# Roses are red - LEDs are blue - Those lights spread - Make our eyes askew **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 27, 2005, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735 "2005-05-27T08:14:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/1 "2005-05-27T08:14:57Z")
[Backlash Brews Over Blue LEDs](http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,67574,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_3) > [@](#): > > A rare sight only five years ago, blue LEDs now seem to be everywhere: on laptops, DVD players, air ionizers and even toothbrushes. And they have some consumers seeing red. > > Reviews on sites like [Epinions.com](http://Epinions.com) are peppered with complaints about dazzling blue LEDs Might as well add the SDMB to it! Personally, I recently got a nice set of speakers with a subwoofer for my computer, and instead of being attracted to the blue LED’s I had to use masking tape over them to make the annoying light fade. It is still good to know that the speakers are on or off, but one doesn’t need to have the long lost twins of the Pharos of Alexandria distracting from your work! > [@](#): > > Sliney said the eye’s lens cannot focus sharply on the blue lights. While red or green light is focused precisely onto the retina, blue light is focused slightly in front of it, which causes a distracting halo around bright blue lights. > > In addition, blue scatters more widely than other colors as it passes through the eyeball, Sliney said. Together, these two effects cause the intense blue light from a point source, like an LED, to spread out across the retina, interfering with other parts of the scene. It’s called dispersion: Blue’s shorter wavelength makes it refract at a greater angle than, say, red or green. > Also, human vision becomes far more sensitive to blue when ambient light levels are low, a phenomenon known as the Purkinje shift. So a blue light that is merely eye-catching on a brightly lit store shelf can become dazzling when the lights are low, such as when watching a movie on a laptop in a dimly lit room. > > … > > But not everybody moans about the blue menace. In fact, some hard-core hardware enthusiasts can’t get enough of them. > > “Our customers don’t complain that the lights are too bright,” said Selina Chang, a representative of Taiwanese PC case and cooling fan manufacturer Cooler Master. “They complain that they’re not bright enough.” “They complain that they’re not bright enough.”??? … …. Nah… too easy. 🙂 As for the manufacturer of this “bright” idea: you are a :wally ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/2 "2005-05-27T08:41:06Z")
The title of this thread reminds me of my favorite bathroom stall poem: Roses are red, Violets are blue. Some poems rhyme, and others don’t. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/3 "2005-05-27T12:30:58Z")
This is my point about HID headlights, which are in the blue specturm and not a pure white that just appears blue because it’s dark out. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/4 "2005-05-27T12:51:22Z")
> [@](#): > > instead of being attracted to the blue LED’s I had to use masking tape over them to make the annoying light fade Red finger nail polish does a prettier job. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/5 "2005-05-27T12:55:08Z")
… and now that she’s drunk screw screw screw! Can you believe some people say I’m not romantic? Anyways, I have a blue LED on the front of my replay TV. I’ve taken to taping a piece of balsa wood over it. That way it gets more diffused but I can still tell the thing is on. I tried using electrical tape but then I couldn’t be sure it was on. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/6 "2005-05-27T14:01:47Z")
I find the blue soothing. I have a [usb hub](http://www.pcp.ch/1790b12075023g/Targus-USB-2-0-Hub-4-Port-Ultra-Mini.jpg) sitting in front of me and the blue adds a nice splash of color to my otherwise drab desk. Granted the LEDs are covered by a difusing lens - I can see how it might be a bit harsh if the LEDs were exposed. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/7 "2005-05-27T14:12:21Z")
Hehehe - it’s true isn’t it? - I think it’s just becase we _didn’t have_ blue LEDs for years and years, and we really wanted them, so now we’re overcompensating. Plus these things seem to be manufactured with a much brighter output capacity than regular LEDs anyway; you can only really buy SuperBright, HyperBright and ReallyFuckingPainfullyBright Blue LEDS - C’mon manufacturers! - there’s a _huge_ gap in the market for ‘standard’ blue leds that don’t melt the retinas of people who look at them. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/8 "2005-05-27T14:59:11Z")
If you don’t like the blue LEDs, then you should avoid [this item](http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=12&productId=30165&langId=-1&parentCats=10111*10280) at all costs. Hmm, I guess I’m a fan of the blues. My computer has one (it’s the main power button), my toothbrush has one (to show it’s recharging), and I also have that Ikea light sculpture thingy linked to above. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/9 "2005-05-27T15:14:35Z")
Those purple-blue LEDs (in the dashboard displays of VW cars0-are they now made for other cars? I really like the look. Is blue the best color for preserving your night bvision? I thought red was best (BMW, PONTIAC)? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/10 "2005-05-27T19:18:04Z")
These lights go to eleven. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/11 "2005-05-27T19:37:07Z")
> [@The Scrivener](#): > > If you don’t like the blue LEDs, then you should avoid [this item](http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=12&productId=30165&langId=-1&parentCats=10111*10280) at all costs. > > Hmm, I guess I’m a fan of the blues. My computer has one (it’s the main power button), my toothbrush has one (to show it’s recharging), and I also have that Ikea light sculpture thingy linked to above. Do I have a trouble with the TYBBLEs? (d&r)… As \*\*Mangetout \*\* mentions, I would have no issues with blue LEDs if they were not so brigth, when the purpose is only to show if the device is on or off. Speaking of IKEA, I have to say that I got a desk from then called a “Jerker”! ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/12 "2005-05-28T01:00:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Is blue the best color for preserving your night bvision? I thought red was best (BMW, PONTIAC)? IIRC Blue is the worst for night vision. Red has been accepted as the best, but I think that yellow or orange is better YMMV ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/13 "2005-05-28T01:53:58Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Speaking of IKEA, I have to say that I got a desk from then called a “Jerker”! Me too! I have two of the buggers… great desks, but I kept thinking “How do they KNOW?” :eek: ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/14 "2005-05-28T02:19:43Z")
The new case I bought comes with embedded blue LEDs around the area of the keychain USB and FireWire. Luckily, it’s easy enough to disable them by just not plugging them into the power supply. ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/15 "2005-05-28T08:42:20Z")
Because I was sick of building and debugging my own computers, I picked up a cheapo E-machine from wallyworld. It runs good. Both the case and the 17 inch monitor that it came with have a blue LED-lit circle logo on them. I had to put black tape over the monitor logo, as where I have it situated, the blue shines right in my eyes. I am a Blue LED freak. Love the things. But in this particular instance, they could have skipped it. (The logo on the case projects a blue ring on the wall across from it. Too bright.) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/16 "2005-05-28T15:31:41Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Hehehe - it’s true isn’t it? - I think it’s just becase we _didn’t have_ blue LEDs for years and years, and we really wanted them, so now we’re overcompensating. > > Plus these things seem to be manufactured with a much brighter output capacity than regular LEDs anyway; you can only really buy SuperBright, HyperBright and ReallyFuckingPainfullyBright Blue LEDS - C’mon manufacturers! - there’s a _huge_ gap in the market for ‘standard’ blue leds that don’t melt the retinas of people who look at them. It is more than just the brightness… I work with blue leds and blue lasers (407 nm) that just kill me to look at. I also work with green LEDs and lasers (532) that are much much brighter than the blue ones and they don’t bother me at all. It is just too hard to focus on the the blue so looking at it is painful because your eye keeps trying to focus… This plus the way it fills the eye, even when you are not looking at it. I wrapped the whole blue portion of my optical table in black felt so I couldn’t see it. It sucks… I am going to work with blue full time pretty soon and retire my green system. Not looking forward to it. ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/17 "2005-05-29T09:35:15Z")
You mean you wouldent want a [Blue Toitle](http://www.emanator.demon.co.uk/bigclive/toitle.htm) They are so cute. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/18 "2005-05-29T16:06:34Z")
Off to MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roses-are-red-leds-are-blue-those-lights-spread-make-our-eyes-askew/305735/19 "2005-05-29T19:16:58Z")
Blue LEDs…the primary component for 1920’s Style Death Rays.