Projectors & Epilepsy

[rs513]

Hi Everybody,

 

I have been asked to get a blue bulb for one of our projectors due to a child in that class suffering from epilepsy. Now putting the issue of the "blue bulb" to one side, does anybody have any ideas on how I could achieve a similar outcome. The projector is an Epson EB-X11.

 

I have been looking around and all I seem to be finding is the IWB's do not trigger a seizure unless the content contains flickering images etc. Does anyone have any experience of this?

 

Thanks in advance.

[caffrey]

The X11 should be fine as it's LCD, DLP on the other hand may cause issues with flickering / rainbow, but I'm no expert!

[FN-GM]

My brother suffers Epilepsy, a projector shouldn't cause seizures.

 

Who asked for this?

Edited October 4, 2013 by Dos_Box

[witch]

does the child have an LA supporter or similar? They might be able to help or confirm that there isn't an issue?

A friend of mine gets visual seizures and she is very much affected by flickering - she can't watch some televisions because if it.

[X-13]

I have been looking around and all I seem to be finding is the IWB's do not trigger a seizure unless the content contains flickering images etc.

 

From what I've seen it's between 5 - 30 hertz.

 

Most projectors [at least here] are 50+ hertz.

 

 

This sounds like someone making a request but not actually understanding ANYTHING about it.

 

I'm also failing to find a blue bulb/lamp [i don't think they exist] But that sounds like it'd be more for dyslexia than epilepsy.

[plexer]

ROFLAO a blue bulb.

 

Had to be said

 

Ben

[rs513]

It took quite an effort to keep a straight face!

 

Thank you for the replies, we haven't had such a situation before so I did not want to jump in with my opinion without doing a bit of research first.

 

I was told it was her health adviser (something along those lines) that has requested this, so I will go back and ask some questions!

 

Thanks again.

[X-13]

ROFLAO a blue bulb.

 

Had to be said

 

Ben

 

E14 Blue Bulb | eBay

 

Blue bulb.

 

The same effect could be achieved with blue acetate on the lens... Which I would NOT recommend.

 

TBH, if it turns out this is a legit request. As in it really is needed and isn't a misunderstanding.

 

It would probably be easier to get something like the blue tint glasses dyslexics use.

 

 

 

Le EDIT: Ah, blue tint IS useful for people with epilepsy.

 

Suppressive efficacy by a commercially available b... [Epilepsia. 2006] - PubMed - NCBI

 

Suggest Z1 blue tint lenses for the pupil... IF you can find them. I don't think they're made anymore.

 

Alternatively, any glasses with a deep blue tint MAY be just as effective. [i accept no responsibility if they aren't effective.]

[FN-GM]

You could always change the colour settings so its more blue?

[X-13]

You could always change the colour settings so its more blue?

 

It needs to be a REALLY deep blue.

 

You'd disadvantage an entire class because of one pupil.

[plexer]

E14 Blue Bulb | eBay

 

Blue bulb.

 

 

Oh I didn't doubt that you could get standard bulbs in blue but a projector lamp no way man.

 

Ben

[rs513]

E14 Blue Bulb | eBay

 

Blue bulb.

 

The same effect could be achieved with blue acetate on the lens... Which I would NOT recommend.

 

TBH, if it turns out this is a legit request. As in it really is needed and isn't a misunderstanding.

 

It would probably be easier to get something like the blue tint glasses dyslexics use.

 

 

 

Le EDIT: Ah, blue tint IS useful for people with epilepsy.

 

Suppressive efficacy by a commercially available b... [Epilepsia. 2006] - PubMed - NCBI

 

Suggest Z1 blue tint lenses for the pupil... IF you can find them. I don't think they're made anymore.

 

Alternatively, any glasses with a deep blue tint MAY be just as effective. [i accept no responsibility if they aren't effective.]

 

 

Thanks for this, I did suggest the glasses but it didn't seem too popular. I will go back armed with this information and see what they say.

[X-13]

Thanks for this, I did suggest the glasses but it didn't seem too popular.

