Reading on paper vs on screen

[Old Bones]

@Gingergrrl and @loakley001 I, too, do better reading printed text on paper than I do on working on computer screens. Not only is my comprehension better, but also, it is less fatiguing. It doesn't take long for my eyelids to swell up and my eyes to look "buggy" watching any type of screen. As a result, we never go to movies anymore, and we don't even have a usable TV -- no cable, hence no picture. The few times we view a movie on the laptop, we split it into segments, watching it over a period of two or more days.

One thing I realized about working on computers long before I was ill was that although my documents looked fine on the screen, once they were printed out I often noticed typos/spelling errors. So, there definitely is something different about how the brain processes text on paper vs screens. Perhaps it depends on what you experience when young. I grew up in the days of manual typewriters, carbon paper and erasers!

 

[slysaint]

Not quite the same thing, but I've noticed that if I'm bent over, say looking at something on the floor, sometimes(not always) my eyes can focus and I can see really clearly. Usually my vision is blurred to some degree and I have to wear one of my many pairs of reading glasses. I can't figure out if it's maybe something to do with the blood going to my head or what. Anyone else notice this?

 

[Gingergrrl]

@Old Bones That is interesting and I also did not grow up in the days of computers and they only really came into use when I was in college (but I did not purchase my own until graduate school to write my thesis.)

I have no problems using the computer to write an essay or to read boards like PR but if I am reading a journal article or something that requires deeper comprehension, I absolutely have to print it out and have it in my hand to highlight and make notes or my brain does not retain the info. I have never owned a Kindle or any kind of computer reader for that reason.

I have no problems watching TV though as long as there are not flashing lights or moving patterns. But bright colors or static images or just standard stuff like people walking around or cars driving on TV do not bother me at all.

 

[Sidney]

I don't know what I would have done without audiobooks during the past many years. They have been by far the most helpful sleep aid I've stumbled upon; and best of all, no side effects.

To be effective, however, they must be chosen carefully. The story must be interesting enough to catch my attention, but not so gripping, or complex, that I concentrate as opposed to just listen. The narrator's voice is also important -- clear, not too high-pitched, and without an unfamiliar accent. I usually fall asleep in less than 20 minutes (sometimes as little as five), and when I awaken in the middle of the night, I just start it again. Books on CD are great since run-time is limited to approximately an hour, and I can operate the remote by feel in the dark. Electronic downloads are my second choice due to the blue light on the device that controls them, although they do have the advantage of being able to program the play time more exactly.

I sympathise, as my eyes seem everyday to lose ability to read on anything- tho screens are far far worse than paper. One thing I've found wonderful ( for limited time periods) is to use sleepphones, hearing with your ear on a pillow becomes much easier!

 

[allyann]

To be effective, however, they must be chosen carefully. The story must be interesting enough to catch my attention, but not so gripping, or complex, that I concentrate as opposed to just listen. The narrator's voice is also important -- clear, not too high-pitched, and without an unfamiliar accent. I usually fall asleep in less than 20 minutes (sometimes as little as five), and when I awaken in the middle of the night, I just start it again. Books on CD are great since run-time is limited to approximately an hour, and I can operate the remote by feel in the dark. Electronic downloads are my second choice due to the blue light on the device that controls them, although they do have the advantage of being able to program the play time more exactly.

I agree with you on choosing a good narrator. I download a lot of books on Audible (I have a monthly subscription) and it has the feature of turning itself off at the end of the chapter which I find useful. I also listen to a lot of books that I read pre-illness so I can keep track of what is going on. I am currently working my way through Raymond E Feist's books

 

[PatJ]

Lately I've been taking Liposomal Glutathione and have noticed that my computer monitor tolerance time has increased. Brain fog is reduced in general as well. I'm taking Terry Naturally Clinical Glutathione, 2 tablets per day. It's fairly expensive ($60 per month) so I only bought one box (60 tablets) to try. Now that I know it works for me I'll make my own the same way I make liposomal vitamin-c.