Monitors with ambient light sensors

[Staples]

I find myself constantly changing the backlight settings of my monitor and I have always wondered why few if any monitors come with such a sensor?

Macbooks have had them forever (5+ years)
Tablets have them
Smart phones have them


What gives? Why don't PC monitors have them?

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I can't answer your question, but I can suggest a program which might give you similar results: f.lux

makes the color of your computer's display adapt to the time of day, warm at night and like sunlight during the day.

I've been using it for years, and can't live without it. It automatically adjusts the color/brightness of the monitor at dusk and dawn, and can easily be turned off when needed.

 

[Staples]

I will give it a try. I have heard of it before but I automatically figured it just changes the colors (and contrast) and can not possibly affect the brightness. But maybe the illusion will give the same results. I will download it and try it now to see how I like it.

 

[Dankk]

Keep in mind, Flux doesn't adjust the brightness of your monitor. Rather, it simply changes the color temperature depending on the time of day. Using your computer at night will present you with a "warmer" orange-ish color that's less harsh on the eyes. It helps prevent eye-strain in the dark and can even help with sleep problems.

That said, I love Flux and I've been using it on my desktop for years.

 

[Sheep221]

the reason for this is rather simple,
desktop screen doesnt come with dimmable backlight, it's power saving feature for portable stuff and has no graphical meaning, brightness on desktop LCD is constant and controls only change darker colors to brighter

hopefully they never introduce it to desktops, I don't like brightness sensors

 

[Sohaltang]

My tv does it. Dont care for it so I disabled it

 

[KingFatty]

Another tactic to try is to mount an ambient light behind the monitor, or even put a small lamp back there. Then turn it on for a soft glow behind the monitor, will really help with eyestrain/contrast.

 

[Dankk]

Another tactic to try is to mount an ambient light behind the monitor, or even put a small lamp back there. Then turn it on for a soft glow behind the monitor, will really help with eyestrain/contrast.

This is a great idea. Many people do this with TV screens as well as computer monitors.

 

[Staples]

It is possible that LCDs which used CFLs could not dim themselves but ones that use LEDs as the backlight certainly can.

 

[Staples]

Well installed F.lux.

I always figured it would gradually transition the colors but no, it did it all at once.

The good news is that even though it didn't change the backlight, this warmer color does have the effect of not looking so bright.

 

[Dankk]

Well installed F.lux.

I always figured it would gradually transition the colors but no, it did it all at once.

The good news is that even though it didn't change the backlight, this warmer color does have the effect of not looking so bright.

Flux will gradually change the color of your screen over the course of a minute, or better: over the course of an hour (as determined in the program's settings). If you saw the colors change immediately, it's probably because you freshly installed it while it was already night-time, so it needed to synchronize first. That should be the only time you see it change that fast. As you continue to use Flux, the transitions will be gradual and you won't even notice it. Again, I recommend setting the transition time to 1 hour. Also be sure to enter in the coordinates of your hometown in the settings as well so it synchronizes correctly.

 

[Staples]

Flux will gradually change the color of your screen over the course of a minute, or better: over the course of an hour (as determined in the program's settings). If you saw the colors change immediately, it's probably because you freshly installed it while it was already night-time, so it needed to synchronize first. That should be the only time you see it change that fast. As you continue to use Flux, the transitions will be gradual and you won't even notice it. Again, I recommend setting the transition time to 1 hour. Also be sure to enter in the coordinates of your hometown in the settings as well so it synchronizes correctly.

Thank you for the tips. I was playing a game and at 7:22, the screen turned to a very warm color. I will check the coordinates to see if the default ones are correct.

 

[FalseChristian]

If you live in Canada (Oshawa, Ontario) like me you're going to have to set the longitude and longitude manually. Not hard to do. Took me 30 seconds.

 

[rgallant]

if any monitors come with such a sensor?