 

I can see why.

 

Glasses - Parents need to pay [and IIRC, they're EXPENSIVE]

Blue lamp/bulb - School pays

[theriver]

Interesting one. I've a relative who is photosensitive and another who uses large print at school, and so from an interested, as opposed to expert, point of view:

 

I think I found the same source that you did: https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/photosensitive-epilepsy/triggers says that IWBs are 'not likely' to cause seizure

 

However the student's recommendation has been made for a reason, and I am not an expert, so I'd default to the adviser's advice.

 

But I'd chuck in another couple of considerations:

 

- a child with some kind of special needs wants to feel as normal as possible. They don't necessarily want to be the one who has the huge print, or the funny machine, or, as possibly in this case, the one that has to wear funny glasses

 

however

 

- you're making provision for them in one classroom - is that the only classroom they're ever going to use? Do you have a projector in the hall?

- if peril sensitive sunglasses are a real option, is it better to get the student familiar with using them at school? Presumably they'd be beneficial at the cinema, at home with the TV etc.

[X-13]

- if peril sensitive sunglasses are a real option, is it better to get the student familiar with using them at school? Presumably they'd be beneficial at the cinema, at home with the TV etc.

 

This brings up a good point.

 

If they're one of the people who have problems with screen flicker outside of the typical 5-30 hertz range, why has NOTHING been done for them at home? [it's vastly cheaper to just guy the damn glasses than it is to replace EVERYTHING that could cause a problem.]

[rs513]

Interesting one. I've a relative who is photosensitive and another who uses large print at school, and so from an interested, as opposed to expert, point of view:

 

I think I found the same source that you did: https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/photosensitive-epilepsy/triggers says that IWBs are 'not likely' to cause seizure

 

However the student's recommendation has been made for a reason, and I am not an expert, so I'd default to the adviser's advice.

 

But I'd chuck in another couple of considerations:

 

- a child with some kind of special needs wants to feel as normal as possible. They don't necessarily want to be the one who has the huge print, or the funny machine, or, as possibly in this case, the one that has to wear funny glasses

 

however

 

- you're making provision for them in one classroom - is that the only classroom they're ever going to use? Do you have a projector in the hall?

- if peril sensitive sunglasses are a real option, is it better to get the student familiar with using them at school? Presumably they'd be beneficial at the cinema, at home with the TV etc.

 

 

It's seems to be that this blue bulb idea just go thrown out there and they have gone with it. I am going to have a chat with our deputy about it and hopefully contact the adviser/parent of the pupil to see what the needs actually are and hopefully come to an arrangement that is best for everybody.

[jmak]

As someone else with a personal interest, rather than professional medical knowledge, you definitely need to find out more about what has been recommended and why. There is more than one type of photosensitive eplilepsy, all classified as PPR - some seizures are caused by flickering light at a particular frequency (refresh rate) and some can be colour (also frequency, but in a different sense). Flourescent lighting is another source of flickering light - presumably at 50Hz, which could potentially be changed. We have replaced some of our flourescent tubes with LED "bulbs" in the standard light fittings. Having read a bit more about it, it's not necessarily the projector bulb that needs changing - it could be the classroom background lighting that needs to be changed. I have a lot of sympathy with trying to avoid anything that could cause stigma, but on the other hand, there will be plenty of other children wearing glasses, eye patches, hearing aids etc, so it's not the worst thing in the world. I would have thought it is less stigmatising than having a seizure in class.

 

Just my thoughts...

[laserblazer]

If you disconnect the right connection from the VGA (Red I'd guess) that will make it go blue.

[john]

We had a student having issues with our refurbished parts of the building and being unwell and when I left they were still discussing it as they were thinking it was the new T5 lighting fitted in it that was the issue.

[mjs_mjs]

But that sounds like it'd be more for dyslexia than epilepsy.

 

If you are referring to tinted glasses, this could be Irlens syndrome, Home, more than dyslexia. Many dyslexics have Irlens syndrome, but they are not the same thing.