Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

 

 

Computers have been blamed, often wrongly, for a wide range of health problems.  Only a small proportion of people using them suffer health problems as a result, but because there are so many users this can be a significant number.  You should remember that in most cases the problems do not arise directly from the computers themselves, but from the way in which they are used.

 

 

There are no indications, from extensive research, that computers will cause disease or permanent damage to eyes.  But the fatigue of intensive computer work can cause discomfort, even to healthy eyes.  Because it gives your eyes more demanding tasks, it might also make you aware of an eye problem that you did not know about before.  Take regular breaks.

 

 

It is important that you can see the screen comfortably without having to raise or lower your head, so your bifocals might not be ideal for computer work.  You may find you need a different type of glasses to work comfortably.  Consult your doctor/optician if in doubt.

 

 

Users of contact lenses find any dry environment uncomfortable and the heat generated by computers tends to make the atmosphere drier than in rooms without them.  You may find it helps to blink more often/use tear substitute drops.  An alternative may be to wear glasses instead of your lenses for computer work.

 

 

Some computer users may experience aches and pains in their hands, wrists, arms, neck, shoulders or back (that is to their musculoskeletal system), especially after long periods of uninterrupted computer work.  Usually these aches and pains do not last, but in a few cases they may become more persistent or even disabling.  Most problems of this nature can be prevented by good working practices.

 

 

Yes, headaches can result from many factors associated with computer work.  For example, stress from the pace of work, anxiety and tension, the need for new glasses or a change of lenses, poor image quality, glare from the screen, poor posture or a combination of these.

 

 

This depends entirely on the type of work you are doing.

 

 

No. Computers give out both visible light (which enables us to see the screen) and other forms of electromagnetic radiation which can be harmful above certain levels.  However, the levels emitted from computers are well below the safe levels set out in international recommendations.

 

 

You don't need to stop working with computers.  There has been some concern about reports of higher levels of miscarriage and birth defects among some groups of computer workers.  Many scientific studies have been carried out which, taken as a whole, do not show any link between miscarriages or birth defects and working with computers.

 

 

A small number of people have experienced irritation, skin rashes or had existing skin problems aggravated by the use of computers.  The exact cause is not known, but it seems possible that a combination of dry air, the electrostatic charge in the room and individual susceptibility may be involved. 

 

 

Most people with epilepsy are completely unaffected.  A small number of people who suffer from photo-sensitive epilepsy and are susceptible to flickering lights and striped patterns may be affected in some circumstances, but even they can often work successfully with computers without provoking an attack.

 

 

Yes.  There are no drugs that cannot be safely combined with computer work.  A few tranquillisers, other psychoactive drugs and certain eye-drops prescribed for glaucoma can temporarily affect the way your eyes change focus, but this is not harmful.

 

 

Please email libraries@sheffield.gov.uk if you have any queries regarding the use of the People's Network Computer system.