I don't know about you, but when I do long surfing sessions on my computer, it comes at a time when I have big headaches, which is due to visual fatigue caused by the computer screen, no matter the screen. Thanks to F.lux, I managed to make them disappear.
At first, I just didn't know where these headaches came from and they came back frequently! It took me a while to determine where they came from. At one point, I realized that headaches occurred every time I had had long computer sessions over several days… (not non-stop either, eh!)
Tests of different methods
From there, I tried various methods:
- Changing the resolution – Nothing
- Changing the brightness of Nada
- Set the contrast – Niet
- Change the frequency of refreshment – What slab
- Re-calibration of colors – Nothing
- Changing the font – No
- Activation/deactivation of the ClearType font – Still nothing
- Changing screens – Pfff
- Position according to the lighting of the room and the lighting itself- Nothing
In short, all the changes I could make on a screen, even changing it, just didn't improve me!
Solutions
I had more than two solutions to test that I had found during my research:
- Apply a filter to the screen
- Use F.Lux software
Apply a filter? Bof, not on efficiency and not want to see anything more from the screen, nor spend money for nothing!
Use F.lux… Software that says that will make your life better… I don't know about you, but I don't trust it! Especially since on the net, the reviews are mixed … Some say it works, others don't and say it's horrible, ugly.
Personally, I always prefer to test the software myself to make an opinion, because the tastes are in nature, from one pc to another, it can be different because the configurations are different and also because everyone has his own way of using a program! So that's why, and despite the fact that it didn't inspire confidence, that I finally decided to test the F.lux software!
How does F.lux work?
It changes the colors of your screen depending on the lighting of your environment. There, we can say that if the computer does not have a light sensor, it's badly barred!
The reality is different: the software changes the colors of your screen, but not according to the lighting of your environment, but rather according to your geographical positioning and time!
Filter the light
It adds a pink-salmon filter depending on whether you're during the day or in the evening. So concretely, in broad daylight, you will have a completely normal screen, and in the evening you will have a screen of pink-salmon color. It is in fact this color that people complained about! The first time I used it, I thought:
- It's ugly.
- It's worse because the whole screen is pink-salmon except the mouse pointer which is bright white, which "flashes" and gives even more headache
- And what about the screen? Does it support this color change?
So I understood why some people didn't like this software… But like any software that I do not like in the first moment, I will see in the options if there are no options to change anything that I do not like before uninstalling it from my computer. And it was after changing the different settings that I understood why others liked it! The default settings are ugly and too exaggerated, but once set to everyone's tastes and real environment, this software does exactly the job for which it was created!
There are few options, the main ones are "change of locality" and "change of brightness" You have of course the option to disable it completely or for 1 hour and also a preview function of how your screen will behave on the day in a matter of seconds.
If today I'm talking about this software, it's because it's been 2 years now that I have this software installed on different PCs, and so after a test over 2 years, I can tell if it works or not.
And my conclusion is: Yes, it really makes life better! (in any case, when you're behind a lit screen!) With a little precision: As long as we set it well!
How to properly set up F.Lux software
- To download F.lux: link
- Install
- Once installed, it will appear in the stain bar. More precisely in the systray (notification bar) next to your clock
- Click on the icon and there you can click on the curve to see a preview of your screen's behavior over 24 hours in seconds
- Click "Change settings" and you'll see the settings window
- In 1, move the balls to change the light intensity of your day and night screen. The further to the left you go, the pinker it will be, the more you go to the right, the less your screen will change. Personally, in the dayI left at 6500 K/sRGB. And for the night, I put 4500 K/sRGB, which allows me to have a screen very slightly pink without being too exaggerated in the evening.
- In 2, you can change your geographical location. Click "Change" and in the new window, click "Locate"
- An internet page will open in your browser, indicate your location (Your country, your city or your zip code. I don't think it's useful to indicate your full address, the software is also not super accurate as it does not take into account the weather, as far as I know, or the actual position of your computer in relation to your window etc…)
- Copy-paste the coordinates in the window and click "OK"
- In 3, you can change the transition speed. Personally, I put in "Slow". This allows me to hardly see the change in light intensity of my screen. And I think it's better that the eye adapts little by little and not all at once. The only exception is the first 2 weeks. We notice the change, but then, once you get used to it, you completely forget that the software is there. The slow-speed transition also allows your screen not to lag/freeze for a short time, which can happen when you're playing a video game and the transition has to be done.
- Once you've changed your settings, click "Done" and it's good!
Of course, you need to change the configuration according to your own environment! (The ambient light is different, the bulb in the room where you are is different, the brightness of your screen is also different!)
And to do that, you have to grope to find the right one, the one that suits you! But once the right setup is found, believe me, it's a pure joy to do long computer session without headaches! ;-)
Note: Nowadays, Windows 10 has a native lying option for resting your eyes in the evening. But this feature is disabled by default. Android also has this featur
e. Also be aware that there are physical anti-blue light filters that can also help, they can be glued to screens, also exist in over-glasses and glasses.