3DS could damage children's eyes, warns Nintendo

http://www.tgdaily.com/games-and-entertainment-features/53268-3ds-could-damage-childrens-eyes-warns-nintendo

3DS could damage children's eyes, warns Nintendo
Emma Woollacott

Nintendo is warning that children under six years old shouldn't use its upcoming 3DS in 3D mode. In an advisory posted on its website, it says that because the system delivers different images to the left and right eyes, there's a danger that young children's eyesight could be affected. Their vision is still developing, it says.

The 3DS, due to launch in March, has a 3.53 inch autostereoscopic screen with 800 x 240 resolution to deliver the 3D effect. It does, though, have a special slider to decrease or disable 3D. Nintendo says parents should monitor use and make sure that under-sixes use the device only in 2D mode - it reckons there's 'still enough to enjoy'. But young children form a large part of the potential market for the device - and many already have a DS or DSi and therefore only want the 3DS for its 3D capabilities. Tthe warning could impact sales if parents take it seriously.

It's by no means the first warning about the possible health hazards of 3D. Experts have warned that it can cause vision fatigue, and Samsung has issued a similar warning about the possible health hazards of watching its own 3D televisions, which apparently incude epileptic seizures and strokes. It, too, suggests that young children are particularly at risk.

Adults also need to be careful when playing the 3DS, says Nintendo. It says that people who wear glasses should also stick to the 2D mode, and recommends that all players should take a break every 30 minutes.

And what about Viewmasters? The article cites no research. Is this just a CYA or is there really something to it?

Especially the younger ones. Of course, the others I know have no limits.

Working with 3D displays for any length of time can cause real eye fatigue. The info on distance provided by the stereopsis (which varies from one on-screen object to the next) conflicts with the actual distance necessary for focus (which is just the distance to the screen). That's why it usually takes a second or two for the 3D to 'pop' into awareness. If you get too used to overriding the natural coordination between focus and divergence angle, you may find it's hard to hold normal vision properly. The therapy to restore normal binocular vision is not that difficult (takes several weeks and causes some real headaches), but loss of depth perception is not something that all eye doctors are quick to diagnose properly. Best not to cause confusion during the time visual perception is still developing.

The effect gets even worse if the screen is not viewed from the proper angle. I wouldn't count on little kids to be able to do that very well.

:hi: