Anyone heard of this, or maybe even have such a setup?
The concept is that putting LED ambient lights behind a monitor will reduce eyestrain when your room is in a darker state. I have a friend who swears by it, but I'd just like to hear a few other opinions. Here's a few pics of BIAS lighting, in some cases the lights change to match the predominate color on the screen.
[quote]In a pitch black room with nothing but the tv as a source of light, your pupils dilate and constrict with the constant changing between dark and light scenes. This eventually gets really uncomfortable for most people and can lead to headache and fatigue.
On the other hand, people who view their TV with the lights on are introducing reflections and impacting the contrast and colour perception of what they see on screen in negative ways.
The solution? Light the area immediately behind the TV in order to counterbalance the harsh change in bright and dark scenes.
[/quote]
[img]http://xtreview.com/images/soundScience%20halo%206%20LED%20bias%20lighting%20kit.jpg[/img]
[img]http://blogs.discovery.com/.a/6a00d8341bf67c53ef01543492eb39970c-800wi[/img]
[url]http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2011/08/bias-lighting.ars[/url]
I got one free from antec last year from their booth at a LAN party, usb powered.
I think it's great and always use it, it does really seem to reduce eyestrain and makes looking at monitors when you are tired much easier.
I need a second one now since i upgraded to 2 monitors.
[QUOTE=cosmic duck;34901917]I got one free from antec last year from their booth at a LAN party, usb powered.
I think it's great and always use it, it does really seem to reduce eyestrain and makes looking at monitors when you are tired much easier.
I need a second one now since i upgraded to 2 monitors.[/QUOTE]
Well that rustles my jimmies. I ordered that model last night, but ended up canceling it thinking I'd find something better. Guess I'll just re-order it tonight again.
I use two cold cathode tubes as a backlight.
[IMG]http://www.abload.de/img/2012-02-2802.25.21tijzi.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.abload.de/img/2012-02-2802.26.22csj2g.jpg[/IMG]
And yes it really works and helps to reduce eyestrain.
Ikea sells a few options that give the same effect.
[url]http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20119418[/url]
[url]http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50192365[/url]
[url]http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60192355[/url]
The coloured ones are cool as you can create an atmosphere with them, however you might not need as many bars as they sell.
Also i believe the Ikea ones are rigid, whereas the antec one is flexible so if the back of you monitor isn't flat, it fits better.
Or you can buy a 5 meter roll of cuttable strips for $12.43:
[url]http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-Bright-White-5M-300-LED-3528-Flexible-Light-Strip-/220750258465?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3365bda121#ht_4459wt_1375[/url]
[QUOTE=cosmic duck;34902054]Ikea sells a few options that give the same effect.
[url]http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20119418[/url]
[url]http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50192365[/url]
[url]http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60192355[/url]
The coloured ones are cool as you can create an atmosphere with them, however you might not need as many bars as they sell.
Also i believe the Ikea ones are rigid, whereas the antec one is flexible so if the back of you monitor isn't flat, it fits better.[/QUOTE]
Those are really cool if you have an arduino laying around.
[video=youtube;9xdL4xVEc24]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xdL4xVEc24[/video]
[url]http://danielkennett.org/blog/2011/09/arduino-dioder-part-one/[/url]
You can pick up a 1M roll from dealextreme for cheaper:
[url]www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14965[/url]
It won't work by its self though, you could either hardwire it to a 12v source if you just wanted a set colour, or get a controller or use an ardunio if you want to mess about with the colours.
[QUOTE=rhx123;34926126]You can pick up a 1M roll from dealextreme for cheaper:
[url]www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14965[/url]
It won't work by its self though, you could either hardwire it to a 12v source if you just wanted a set colour, or get a controller or use an ardunio if you want to mess about with the colours.[/QUOTE]
Can you tell me more about how i would control it / power
[QUOTE=rhx123;34926126]You can pick up a 1M roll from dealextreme for cheaper:
[url]www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14965[/url]
It won't work by its self though, you could either hardwire it to a 12v source if you just wanted a set colour, or get a controller or use an ardunio if you want to mess about with the colours.[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.ebay.com/itm/RBG-12V-3528-SMD-5-Meters-300LED-Flexible-LED-Light-Strip-24-key-Remote-/280758918858?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item415e891eca[/url]
$30 for 5M, in case if anyone needs more for a more economical price.
