3DS Is Dangerous For Children

[WriteThemWrong]

Nintendo issued a warning on 3d games and their upcoming 3DS. The 3d images, the alternating left and right images, could harm young children's developing eyes. I already knew 3d could cause nausea and other discomfort for adults, I got nauseous watching a 3d movie, not to mention I already wear glasses so wearing another pair wasn't very comfortable, but I don't know if I could buy something that has health issues. What do you guys think?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12100925

The eyesight of children under six could be harmed by 3D games played on Nintendo's forthcoming handheld console, the company has warned.

The games giant posted the health warning on the website devoted to the 3DS handheld.

It said specialists had warned of possible damage that could be caused by 3D games which present different images to the right and left eye.

Younger children should only play 2D versions of 3DS games, said Nintendo.

Parental control
The 3DS, the successor to the hugely popular DS handheld, goes on sale in late February in Japan and in Europe and the US in March.

The new handheld has two screens like older versions of the console with the top screen being able to show 3D images without the need for special glasses.

Parents should turn off this function if the handheld is going to be used by a child under six years of age, said Nintendo. It said the advice it had received from experts also applied to other 3D content that younger children might be exposed to.

In issuing the warning, Nintendo joins Sony and Toshiba in alerting people to the ill effects that can attend watching 3D movies or playing 3D games.

Sony has already said that parents should get medical advice before letting children watch 3D content on the PlayStation. Toshiba has said parents should keep an eye on children watching its TVs that can display 3D images without needing glasses.

The companies have also warned that watching too much 3D content can cause adults discomfort.

 

[drew6464]

Not like kids will care, they'll just play so much into the night when they wake up they'll be blind. No one reads these warnings, even if they should.

 

[Perriechu]

Well as long as the parents either; Don't let them play at all, or limit there playing times, my Nephew is 5 and we only let him play on his Dsi for Half an hour then he has a 15 minute break.

Also, kids that age shouldn't be on game consoles, well not one's like that, let them have their Ps1's and such.

 

[Ninja Caterpie]

It's the same as any other 3D content, really. It's only specially stated in this case due to the fact that Nintendo stuff is more related to little kids than other companies (like a 5-year-old kid might play Mario, but it's unlike they'd play Gran Tourismo or watch Avatar). It's only because Nintendo is closer tied to kids that this warning about really little kids is explicitly stated.

But I just want to say something quickly; what five-year-olds do you know that play video games much at all? ._.

 

[Fantastique]

Not like kids will care, they'll just play so much into the night when they wake up they'll be blind. No one reads these warnings, even if they should.

Not so much that they'll play for long hours, since I'm SURE either they're much more interested in other things or parents just plain don't allow them to, but they'll ignore their headaches/nausea and keep on playing to the point where it starts to hurt their eyesight.

But I just want to say something quickly; what five-year-olds do you know that play video games much at all? ._.

You'd be surprised.

 

[Shanghai Alice]

I honestly doubt children will play through extreme headaches and nausea...

But, to be honest, props to Nintendo for releasing this, and being up front about it.

Not like it affects me. No depth perception=No 3D experience. D:

 

[WriteThemWrong]

kids play video games and watch tv, with their faces inches away from the monitor i might add, for hours already, i sure did. and after a while my eyes would burn and i would feel light headed. that's when i would take a nap or go do something else.

most kids will probably play till their eyes and head hurt really bad but they'll just sleep it off or something, no harm no foul, and they'll start playing some more later. with this thing about 3d games and the 3ds damaging children's eyes might be more serious especially for parents buying them for their kids

 

[Sydian]

People don't read the warnings and stuff. Hell, I don't pay attention to the "don't play this game for over x amount of time" or whatever, and I'm 18. And to be honest, I don't think a lot of parents are going to pay attention either. They let young children play shooters, so hey, what's a little eye damage gonna do? Not saying all kids that play shooters are going to get traumatized or become violent, that's just a comparison and a completely different argument. Just clarifying.

 

[Kirbychu]

*Sniff* What's that I smell? Lawsuits?

Hopefully there aren't too many cases of nausea and discomfort. Forget the children, I don't want my 3DS to be taken off the market.

 

[A Pixy]

Great, now there's gonna be interest groups and parents complaining that the 3DS hurt their child's eyes while they were playing a nice, wholesome game of Call of Duty 8 or whatever comes past Black Ops. I will have my palm and face at the ready for when this inevitably happens.

 

[Persona]

Nintendo is only addressing the public about this so that they can avoid any legal issues. If you check the health & safety booklet that comes with DS/Wii games, it practically states the same thing on it. Only difference is that it recommends a 15-minute break every hour instead of every half hour.

In any case, it should be obvious that staring at a screen for prolonged periods of time isn't good for anyone.

 

[Captain Fabio]

Well, computers can damage your eyes, I know from first hand experience as I use to have very good eye sight, but working with computers for years and years, it has degraded my site so I am bling (exaggeration) XD

My point is, a lot of things can damage anyones eyes, never mind under 6 years old. Just because we are older doesn't mean we are immune to damage. Understandable they say it is for the development, but it is the same thing.

 

[Barney.]

I personally think this has been read into far too much.
Video games in general can damage eye site. Heck, TV and Computer's do the same.

It's only because this is a new visual experience that people are making such a big deal out of it. I doubt it will damage eye site anymore than an original DS.

 

[123wert50]

But yeah, really not many kids will care.

Nor will their parents. -_-

 

[Captain Fabio]

Does anyone actually know/recall that you're only supposed to play console games (home or handheld) for at most an hour at a time, and then taking 15-minute breaks in between?

Yeah.

Yes, I knew that. I don't take a break every hour, but I do take breaks going outside or what ever. My eyes are already screwed, so I don't want to make them worse! XD

 

[FloatingClouds]

What if you want to play for longer? I know! slide the 3d switch to off and you dont get headaches and sore eyes.

 

[A Pixy]

Does anyone actually know/recall that you're only supposed to play console games (home or handheld) for at most an hour at a time, and then taking 15-minute breaks in between?

Yeah.

You make a valid point, BUTT the VirtualBoy was far worse and could make you blind for anyone. The 3DS will only have this problem with younger kids. Besides, if it ever does seem irritating the option to turn the 3D off is there. Seems simple enough. Small problem, valid solution. Not that this will stop people. :<

 

[Spinor]

Lawsuit prevention? More like LAWLSUIT prevention because parents should take responsibility for their children resting with all video games. It should also be the parents' responsibility to read the SAFETY instructions, if you care about your kid's safety much, anyways.

That's right... I said it. LAWLSUITS

 

[WriteThemWrong]

Lawsuit prevention? More like LAWLSUIT prevention because parents should take responsibility for their children resting with all video games. It should also be the parents' responsibility to read the SAFETY instructions, if you care about your kid's safety much, anyways.

That's right... I said it. LAWLSUITS

of course parents should but now i'm wondering why would nintendo come out with a 3d handheld if 3d has medical warnings against children using it? children are their main consumers why not just improve the existing hardware instead of jumping on this fad.

 

[sab]

mild nausea and headaches? [conspiratorial vioce] This is related to lavender town tone, and nintendo wants to make children into slave labor to do their bidding [/conspiratorial vioce]
I actually don't find much wrong. If parents are too ignorant to realize that the 3ds is causing this, and don't read the health and safty labels, too bad for them. Also it's not like staring at a constantly glowing screen has ever been bad for your eyes before...(sarcasm ended)