Viewing breaks from 3D TV ‘necessary’
December 22nd, 2010 - 14:05 UTC
by Andy Sennitt.

When watching 3D television, you should take a break of up to 15 minutes every hour, according to guidelines issued yesterday by the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), the Korea JoongAng Daily reports. This is the first time that the KCC has officially acknowledged the possibility of harmful effects from 3D TV. The state-run regulator made the recommendation based on data from medical studies and advisers in the broadcasting and IT sectors.

Since the release of the 3D Hollywood blockbuster ‘Avatar’ late last year, electronics companies have been rushing to bring that experience into people’s living rooms. Korea’s Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, the two top global producers of flat-screen TVs, have been aggressively marketing their 3D TVs as they look to grab an early lead in the market.

The KCC conducted a clinical study on 115 people between the ages of 18 and 55, examining their conditions after they watched 3D TV for various periods. Based on the study, the KCC advises people to take a 5 to 15 minute break after watching 3D TV for an hour, saying that a majority of people experienced vision discomfort just 15 minutes after beginning to watch it.

The commission also advised people to watch 3D TV at a distance that is two to six times the vertical length of the TV panel and sit slightly to the side of the screen rather than directly in the centre.