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Re: ATM Laptop Screen Covers



More questions about using laptops in dark adapted situations.  This "night vision" mode.  I haven't used any astro software lately but years ago, this mode was a darkened red monochrome mode designed to preserve your dark adaptation.  If this is still the case, and you wanted to darken it further, wouldn't a neutral density type filter be better?  Red filters would have to be very dark to reduce the intensity of a red screen.  Like a red filter over an LED display, the red passes through unimpeded while other colors are attenuated to increase contrast and depth of the display.  Also, since it is likely you'll need other software not equipped with night vision mode, you'll need all the colors to see to read the screen. 
 
Just curious.  I've often thought of using a laptop in conjunction with an eyepiece digital camera and have thought that the neutral density filters would be the way to go.  Some displays don't work as well in monochrome and there's always the problem of the blue hyperlink that would virtually disappear behind a red filter.  There's many kinds of neutral filters out there.  The smoked plastic that was popular in stereo cabinets, solar film for car windows, report folder covers, etc.  Working with a new HP laptop has shown that some filter will be needed.  The intensity of the flourescent backlight is not adjustable and enough bleeds through the LCD that would make an unfiltered display too bright even in full cutoff.   It would be great if the backlight could be replaced with a red LED array.  No filter would be needed and the intensity could be infinitely adjusted.
 
Of course, down here in Florida, the dew would quickly destroy any laptop not built for underwater usage :-)
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Jordan
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 3:05 PM
Subject: ATM Laptop Screen Covers

What would be good red material to cover the screen of a laptop at the observing site. The "night vision" mode is still much too bright.
 
Thanks,
 
Jordan