This one comes with power supply + remote too
[QUOTE=B!N4RY;34930653][url]http://www.ebay.com/itm/RBG-12V-3528-SMD-5-Meters-300LED-Flexible-LED-Light-Strip-24-key-Remote-/280758918858?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item415e891eca[/url]
$30 for 5M, in case if anyone needs more for a more economical price.
This one comes with power supply + remote too[/QUOTE]
The SMD 3528 are not as good as the SMD 5050, the 3528 are single colour and employ 3 LED's spaced out to achieve rgb, the 5050's are mounted in one emitter and give a much smoother looking colour when mixing colours. White looks awful on the 3528's as it's just all coloured LED's on to mix to white.
In my room, my computer desk isn't right up against the wall, there's a bookshelf behind it about a meter away.
[t]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7333627/2012-02-01%2018.09.27.jpg[/t]
I'm wondering if I were to get something like this, would it be less effective because of my placement?
[editline]29th February 2012[/editline]
And also wasn't there a thing a few years ago where there was a back lighting system that would automatically change the colors based on the average color of the screen?
[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;34935930]In my room, my computer desk isn't right up against the wall, there's a bookshelf behind it about a meter away.
[t]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7333627/2012-02-01%2018.09.27.jpg[/t]
I'm wondering if I were to get something like this, would it be less effective because of my placement?
[editline]29th February 2012[/editline]
And also wasn't there a thing a few years ago where there was a back lighting system that would automatically change the colors based on the average color of the screen?[/QUOTE]
Yeah it would be less effective but still noticeable, due to the distance and shelf. It works best on a flat solid colour/white background 30cm or less from the screen and lights.
As for the dynamic backlighting, i don't think there are any commercial products out that give the same effect, i only know of it built inside Phillips TV's using their Ambilight feature.
A few people have made homebrew versions, usually employing an arduino.
Yeah, it was Phillips' technology.
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AmBX[/url]
I remember looking it up because it could be enabled in Far Cry 2.
I might as well pick this up, it's less than $15.00.
Well looks like there is a product that can do it, although the form factor is questionable and the price is ridiculous :P
[url]http://cyborggaming.com/prod/ambx.htm[/url]
$100.00 dollars each and you're expected to buy more than one.
Jesus.
[QUOTE=rhx123;34926126]You can pick up a 1M roll from dealextreme for cheaper:
[url]www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14965[/url]
It won't work by its self though, you could either hardwire it to a 12v source if you just wanted a set colour, or get a controller or use an ardunio if you want to mess about with the colours.[/QUOTE]
How would one wire that up to a computer? I do not know how to electricity.
Got one from Frys for $5. Works great at night, really reduces the eye strain for me.
[QUOTE=ClaBrendon;34936898]Got one from Frys for $5. Works great at night, really reduces the eye strain for me.[/QUOTE]
Which product? I'm a bike ride away from one.
[QUOTE=ManningQB18;34936803]How would one wire that up to a computer? I do not know how to electricity.[/QUOTE]
Lights <- Brain <- USB port(data) <- Software.
I just use 50 feet of white rope lights to give my room a nice ambient light
[QUOTE=ManningQB18;34937007]Which product? I'm a bike ride away from one.[/QUOTE]I was by the cold cathodes. On sale from $10. I don't remember the product name, but it was a small box.
How much does a solution like the ones in this thread light up the space in front of the monitor and the rest of the room?
[QUOTE=install gentoo;34939282]How much does a solution like the ones in this thread light up the space in front of the monitor and the rest of the room?[/QUOTE]
They are designed to light up the area behind the monitor, only by light reflecting off the wall would it light up the area in front of the monitor.
If you waned to light up the area in front of the monitor, you could put the light strip on the bottom edge of the monitor pointing down.
You know what else has this effect and looks a lot classier?
Desk lamps.
[QUOTE=David Tennant;34942567]You know what else has this effect and looks a lot classier?
Desk lamps.[/QUOTE]
you'd put a desklamp behind your monitor? Anyways, I'm thinking about buying that roll of LEDS posting, I could use the extras on top of my bookshelf for some moodlighting!
If you want to reduce eye strain just turn your lights on.
Turning the lights on makes you see the contrast as duller. BIAS lights are meant to give you the best of both worlds.
I might have to pick up two of these for my monitors. I like the effect, and if it means me not going blind by 30 I'm glad to give them my money. :v: