3D TV in safety?

Although Samsung is not aware of any potential health risks associated with watching 3D TV, the company is being cautious in that it is keeping its customers well educated on the proper use of these systems. Especially when it comes to children.

With three-dimensional television (3DTV) unit sales expected to reach 8 million worldwide this year, there has been some market speculation on the potential health risks of using the 3D function, particularly around the development of children’s eyes and how they can be affected.

Corrie Labuschagne, Product and Marketing Manager for TVs at Samsung Electronics South Africa says: ‚An age old saying states: too much of a good thing could be a bad thing! Prolonged periods of 3D TV viewing is much the same as that of traditional TV, in that strain and deterioration on children’s eye-sight during prolonged periods of TV viewership is a well debated and understood scenario globally. This certainly doesn’t warrant alarm, however what it does warrant, is that adults continuously check on children who are using the technology and, making sure that sufficient rest periods are taken.‚

Samsung Electronics, is not only aware of the potential risks to eye-care or side effects that exposure to 3D technology and TV for that matter may have on children, but as a responsible company, Samsung believes it is prudent to keep consumers well informed on the potential issues and provide practical guidelines in the form of the Samsung 3D TV Owner’s Manual to educate consumers around these.

Concludes Labuschagne: ‚While the content or ‚warnings’ issued in the Owner’s Manual are not intended to incite fear or panic in consumers or to shy them away from enjoying the undeniably realistic and immersive experience of 3D technology, we want to empower consumers to have their health and that of their family’s top of mind when adopting 3D into their lifestyle. Additionally, Samsung is in the process of developing prescription 3D glasses that will make the 3D viewing experience available to those with impaired eye-sight, thereby enabling more people to enjoy the viewing experience with no risk of further deterioration of their eye-sight. We are certainly committed to keeping consumers updated on all facets and new developments to 3D TV and 2011 is just the beginning.‚