Module 2 - We need to protect our eyes from computer screens

          Richard Byrne writes on his blog Free Technology for Teachers about how to protect your eyes from computer screens. It's an interesting article from The Atlantic where the online paper describes through a picture and graph the correct position we need to take when protecting our eyes from the computer screen and other screens.

          The effects of spending too much time in front of a screen can be rather painful in long term but with short discomfort in short term. When spending too much time in front of a screen, blurred vision, shoulder and neck pain and dry eyes are just some of the effects encountered. According to a study from the American Academy of Optometry spending as much as 2 hours in front of a laptop caused serious increase in vision and eye pain.

What can you do to reduce the effects:
1. The first thing you should do  is to clean your screen to make sure it's not glaring in your eyes. Also reading on grey surfaces is better than white bright surfaces.
2. You should be able to "high five" your screen, which means that your arms must be at that kind of distance from the monitor, if they are not, it means you are too close. The screen should also be positioned below eye level.
3. You have to remember to blink. Getting to focused might make you forget.
4. Get a 20 second break every 20 minutes to check the surroundings.
5. You should think of buying a special pair of glasses for computer use only.

          Teachnology can tire us rapidly, even destroy us if we do not take good care of ourselves and of our childre. It is always a good reminder to know about this and share it in your class before teaching a device with a screen.