3-D televisions could present a hazard to your health. At least that’s the warning that Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has posted on its web site.
The warning describes a long list of hazards potentially associated with the technology. The warning is reminiscent of the concerns which plagued the fledgling virtual-reality market a decade ago.
Samsung’s posting, titled, “Photosensitive Seizure Warning and Other Health Risks,” runs through a short list of serious maladies that can be triggered as a result of viewing 3-D TV, the worst of which is a stroke or epileptic seizure. The warning also describes a long list of symptoms to watch out for—especially in children and teenagers—including altered vision, lightheadedness, dizziness, involuntary movements such as eye or muscle twitching, confusion, nausea, convulsions, cramps, disorientation and “loss of awareness.”
Lesser evils that 3-D TV may cause, according to Samsung, are motion sickness, perceptual “after effects,” eye strain, “decreased postural stability,” headaches and fatigue. Taking breaks is advised as a quick fix for any of these symptoms. The warning advises people suffering from symptoms against drinking alcohol, watching when tired or watching if you are in “bad physical condition.”
The warning states that viewers can damage their eyesight by sitting too close or by walking around outside wearing 3-D glasses. The warning also advises against placing a3-D TV too close to “open stairwells, cables, balconies or other objects that may cause you to injure yourself.”
Some of those warnings are silly. Who’s going to put a 3D television on a stairwell?
Well, true or not, that’s one effective way to undermine the competition.
Well, some of us have these symptoms trying to watch a 3-D motion picture in the theatres. It’s not for everyone and I won’t be buying one ever.
I’m thinking that this holiday shopping season’s going to be verrrrry interesting.
Does the industry really think that, this holiday season, people are going to storm WallyWorld for 3-D TVs after they just bought (and are still buying, by the looks of what I see at the local COSTCO stores) the latest HD flat screen models?