How to stop computer headaches

Do you get a headache when you stare at your monitor for an hour or three? Have you ever noticed that not all monitors give you headaches? There is something that most of us have never heard of called a "refresh rate." When you look at your computer (for example, while using a word processor), it seems that the screen does not change. Actually, the screen is refreshing itself hundreds of times a second. Think of the old Charlie Chaplin movies where you can actually see each frame flash on the screen and the characters move in a jerky fashion. This is analogous to a slow refresh rate on your computer. A slow refresh rate makes the screen flicker like a flourescent light and gives many people headaches. Even though this is now common knowledge among techies, for some reason, the default on most computers is still set to a slow refresh rate. The controls to change this setting are well hidden, but if you follow these easy steps, you can change them yourself!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A computer
• Knowledge of how to open folders using the start menu
• This handy how to article

1. Click on the Start menu and choose Control Panel.
2. Open the Display icon (found under Appearance and Themes in Windows XP).
3. Click on the Settings tab, then click on the button that says "Advanced."
4. Click on the Monitor tab. Under "Monitor settings" there is a pull down menu that says "Refresh rate." Congratulations! You found it!
5. Choose the largest number there. Then, click on the "Apply" button. That's it - you're done! Go team, go!

Tips & Warnings

• If you use different monitors at work or elsewhere, just pull up this handy article and adjust them too. It's okay, nobody will mind, and you just might save them a headache!
• I wrote this article on a Windows XP computer. Other operating systems may be slightly different, but with a little persistence you will probably be able to find the monitor settings on your computer.
• My apologies to Mac users, I have no knowledge of this issue as it pertains to Mac users...perhaps someone who does know can write another article?