Comments for Lowering Screen Resolution = You're Getting Old

Lowering Screen Resolution = You're Getting Old

2007-12-06T15:08:08Z

According to a recent study done by TPK Research, Inc., as computer users get older their near vision and ability to focus begins to decline, forcing computer users to change from their favorite higher screen resolutions to lower screen resolutions. The lower screen resolutions result in larger text and graphics that are easier to read and less strain on aging eyes.

Although I am far-sighted (not near sighted), lately even my near vision has gotten weaker. I recently downgraded my 21" flat screen monitor from 1600x1200 down to 1280x1024. Although I can see the text better at this resolution, I much prefer the 1600x1200 resolution because I typically have anywhere from 10-20 Firefox tabs open, 10-20 Avant Browser (uses Internet Explorer engine) tabs, Adobe Photoshop, Skype, various other IM/VoIP applications, and other apps open. My taskbar is crammed with many open applications, so the higher resolutions are able to more easily fit more application icons without them being these useless teensy-weensy icons that I unfortunately now have at my lower resolution.

Ah well, guess I'm getting old. Maybe I'll go for that Lasik surgery...

p.s. TPK Research, Inc. is me - TPK is my initials. What, you doubt my research?

Comment from Isaac Rabinovitch on 2007-12-06

2007-12-06T17:17:27Z

You don't want to lower your resolution, you want to raise your font size. Set the default font size in Tools/Options/Content/Fonts and Colors. If you need to adjust font size on the fly (often necessary when a web page specifies a small font size) do View/Text Size/Increase (shortcut: control +). You might also want to try the text size toolbar:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/472

These menu paths are Windows-specific. I know they're different on Unix. Don't know about Linux or Mac.

You'll find that big fonts at high resolution are more readable than small fonts at low resolution.

Comment from Tom Keating on 2007-12-06

2007-12-06T19:49:08Z

>>You don't want to lower your resolution, you want to raise your font size

Yeah, I know, but it's not just my browser - the operating system itself needs large fonts. Also, the menus need to be large fonts and various other operating system controls.

I've tried in the past to change from the standard operating system fonts (Small Fonts) to Large Fonts and it screws up dialog boxes and other controls. The programmers often designed their spplications only taking into account the Small Fonts setting and not Large Fonts.

Maybe now that I'm on Vista (don't ask) I'll give it another shot.

p.s. on a browser, simply trying to increase the font size is often overridden by the web page's cascading style sheet (CSS). Maybe the plugin you point to can override the CSS.

Comment from Peter Steier on 2008-05-25

2008-05-25T12:32:38Z

I'm over 40. I've a notepad with 1400x1050 pixels on 12.1", and Vista with larger fonts & icons works very well. Many web-sites don't.

The characters on a 21" at 1600x1200 should still be much larger than in a usual newspaper. I myself have the impression that sharp (= many pixels/inch) characters are easier to read, even if they ore not larger. Maybe you can try an 21" with 2XXXxXXXX and larger fonts?

Comment from Kumar on 2008-09-25

2008-09-25T20:32:44Z

We have an application that was developed for use on a screen with 1400 x 1040 resolution. We now have a need to run that on laptops with XGA resolution (1080x768). When we run it on the laptops with lower resolution screens, parts of the displays disappear. Are there any utilities that can scale down the higher resolution display and make it fit on a lower resolution screen. Rewriting the software is not an option here.