LCD Screens Seem to Affect Problem Solving Ability

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This was something I recently added two and two together on. I write a lot of software and have gotten hung up multiple times. One switch up of the routine was note taking and printouts that I would take to the dining room table away from my computer. I would mark this stuff up and edit and comment with pen and available paper.

In effect, my though processes and problem solving seems to speed up. I notice things in a source code printout that I have a hard time seeing at all when it's on a 22 inch monitor.

So yes, for whatever reason, stimulation from LCD monitors affect my ability to solve problems. Weird, but interesting. I see a lot of Staples trips for toner cartridges in my future.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... r-screens/

Other than just preferring pen and paper here is another possibility to investigate about LCD, particularly LED backlit displays:

tftcentral.co.uk/articles/pulse_width_modulation

I experience the same problem. It doesn't matter what type of monitor I'm using. I've found that if a web page or IDE tool allows to change the default color settings to light grey background with dark grey text, that the problem is less. I also have problems if the paper on a printout is to bright white with bright black text, I have similar problems. For me, the problem appears to be a matter of contrast. BTW, web pages that have some outlandish color scheme such as fluorescent green text with a dark purple background are very difficult for me to read. I've been known to print out web page tutorials, because I can't make sense of what is on the screen.

The contrast thing on an LCD screen could be related to <Irlen Syndrome>, a condition comorbid to autism.

In high contrast situations, such as LCD screens, it causes the text to dance or appear blurry. I notice it especially with high contrast reflective traffic signs. They appear blurry to me while everything around it is in focus.

For my computer screen I cope by setting the background to either a flat pink or a medium grey. It really helps.

During my years of programming I noticed the same thing, regardless of whether the monitor was LCD or CRT. I experienced it as more of a way to view code with "fresh eyes" without having to put the work aside for a few hours or until the next day.

On a more physical level I could usually visually scan more code more quickly on a hard copy.

Looking at hard copy also provided a context-shift that I think sometimes gave me a leg-up on fresh approaches. When I work from the screen I rather quickly form mental blinders that block out the rest of the room. It is kind of like my head gets absorbed through the looking glass into Cyberville. But looking at hard copy puts my consciousness back in the real world and gives me a chance to see the code in a new light. Literally.