to them?
In general, people have an easier time with the LCD screens
than the CRTs. But it's not universal -- for example, see
this page for reports from people who tolerated their CRTs,
but could not tolerate their LCDs:
http://cloanto.com/users/mcb/19960719lcd.htmlI also fall into this camp. LCDs are worse for me than
CRTs. And the methods I have used to make CRTs better
don't work as well for LCDs.
LCDs are often advertised as having no (or low) EMF.
However, all you need to do is turn on a portable
AM radio and put it next to an LCD, and you'll see
that it's putting out a lot of RF interference.
Also, although an LCD is typically run off of a
DC power supply, internally it must use a transformer
to run the high-voltage AC florescent backlight.
Plus, the EMF source for a CRT monitor is mostly
in the back of the tube, so it's further away
from you than the EMF source in an LCD.
There was a time (5 years ago) where my tolerance
for LCD monitors was so bad that I could only
stand to be in front of them for 5 minutes at
a time, this with a grounded electric glass
shield in front of it, and the backlight brightness
turned down to a minimum. These days, I sit
in front of a CRT for 8-10 hours a day with
the brightness set at normal, so things have
obviously improved for me. :-)
As for alternates to LCDs, there are plasma
screens, but I find these less tolerable than
CRTs or LCDs. And coming in the future will
be LCD monitors with the florescent backlight
replaced by LEDs (these are already available,
but very expensive), and also Organic LED
monitors needing no backlight (only available
now in MP3 players and cellphones)
Marc
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