The OneMinute Geek

The Problem:

Long hours spent looking at computer screens can be a strain on eyes and lead to headaches and fatigue. With so many occupations requiring computer use, you may not be able to reduce the hours in front of your computer, but what can you do to reduce the risk of eye strain?

The Solution:

The key is in the setup. Put the monitor in front of your face, with the face parallel to yours and the top of the screen slightly higher than your eye-level. Position the workspace so there's minimal glare and sufficient ambient lighting.

Adjust the screen's setting so the contrast, colors and resolution are comfortable. You never want blurry or washed out text finding its way on the screen.

If your screen is dirty, clean it. A damp paper towel normally does just fine. Be careful not to let water drip onto your keyboard or into the computer. If soap is required, use Windex or dishwashing liquid. Apply a small amount directly to a soft cloth and then gently wipe the screen.

Adjust the resolution of your screen. Most LCD displays have an intended resolution which is considered optimal by the manufacturer. To check your screen's settings, right-click any empty spot on your Windows desktop, click Properties and then click on Settings. You will see screen resolution bottom left. To adjust the resolution, slide the tab incrementally and click OK. The higher the resolution, the smaller everything appears. Windows will then ask if you want to keep the new settings; if so, click on Yes. (If you have problems, go to www.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309569 .)

To increase the font the size of your desktop and window title fonts, right-click any empty spot on your Windows desktop, click Properties and then click Appearance. You will see choices for font size near the bottom of that window. Choose a larger font size and click Apply.

Many applications will give you options for larger icons. In Microsoft Office, for example, you can change icon sizes by clicking Tools > Customize > Options and checking or un-checking the Large Icon box.

Many applications will also allow you to zoom in our out of the live data until your feel comfortable with the displayed text. Look for a zoom box in the tool bar or choose the View menu from the top of the page and click on zoom. This an especially useful tool when working with Excel or Word.

Be sure your working window is maximized, or full-screen. The Maximize button is located in the upper-right corner, next to the X.

Lastly, go to http://www.ioisland.com/cleartweak/ and download and install ClearTweak—its free. This little utility helps optimize your computers text for your eyes. Two handy features are Standard Font Smoothing and the Contrast Reduction.

James Kerr is President/CEO of SuperGeeks, a Hawaii-based computer service and repair company (www.supergeeks.net). Please feel free to send your questions, comments and suggestions to Mr. Kerr. He can be reached at kerr@supergeeks.net and 942-0773.