If you are concerned about the possible effects that the use of this technology may have on your eyes, we are going to shed some light on the controversy surrounding the devices that use it and the consequences derived from its misuse. In addition to having some result of certain studies, for the peace of mind of parents, we will teach you to control this effect in Nintendo 3DS.
We will begin to show you the conclusions of some tests carried out in North American universities, we will continue with some safety tips for Nintendo 3DS and we will end with a guide to enable parental control on the portable console.
The University of Berkeley, in California -USA-, a group of researchers carried out an experiment that, according to the results they obtained, would show that viewing content on three-dimensional stereo screens is harmful to both the eyes and the brains of users. This study was carried out by analyzing and following the evolution of 24 adults and was published in the scientific journal Journal of Vision, with the title of «The zone of comfort: Predicting visual discomfort with stereo displays»(The comfort zone: Predicting visual discomfort with stereo screens) Those responsible for the study endorse the existence of a danger that they call«accommodative convergence»And that consists of the fact that the eyes of the spectators have to constantly adjust at a distance from the physical screen and 3D content, resulting in Fatigue y discomfort.
It is also signed that the harmful effects are more dangerous on devices like televisions, computers, mobile phones or consoles that in a movie screen, Due to the proximity of image to view. These results are in addition to those obtained in similar experiments presented by groups of ophthalmologists, consumer associations and even some users report headaches or dizziness when they try to enjoy this technology.
Regarding the consequences of misuse of Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo issued some guidelines for the correct use of its latest laptop, whose fundamental points and main precautionary measures we are going to detail below:
3d feature only for kids 7 and up
3D images can damage the eyes of children 6 years of age and younger.
The use of the parental control to restrict access to 3D images by children 6 years of age or younger.
Attacks
Some people (about 1 in 4000) may have seizures or blackouts from flashing lights or patterns of light, and this can happen when they watch television or play video games, even if they have not previously had a seizure. Anyone who has had a seizure, loss of consciousness, or other symptom associated with an epileptic condition, should consult a doctor before playing a video game.
Parents should observe their children while they play video games. Stop playing and see a doctor if you or your children have any of the following symptoms:
- Seizures
- Eye or muscle contortion
- Loss of consciousness
- Alteration in vision
- Involuntary movements
- Disorientation
To avoid the possibility of an attack while playing video games:
- Sit or stand as far away from the screen as possible.
- Play video games on the smallest screen available.
- Do not play if you feel tired or need to sleep.
- Play in a well-lit room.
- Rest for 10 to 15 minutes for every hour.
Visual fatigue and dizziness
Playing video games can hurt your eyes after a sustained period of time, and perhaps sooner if you use the 3D feature. Playing can also cause dizziness in some players. Follow these instructions to avoid eyestrain, vertigo, or nausea:
- Avoid excessive gambling. It is recommended that parents monitor their children for appropriate play.
- Take a 10-15 minute break every hour, or every half hour when using the 3D feature, even if you don't think it is necessary. Every person is different, so take longer and more frequent breaks if you feel uncomfortable.
- If your eyes get tired or irritated while playing, or if you feel dizzy or nauseous, stop and rest for several hours before playing again.
- If you continue to have any of the above symptoms, stop playing and see a doctor.
These are the most important health warnings for the correct use of the console. Although the intensity of the effect 3D can be accentuated, dimmed or deactivated with a button on the console housing -top right-, for parents who are concerned about the hours their children spend in front of the machine, we will guide you to activate the function of parental control to set restrictions on use and with a protection through a PIN code that only they should know:
How to activate the parental control function
- Select the console settings icon from the HOME menu, and then tap "Open."
- Choose the parental control feature from the console's setup menu and tap "Yes."
- Create a four-digit PIN, and tap "OK."
- Enter the PIN a second time and tap "OK."
- Choose a security question and tap "OK."
- Enter your answer and touch "OK."
- Tap "Set restrictions."
- When you set the restrictions, tap "Confirm" to save the settings.
How to modify parental control settings
- Select the "Console Settings" icon from the HOME Menu, and tap "Open."
- Choose the Parental Control option from the console's settings menu.
- Touch "Change password."
- Enter a 4-digit PIN, and then tap "OK."
- Choose "Set restrictions."
- Select the category to change the restrictions.
- When you have made your changes, tap "Confirm" to save your changes.
How to disable parental controls
- Select the "Console Settings" icon from the HOME Menu, and tap "Open."
- Touch "Parental Control."
- Tap "Change parental control settings."
- Enter the PIN that was created during the initial setup and then tap "OK."
- Tap "Remove parental controls."
- Touch "Delete."
We hope that this brief presentation on the adverse effects of this technology has been somewhat clarified, especially the importance that children 6 years of age and under should not access or view 3D content due to the damage it could cause to their eyesight. We also hope that parents have found the parental setup guide extremely helpful and are putting it into practice.