e-ink or other computer/laptop displays for migraines

[david_je]

I get migraines from screens (computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc.), from backlighting certainly but probably other factors. Has anyone tried e-ink or other displays  that can resolve this problem? Thanks.

[Mickeymaus]

I am not a doctor but did you try glasses that filter the blue light? There are also filters for monitors. 

[tomazbodner]

e-Ink is not commonly used as the main screen on any computers or laptops. There are some tablets (Boox, Kindle, etc.) that use ePaper or Color ePaper and they are very gentle on the eyes in well-lit environments, but obviously a major strain in dark environments although side illumination helps.

Biggest problem of ePaper is its main feature - to keep power consumption down and extend battery life, it has an extremely low refresh rate - up to a second on newer, even longer on older displays. This means that it makes them pretty much useless for much of media consumption, and that's the reason most computers don't feature it (alas Lenovo has one laptop model with such display on the back, but not main screen).

 

There could be alternative if you are currently using home version of computer screens/notebooks. Those are glossy and while that adds much better contrast, it also adds considerable reflection and eye strain. There are business models of both monitors and laptops, which feature a matte screen, which has worse contrast but much less eye strain.

 

Don't know the names of business models from other brands, but HP has EliteBook and ZBook laptops, EliteOne all-in-one, and EliteDisplay as well as ZDisplay with no reflection incredibly sharp screens. Other brands probably have separate home and business product lines, where versions for those who need to stare at the screen all day would likely be matte displays.

 

Maybe worth giving that a try, and experiment with brightness/contrast settings a bit as well to see what suits your eyes the most. If you can't see clearly, get glasses to sharpen the screen and have blue filter (so called computer glasses) which might add a bit of additional eye comfort, especially as eyes won't need to try to focus so hard, causing fatigue.

[david_je]

16 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Biggest problem of ePaper is its main feature - to keep power consumption down and extend battery life, it has an extremely low refresh rate - up to a second on newer, even longer on older displays. This means that it makes them pretty much useless for much of media consumption, and that's the reason most computers don't feature it (alas Lenovo has one laptop model with such display on the back, but not main screen).

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to share your advice. I am using a Lenovo ThinkPad T450s, with matte screen and have activated Windows Night Lite function. But still migraines. I have tried the blue light blocking glasses, but like all types of glasses, they actually add to my headaches. I will try blue light screen filter -- is there a particular one to look for? What do you mean, "Lenovo has one laptop model with such display on the back, but not main screen"? 

I use laptop mostly for reading and writing, so if can't watch video, etc., on e-ink screen and the screen helps with migraines, it would still be beneficial for me.

[JayClay]

3 hours ago, david_je said:

What do you mean, "Lenovo has one laptop model with such display on the back, but not main screen"? 

I use laptop mostly for reading and writing, so if can't watch video, etc., on e-ink screen and the screen helps with migraines, it would still be beneficial for me.

The Lenovo has a screen that you can flip. One side is eink and the other is a standard LCD.

 

That would actually mean that you could use the eink screen for your work and still watch movies on the other screen.

 

I've also seen an eink Android tablet that has an hdmi input so you can use it as a second display for your current laptop and use that for writing work. A device like this might be a good way to test the water; if it turns out that eink just really isn't suitable for work, then at least you still have a tablet that you can use as an e-reader or for web browsing etc.

Edited January 23, 2023 by JayClay

[tomazbodner]

9 hours ago, david_je said:

What do you mean, "Lenovo has one laptop model with such display on the back, but not main screen"? 

https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/laptops/thinkbook/thinkbook-plus/thinkbook-plus-g2-itg/xxtbxpli300

 

 

Depending on specs, it's about 1000$ give or take in US, not sure if available in Thailand. In above pic, that's the lid ePaper display. On the other side is normal LCD IPS color screen.

 

[Mickeymaus]

5 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/laptops/thinkbook/thinkbook-plus/thinkbook-plus-g2-itg/xxtbxpli300

 

 

Depending on specs, it's about 1000$ give or take in US, not sure if available in Thailand. In above pic, that's the lid ePaper display. On the other side is normal LCD IPS color screen.

An interesting notebook. I have never heard of this. Thanks for the information.