Topic

Optional Eye Rest Reminder

I'm a programmer so I spend all day looking at the computer screen, and I'm a nerd so I often spend the evenings gazing at computer screens as well.

As I age one of my eyes is sensitive to strain, dryness, allergies, etc. For some reason, after playing Glitch, this sensitive eye has a crazy red strain spot on it - so bad that I ended up going to the doctor thinking that I burst a vessel. (Doc diagnosed it as allergies). After the last extra-long pause we had, the eye returned to normal. Well the test has been back on and in just a couple days, my eye has re-inflamed.

ERGO I propose an optional setting of an eye-rest reminder that you can set, perhaps popping up a modal prompting you to blink, look in the distance, etc. Very similar to the rest reminders when you play a Nintendo Wii. I'm saying this because I think Glitch is more prone to eye strain than other games, as you cannot "queue" actions and must always be watching for your task to finish. I don't have this issue with any of the other games or computer related activities I partake in.

What do you think? Am I just a eyeball freak of nature or have any of you experienced eye strain? Or should I just set my own reminder timer?

Posted 17 months ago by Neatly Sliced Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • Not a bad idea.

    When consumed with a project, I could use a number of reminders to deal with other matters of impending biological importance.

    <bing bong> Time to poop!
    Posted 17 months ago by Biff Beefbat Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I like this idea too, I definitely get eye strain when I play this game, and it's so so easy to play too long.
    Posted 17 months ago by Nanookie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I suppose if we were thinking more clearly, when we see a new day start and we can remember the last one...we would notice that we just might have played too much time in one stretch...

    Maybe there could be an optional reminder on the cockadoodlydoo screen.
    Posted 17 months ago by Biff Beefbat Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This game strongly reminds me of Earthbound, and in that game, your (iirc) Dad would call you up and tell you that you should take a break from the game. I always thought that was a good idea. There have been other games that do that. It's not a bad practice for all casual play games to have a friendly reminder to put the game down and take a break.

    Having said that, I think your eye rest reminder idea is dumb. If you want that, as a programmer, it should be relatively easy for you to figure out how to make something like that for yourself. Really? C'mon now.
    Posted 17 months ago by Mr. Dawgg Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Mr. Dawgg - I do like your idea better. 

    Regarding my idea, I guess I didn't think it was a dumb idea because even though I'm a programmer, not everyone who plays Glitch is. But a break reminder would cover all bases.
    Posted 17 months ago by Neatly Sliced Subscriber! | Permalink
  • There are a number of apps (on every platform) which you can install on your computer do to this (some monitors even come with it built in). Those reminders to refocus your eyes, get up and stretch, whatever are probably better (for you) coming at the OS level, rather than from one single program since lots of things can distract you a bit too long ;)
    Posted 17 months ago by stoot barfield Subscriber! | Permalink
  • haven't run this, so buyer beware, but it is freeware for windows

    http://www.eterlab.com/eyedefender/

    and this one is freeware for os x

    http://www.dejal.com/timeout/
    Posted 17 months ago by striatic Subscriber! | Permalink
  • ok, i am cracking up: the piggy just plopped! time for you to take a bathroom break!

    (i'm laughing because the nanny state is sometimes useful- i could use these reminders!)
    Posted 17 months ago by greenkozi Subscriber! | Permalink