FocalPoint Monitor Stand for Bifocal users. (Yes, that kickstarter I asked about)

potatohead

Well, they got it done!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1562252540/focalpoint-monitor-stand-for-bifocal-users

This really is aimed at people who use bifocal glasses, but it honestly works well for anyone wanting a monitor "at table, bench, or desk" level. That's how I use one of the prototypes, and when it's coupled with a laptop, the angle and position of a second monitor aligns well with a laptop.

They worked pretty hard on this one, and the overall project risks are low. Prototypes have been in use for a while, and there really aren't any significant manufacturing issues.

mindrobots

I'm in! I have three different monitors on my desk and they are all different heights and angles which driver me nuts (at least nuttier)....and then there's that progressive lens thing, too!

To top it all off, they're made out of PLYWOOD!!!

LoopyByteloose

Hmmm.... I actually got my first 'bifocals' this year. But they are not really 'bifocals'; they are some sort of continuous gradation.

I am not sure this scheme will work. As it is, I have noticed that if I tilt my head, straight lines become curves. And everything in the peripheral vision is near exactly vertical or horizontal.

It was a big trade off for me, but at least I can now read my Chinese-English-Chinese dictionary without a magnifying glass.

As one grows older, the lenses of the eye just become less flexible and we have to rely on these variable focal length lenses. Maybe I should have gotten the Zeiss lenses (supposedly the best optic technology) and not the Hoya lenses ( a much less expensive Taiwanese brand).

The truth is that I have not noticed any new neck problems. (I broke my neck when I was 23, so I am sure I'd notice). I think I can skip the new application.

++++++++++
I must say that they are nice stands for pulling together multiple monitors on one desktop. I have bought my monitors on sale and have no two alike in size.

potatohead

Yes Loopy, that is the other use. And I've got a proto for that purpose and it's great. Just line 'em up on your work surface and go.

Works a treat for movies late night in bed too. We've got a dresser at the foot of the bed, and I can drop a screen there on one of these things and it's great for movies. Then, just move it somewhere else.

When I setup my new workspace this year, I'll probably have one off to the side, and it's been a great help when setting up on the kitchen table, where way too much Prop related stuff has happened in the past.

@mindrobots: The bamboo is going to be the killer one IMHO. That same friend made conference room gear for a company he worked for out of the bamboo, and I love the overall feel.

W9GFO

Practical and reasonably priced, I hope it succeeds. I backed it at the no-reward level.

My solution was to get monitors big enough (27") to read without reading glasses. When 4k monitors become standard I may have to revisit the issue.

potatohead

Just put 'em a bit farther away. At the company, we've setup a couple of engineering workstations with large HDTV LCD panels about 4 - 5' away from the users. We also got some nice lean back type chairs and mounted keyboard / mouse 3D input device shelves for optimal ergonomics. Truth is, these are fantastic! My eyes are entering into "need glasses" for near field work, and they are already there for very close things. Reading type glasses or a lens work just fine for now, but that won't be the case always. However, no adjustment is needed at that distance, and user fatigue is much less. Should have done it a long time ago.

We are going to do one station with plasma displays at similar distances. Those have a bit different feel, and it's one I prefer actually, and they are fast enough for 3D visualization. The CAD system we use supports modeling in full 3D with depth mode, and fatigue on that is less at larger distances. My home TV is a faster plasma, and it's got the 3D capability built in. Gave it a go some time back, and it was pretty awesome. When I get to my other machine, maybe I'll drop an image to view in the el-cheap-o "cross eyes for 3D" method.

3D or not, the better, larger displays at distances are great. Highly recommended.

I'm getting a couple of these for workbench

Heater.

This is kind of a neat idea that may work well for some people in some cases. Depends on their vision, their spectacles and what they are doing with their computer most of the time.

Sadly it's not much use to me. My big Samsung monitor stands proudly on it's single swanky transparent leg some inches above the desk surface overlooking a see of chaos. There are components, cables, datasheets, multimeters, solder, tools, bread boards all of that kind of stuff you need to do anything. Then there is the old sandwiches and coffee cups and assorted junk that makes life cozy. I need those precious few inches between screen and desk.

I need that ability to easily turn the monitor left or right on occasion.

I like the huge screen some feet away idea. Problem is I don't have "some feet away" either at home or work.

Seems I'm stuck with shifting my head to get my progressive focus lenses lined up and endless swapping between glasses on, glasses off, magnifier, loupe etc.

RDL2004

I've also found that a large screen at a distance is much more comfortable to use than a monitor on a desk.

I bought my first big, flat screen TV in 2006. It wasn't long after I got it that that I realized it was basically a really big monitor with a TV tuner inside. It had a VGA input, so it wasn't long before I hooked a PC up to it. It was only a 720p model, 37" at 1360x768, but at that time 1024x768 was still commonly used on a computer. I got to where did all my gaming on the TV. It was also great for watching downloaded movies and other things. It wasn't long before the living room TV with a PC connected to it became my primary system.

Last month that old 37" TV finally broke, so I replaced it with a 42" 1920x1080. The new TV is so much better, I probably should have upgraded a long time ago. One thing is that on-screen text, icons, etc. are much smaller so I had to bump that setting up to 150%. I do sit kind of far away, about 7 feet, my eyes are old but they can still focus pretty good at that distance.

WBA Consulting

Nifty little Kickstarter idea in that it is simple yet serves a defined purpose and is laid out well for the page. Bamboo is a nice option and I wish more bamboo based materials were laser compatible so I could use more bamboo in stuff I make. The design is nice and simplistic, too.

From my ergonomics training (a number of years ago), this drew a red flag from an eye strain perspective though. Continued downward looking of your eyes would cause eye discomfort over time and the way the picture on the top of the page is drawn, it would appear that your eyes would be in a heavily downward position. Actual use of the device may not give the same angle as shown. The picture may also be exaggerated to force the perception of the benefits of the lack of neck strain.

potatohead

I'll send that feedback. In reality, many of us have already worked in those conditions with laptop displays. A lot of the strain potentials depend on work desk elevation.

The "crick" can happen with head too far back or forward. This monitor placement is about the too far back mode. I've developed one using phones of all things. Gotta manage that. And it's the opposite problem.

I just sat in front of the proto, and my downward eye angle is 10-30 degrees at a guess. In reality, many office / knowledge workers will glance around at papers, people, screens, phone... Somebody coding full time may well experience what you describe, and they would need options.

Seconded on Bamboo. It's cool stuff!

@Heater Bummer! Yeah, I don't have that option yet either, but I may sometime soon. We have an old Anthro cart in the living room that I mooched from a former employer long ago. Once in a while, I will setup on that thing, and roll it to where I can use the big plasma. Last time I did that was when we were heavy into the P2. Worked just great.

If you can ever get a setup, I strongly recommend it.

GordonMcComb

I like the general idea, especially the keyboard "tuck-a-way," but the design seems to be pretty specific to table and chair seating height. The height of a standard writing desk is about 29-30". If the monitor is too low because the desk is shorter, or the user is sitting too high, another and more possibly more damaging posture comes into play, where the neck pushes forward and pinches off some cervical vertebra. With most people, they don't just tilt the head, but they push the entire neck forward. The result can be pinched nerves that cause debilitating numbness and pain in the hands and arms. (I know, because it happened to me.)

If the monitor/desk/chair combination is right for it, then this do-dad seems perfect. Currently, the height of my monitor is set using the case of an empty Parallax Ed kit. Perfect height, and it was free!

(I really do like the idea of being able to tuck up the keyboard when not needed, though. To me this is the more interesting design concept, especially if they added a hook for the mouse.)