-mine has one but it's under the eco setting so I never tested it

 

[Staples]

if any monitors come with such a sensor?

-mine has one but it's under the eco setting so I never tested it

Nice to know there is a monitor with one exists.

I've looked on google and it seems they are few and far between.

 

[KingFatty]

Was there some work toward making a program that could use the webcam as an ambient light sensor? Some reason I remember that, but maybe there is hope in you just getting a webcam (or other sensor) and installing software driver to control the screen brightness?

 

[Staples]

The problem is that software could easily monitor the light coming into the Web cam, there is no facility for the PC to talk to the monitor to have it dim it's back light.

 

[Micrornd]

Nice to know there is a monitor with one exists.

I've looked on google and it seems they are few and far between.

NEC LCD2490WUXi, NEC LCD2690WUXi, and LCD3090WQXI have them and my 2490s work great, plus they are still adjustable for relative overall brightness.
Great for late night gaming!

 

[Staples]

Thanks for the tip, seems that NEC is possibly the only one who puts them in their LCDs.

Looks like I should have bought this NEC monitor instead of the Dell 2412m I got for Christmas.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824002784

 

[XavierBetoN]

That's a brilliant topic and definitely needs much more attention!

I currently have Samsung SynchMaster SA550 which has 3 settings of autobrightness and a built in light sensor.
3 settings allow it to change sensitivity level, and another 3 for brightness levels (fast, normal, slow adapt and dim, normal, bright brightness)

the reason for this is rather simple,
desktop screen doesnt come with dimmable backlight, it's power saving feature for portable stuff and has no graphical meaning, brightness on desktop LCD is constant and controls only change darker colors to brighter

hopefully they never introduce it to desktops, I don't like brightness sensors

And this is so wrong. All new Led panels have dimmable leds built in, and most of the decent displays have auto function at some level. But stupidly, they adjust the brightness due to image color being processed, not via a sensor that senses environment.
*edit: this was not wrong when this post was first written (2001) sorry for being late

Back to topic,
My autobrightness display is kinda old, I want to have at least 85hz and 27" display now but my old screen has this ability to relax my eyes automagically so I came to this topic to learn about other (perhaps) newer alternatives.
As far as I know, Samsung and Dell are wise enough companies to make this tech, but I'm not sure which models have them, that's why I came here.

edit2: As of 2022, BenQ displays also have autobrightness sensor, I guess I'll go with that one

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[mindless1]

This is a great idea. Many people do this with TV screens as well as computer monitors.

It's a terrible idea, more of a strain to watch the content. Less strain is ambient lighting elswhere in the room, NOT behind the TV/monitor. If you're looking at the TV your eyes adjust the same to it whether lighting is behind it or not. It's when you're not looking at it, that you don't want your pupils dilating back and forth.

You want the rest of the room, closer in brightness to the monitor, not making the monitor vicinity even brighter with backlighting compared to the rest of the room. Granted some of the backlighting casts into the rest of the room, but it is far less useful than having ALL the additional light, only in areas other than the monitor.

 

[BoomerD]

It's a terrible idea, more of a strain to watch the content. Less strain is ambient lighting elswhere in the room, NOT behind the TV/monitor. If you're looking at the TV your eyes adjust the same to it whether lighting is behind it or not. It's when you're not looking at it, that you don't want your pupils dilating back and forth.

You want the rest of the room, closer in brightness to the monitor, not making the monitor vicinity even brighter with backlighting compared to the rest of the room. Granted some of the backlighting casts into the rest of the room, but it is far less useful than having ALL the additional light, only in areas other than the monitor.

You do realize you replied to a post from 2013...right? Technology has changed a bit since then.

 

[mindless1]

^ Oops, but while the monitor sensing/response tech may have changed, human eyes not so much.

 

[BoomerD]

^ Oops, but while the monitor sensing/response tech may have changed, human eyes not so much.

My eyes have certainly changed (for the worse) since 2013...