Blue light exposure is bad for a plethora of reasons. First, research shows that it prolongs the time it takes for an individual to fall asleep by disrupting his or her circadian rhythm and suppressing sleep essential melatonin production. Studies have also shown that these effects are more impactful for children and youth, who are increasingly exposed to monitors before sleep. Though you might believe that blue light also causes lasting eye damage, research on that front is still inconclusive. Still, a society of sleep deprived citizens cannot possibly be positive. So, what’s the solution to the blue light problem?
Questions:
1. As more technically inclined generations grow older, and the lasting effects of blue light become more well understood and common in society, do you think a filter which negates blue light becomes a product selling point for devices with screens?
2. What lasting repercussions do you think society, as a result of young people spending more and more time exposed to blue light, will face. Are there no or minimal repercussions?
3. How are some of the ways you minimize exposure to blue light? Is reducing screen time even a concern of yours?
Sources:
Reduce eye strain and get better sleep by using f.lux
Computers and your eyes
Evening use of light-emitting eReaders negatively affects sleep, circadian timing, and next-morning alertness
F.lux website
In my opinion, blue light screens will be replaced within the next couple years. There are already glass which can reduce the harm when looking at a screen all day. Also, there are alternative screen colors which users can change to further reduce the damage that blue lights screens have on us. Personally, when I sit in from of screen for longer than 45 minutes, I can feel my eyes begin to ache which also has an effect on my brain. There will be a lasting effect on people's retinas so taking extra precautions when using a computer with a blue light screen will benefit you in the long run. Do you take any precautions when using a computer for an extended period of time?
ReplyDeleteI don't really take any precautions besides F.lux which is why I decided to write about it. It's pretty noticeable if I disable F.lux at night and my eyes begin to ache at that point as well. It really drives home the point for me personally that our eyes are being exposed to some not-so-great stuff. Hopefully blue light screens get replaced sooner rather than later because wearing glasses while on the computer seems a bit silly, haha. Thanks for the comment!
DeleteHi Grant,
DeleteHave you tried using an app or program similar to F.lux on your smartphone? On Android, there is an app called Twilight for non-rooted devices which lets you take the same control as F.lux on a desktop.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.urbandroid.lux&hl=en_US
This lets users control the blue light, and can be timed so the filter is only on at night time. Some devices also have the filter built-in (OnePlus, Xiaomi). This gives users the ability to monitor blue light across all devices in the evening, often letting users sleep more easily.
I do think that companies will work to filter out blue lights from their devices. For example, Apple products have night shift which negates the harsh blue light and filters it with a warm tone. Also, many reading glasses now offer lenses that protect from blue light. I just got a new glasses prescription and asked my doctor if I could add on the blue light feature in order to better protect my eyes. I think that we will see more and more repercussions from blue light screens down the line, as these technologies have only been introduced into our everyday lives in the more recent years.
ReplyDeleteHello Grant great article on the effects of blue light. This is also an issue that I have become more aware of in the recent years because people are starting to finally feel the effects of staring at a screen all day, whether it be their phone or computer. I believe eventually there will be screens that do not emit blue light eliminating the problem as a whole. In the mean time I have been using glasses that are supposed to eliminate the blue light emitted from screens.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. I am surprised that so many people have blue-light glasses. Some people have mentioned them in their comments. I figured it was sort of just a niche product.
DeleteIn response to question one, I actually found out about the harms of blue light when my roommate bought a pair of computer screen glasses. These glasses are extremely cost effective and can be easily found with simply Google searching "computer screen glasses." There is a huge variety available on Amazon that are eligible for two day shipping with Amazon prime. While this is not a filter for the screen, it is essentially serves the same purpose as a filter for our eyes. A filter for devices with screens seems much more convenient, because you will not have to worry about taking your glasses on and off. I would anticipate that a device like this will be developed and grow in popularity as people become more aware of the negative effects of blue light exposure.
ReplyDeleteHi Grant,
ReplyDeleteAdding on to your post, I've seen multiple sunscreens and facial moisturizers that claim they can protect your skin from blue light. I didn't know that blue light can affect your skin. After looking into the subject I found out that there is a possibility that blue light can damage the skin, but there's not enough evidence to say for sure. I agree with the post above that blue light screens will eventually be replaced. This is still new technology and we're the generation that will really see it's affects long term. As more evidence comes out showing the harmful affects of blue light, I believe tech companies will feel pressured to find a safer alternative.
Wow, that's really interesting. I had no idea blue light might have an impact on your skin. I know that blue light is one of the many wavelengths which the sun emits, although it pales in comparison to the other dangerous wavelengths that come from the sun.
DeleteInteresting post. It’s a topic I have not been giving much thought about prior, but I assume it works similar to the night shift mode on mac and iPhone? To answer the first question, I do see a market for it if people become more aware of the effects of blue light. But as a person that personally have not given this much thought, I do believe that people will need to be educated more on this topic in order for such a filter to become popular. To answer the third question, I have not done anything to minimize my exposure to blue light, but I do try to reduce screen time.
ReplyDeleteThis is a topic I've never really put too much thought into, but after reading your post and learning more about it, I'm glad a product like F.lux exists. As time goes on I feel like more information about the effects of blue light will come out and companies will definitely consider including something to reduce blue light in their products. Though little is known about blue light, besides the fact that it hurts sleep, I'm sure more information will start showing up in years to come. Personally, I've noticed my vision has degraded due to long exposure to computer screen, and this blue light may be the cause.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post, I have always noticed this as when I'm going to sleep and my phone buzzes the effects the light from looking at my screen can have. Never realized that it was due to a special form of light. I definitely think that companies will start to add more orange light to their devices as I know the kindle has already started this with their reading device. I do believe that this issue isn't a major one but definitely more people would prefer the orange light devices.
ReplyDelete