The Blink Now(TM) device encourages blinking subconsciously.
When I’m really concentrating on a project, I’m not thinking about blinking. Hours can pass before I even look away from the screen. Of course, this is really how computer vision syndrome becomes a problem, and I know I’m not alone. So how can I remind myself to take breaks—even blink? I took to the Web to see what I could find.
Some sites suggested that I use a timer, but I’m fairly certain my co-workers would not enjoy that. I found a few timers that featured a flashing-only option, but I wasn’t that impressed with them for the cost. I also think that continually resetting a time would be invasive to my workflow. Here’s what I found:
- Protectyourvision.org stays open in the background and sounds an alert every 20 minutes. Then, once you click a button to start your “break,” the screen goes black to encourage eye rest. After 20 seconds, another 20-minute session starts. There’s even an “eyes gymnastics” section you can visit. I found the site to be pretty handy, simple and customizable, but it does require at least some engagement.
- Dryeyezone.com offers a pop-up window with an eyeball that blinks every 10 seconds. I put it up in the corner of my monitor to see if I would blink more often, and I often noticed that I blinked right after the on-screen eye did. One drawback is that if you open another window over it, the eyeball will not be visible and is therefore useless.
- Blink Now, similar to the eye above, this it’s a small, external screen that can attach to your monitor. The screen is a frequently blinking eye. I think it’s pretty innovative to present a schematic of an eyeball to subconsciously encourage more blinking. I will admit it’s a bit creepy to have an eye staring back at me, but it’s definitely worth it if I can avoid dry eyes and headaches.
Let me know what you think about the options presented above or any ideas you may have of your own.
On November 9, 
