Hardware gimmicks you’d want to own

Bias lighting is not a useless gimmick it's a common technique used to improve viewing experience, pay attention in the cinema next time and see if they completely turn off the lights.

http://www.cinemaquestinc.com/ive.htm
Locate ambient lighting behind the TV, so that it illuminates the wall behind. Such a method of display backlighting is called ‘bias lighting’ and serves to moderate or bias the range of motion in the iris muscles in the eye, which limits the size of the pupil. The frequent and sometimes dramatic variation in picture brightness from scene to scene in video programs can cause eyestrain and fatigue in an otherwise dark display environment. Bias lighting promotes eye comfort during extended sessions of dark adapted viewing.
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http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2011/08/bias-lighting.ars
Before I share my thoughts, I wanted to check out if other people were using similar solutions. Timothy J. Seppala writes for Sound and Vision, and he's often who I turn to when it comes to setting up new displays or purchasing monitors. When I purchased my last television, a Panasonic plasma screen, he told me about the pluses of bias lighting, and when I asked his thoughts on this story, he seemed a trifle annoyed I was only just now adding lighting hardware to my setup. This is a man who gives people test patterns the way my grandmother gives people lemon candies.

"It works because it provides enough ambient light in the viewing area that your pupils don't have to dilate as far. This makes for less eyestrain when a flashbang gets thrown your way or a bolt of lightning streams across the screen," he told Ars. "Because the display is no longer the only object emitting light in the room, colors and black levels appear richer than they would in a totally black environment. Bias lighting is key in maintaining a reference quality picture and reducing eye-strain."
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I can honestly say I have never through of adding a "gaming accessory" that throws light on the wall behind my screen. I am thinking about it now though ..
I see ZAPS sell them for R90 ..

Hmm... should I .. or shouldnt i .. hmmm..

antec-bias-37cm-6x-white-led-lighting-kit.jpg
 
Actually, those glasses showed in picture are of extremely good quality and well worth the pricetag they carry.

Sony recently unveiled their "reboot" of the gead-mounted VR "helmet" with full 3D and yada yada.
The Vuzix 1200VR has all those same features, and better even. For the same approximate price.

Sony's helmet will be available only in Japan in November 2011.
Vuzix 1200VR is available NOW, worldwide.
Both around $500-$600.

Anyway... I am actually considering those Vuzix 1200VR's as a possible future purchase. Did some research about 2-3 weeks ago, and a lot of progress has been made on them.
The Vuzix 1200VR has a resolution of 720p... tbh, thats friggin good!
 
wheunis said:
Actually, those glasses showed in picture are of extremely good quality and well worth the pricetag they carry.

Sony recently unveiled their "reboot" of the gead-mounted VR "helmet" with full 3D and yada yada.
The Vuzix 1200VR has all those same features, and better even. For the same approximate price.

Sony's helmet will be available only in Japan in November 2011.
Vuzix 1200VR is available NOW, worldwide.
Both around $500-$600.

Anyway... I am actually considering those Vuzix 1200VR's as a possible future purchase. Did some research about 2-3 weeks ago, and a lot of progress has been made on them.
The Vuzix 1200VR has a resolution of 720p... tbh, thats friggin good!
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, was wondering if there was an alternative to the Sony headset!
 
kerbyross said:
I can honestly say I have never through of adding a "gaming accessory" that throws light on the wall behind my screen. I am thinking about it now though ..
I see ZAPS sell them for R90 ..

Hmm... should I .. or shouldnt i .. hmmm..

antec-bias-37cm-6x-white-led-lighting-kit.jpg
Click to expand...

Ha ha....
Same here now! I want to know what it would look like.

Why does it only support up to 24" ?
Does it have to do with the spacing of the LED's
 
that light does look cool!

Hope you guys post some proper pics and a review after receiving your "monitor lights" ;)
 
kerbyross said:
I can honestly say I have never through of adding a "gaming accessory" that throws light on the wall behind my screen. I am thinking about it now though ..
I see ZAPS sell them for R90 ..

Hmm... should I .. or shouldnt i .. hmmm..

antec-bias-37cm-6x-white-led-lighting-kit.jpg
Click to expand...

I got a 37" screen,how many would you think i would need?
 
I'd buy
The Antec BIAS
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because well I have a lamp next to my pc screen facing the wall behind it... My eyes get sore without a light source in the background somewhere. Totally useful. I wonder if you can get ones for TV screens?
 
That ocz nia looks quite cool that in my mind would be quite cool, but i doubt its as user friendly as i'd imagine
 
Achtung!Baby said:
I'd buy because well I have a lamp next to my pc screen facing the wall behind it... My eyes get sore without a light source in the background somewhere. Totally useful. I wonder if you can get ones for TV screens?
Click to expand...

was about ask if the back lights really help that much, but if it releaves eye strain, I will look into it
 
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If you usually play in the dark with the lights off then bias lighting will help quite a bit in relieving eye strain. Same with watching TV, you should not watch in complete darkness with all the lights off.
 
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