LCD Monitor Sensory/Motion Issues

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Hello all-
I've been web surfing trying to find a solution to my sensory issues with LCD monitors, but I can no longer find the articles I read on the subject a while ago, so I'm hoping someone here can help me out.

I am a heavy computer user & a couple years ago got a majorly upgraded computer. One of the exciting things was finally getting my first flat-screen/LCD monitor. I was so anxious to get the 2 huge & old CRTs off my desk & get a big upgrade in screen size. However, after a couple days of using the new monitor I kept finding myself feeling dizzy, nauseous, & headachy. Took me a few days to make the connection, but the monitor was absolutely the problem. It seems to be motion-related. Web-surfing, word processing, etc. don't bother me, but gaming kicks my butt. I haven't had any problems since switching back to a CRT. However, the thing weighs literally as much as I do (120 lbs) & takes up a huge amount of space.

I'm fine with my CRT for the moment, but would really like to have the LCD/flat screen option, both for space reasons & because so often these days there is no choice but to use an LCD - work situations, laptops, etc. Also, I fear that in the future it will become difficult or impossible to find good CRTs.

I'm an Aspie with fluorescent lighting sensitivity & I think the problem is related to that. I've seen many references to people (autism-spectrum people in particular) having these issues, but in those cases it was always CRT sensitivity improved by switching to an LCD. I have the opposite problem, but have been unable to find useful suggestions to allow me to use an LCD. The only one that seemed practical to try at the time was adjusting the refresh rate, but the LCD I had had a fixed rate of 60Hz, so I was unable to try that. (From my reading, it sounds like most LCDs have a fixed refresh rate?)

I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this & found anything that improves the condition. I have seen suggestions regarding LED backlit LCDs, OLED (currently terribly expensive), & a couple other thoughts, but nothing I have an effective way to test without some further information.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much - RR

You might stop by a Best Buy (or its ilk) and look at a new tech LED monitor to see if it makes a difference. I think they are currently Sony exclusives, but I expect that will change over time.

Also check out this article about CRT emulation on LCDs. Since the CRT flicker didn't get you, I doubt it is a MHz issue (btw, did you run your CRT at 70+ or 60-?). All I can deduce is that the fuzziness might be just what you need:
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/05/01 ... emulation/

-- Vip

Ahh thanks very much for the tips. I run my CRT at 60MHz, so I agree that's probably not the issue.

I'll definitely check out the monitor you mentioned. Not sure how well I can test it out in the store since the problem takes a video game & a bit of time to get going. I'll just have to make sure I can return it if necessary, if I decide to get one of those.

As far as the CRT emulation - Hmm. That's just odd. LoL. What a funny project for someone to undertake. But if it's got a useful application for those of us with sensory issues, that would be excellent. I'll have to look into that some more, see if I can get in contact with someone for more information. How funny to think that fuzziness might actually be helpful.

Thank you again - RR

I have no idea what I'm talking about but

My mind is saying I wonder if Irlen (tinted) lenses help with such problems??

I have seen that mentioned as a possibility, but don't know much about them. Will have to read up on it some more. I'm unsure if that would help since, best I can tell, it's more of a motion issue, but I'll certainly check out some more information.

Thanks much for your help RR

Flat screen displays have a nanosecond (ns) rating for their response time (they don't seem to use frequencies, at least at first they didn't).

Anything more than 5ns is not good for gaming. You get choppy playback because the screen can't refresh fast enough to give smooth performance. Most decent quality flat screens are 5ns or less on their response time for color.

Hrmm... interesting. I don't recall my games looking any more choppy with the flat screen, but with funky eyes that see things I'm not supposed to be able to detect... a tiny delay might cause a problem, even if it's not visibly different.

Thanks for the help - I'm continuing to look into all these suggestions & information.

RR