Which Kobo reader for migraine sufferer?

Britomart · 05-30-2014, 03:16 AM

I am planning to give an ereader to my niece, who suffers from migraine. For various reasons, a Kobo is most attractive on other counts, so that's what she would like to have.

Do any of you have any experience which, the Glo or the Aura, is better suited for someone who suffers from migraines and is very sensitive about anything to do with lights? Or is there an altogether different reader you'd recommend?

Thanks a lot for your input! And if this has been covered elsewhere here, please point me to it!

davidfor · 05-30-2014, 03:54 AM

My wife suffers severely from migraines. She had a Touch and now a Glo. She doesn't think it is any worse (in inducing migraines) for her than a paper book. She rarely uses the light as she seems to think that it will affect her. I'm a little baffled by that as she will use a laptop in a fairly dark room.

I can only think of two difference between the Glo and the Aura that might influence the decision. Some people say the Aura is a little less clear and the contrast isn't as good. That might make it harder on the eyes. But the two-finger light control might make it easier to control the light level quickly.

meeera · 05-30-2014, 05:01 AM

The brightness on the Aura goes a lot lower than the Glo, and the lighting is a touch more even.

leaston · 05-30-2014, 04:14 PM

This is a very good question.

I've found the Glo screen flickers perceptibly when the light is set to 9% or lower. If I'm in a dim room with the light at a low setting, I can see the flicker quite easily when I focus my eyes on something other than the screen directly. At higher brightness settings, the flicker seems to disappear. I often wonder if this is a common thing with other models and whether it could induce a headache.

Oh, and having had my son's Kindle (standard model - not touch screen or backlit) next to my Glo over the last couple of days, I have to say the text on the Kindle is sharper and has better contrast. Without comparing them side by side, I probably wouldn't have noticed.

NickyWithNook · 06-01-2014, 12:48 PM

I have chronic severe migraines and I use two lit e-ink screens other than Kobo ones and I have no problem with them contributing to my headaches. Lit e-ink is OK for me anyway. Can't speak for Kobo.

I use the light pretty low, particularly in a dark room. I don't like the contrast of a light screen in a dark room so I keep it as low as I comfortably can, or that contrast does seem to bother me.

Kasper Hviid · 06-01-2014, 03:17 PM

I couldn't see any flickering in the build-in light on my Aura HD. However, after firmware 3.3.0, the browser refreshes so frequently that it could give anyone migraine ... :-P

davidfor · 06-01-2014, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leaston

I've found the Glo screen flickers perceptibly when the light is set to 9% or lower. If I'm in a dim room with the light at a low setting, I can see the flicker quite easily when I focus my eyes on something other than the screen directly. At higher brightness settings, the flicker seems to disappear. I often wonder if this is a common thing with other models and whether it could induce a headache.

I have never noticed this with my Glo. The light is always at 1% when it is on. And I do read in a completely dark room most nights before going to sleep.

davidfor · 06-01-2014, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasper Hviid

However, after firmware 3.3.0, the browser refreshes so frequently that it could give anyone migraine ... :-P

The refresh rate was something I thought of overnight.

For the Aura, it only does full screen refreshes at chapter breaks. The other devices can be set between 1 and 6 pages. That might make the Aura better if the refreshes are bothersome. But, you can edit the config file and set the refresh to up to 99 pages for the other devices. A bit of playing will find the best compromise of flashes vs ghosting.

leaston · 06-02-2014, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

I have never noticed this with my Glo. The light is always at 1% when it is on. And I do read in a completely dark room most nights before going to sleep.

Perhaps it's my Glo or my eyesight then

I am quite old (46 as of last week), so the latter is a distinct possibility

davidfor · 06-02-2014, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leaston

Perhaps it's my Glo or my eyesight then

I am quite old (46 as of last week), so the latter is a distinct possibility

Firstly, as someone who went past 46 a little more than a week ago, 46 is not old.

You triggered some memory and a search showed that some people have complained about a flicker. But, I was thinking this went away with a firmware update.

leaston · 06-02-2014, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

Firstly, as someone who went past 46 a little more than a week ago, 46 is not old.

I was feeling old at the moment I made my post

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

You triggered some memory and a search showed that some people have complained about a flicker. But, I was thinking this went away with a firmware update.

You know, I never change from the 9% after figuring out a long time ago that it's the lowest I could go without seeing the flicker. As my Glo is up to date with firmware, I'll try it at 1% tonight.

Thanks for that davidfor

CharredScribe · 06-03-2014, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasper Hviid

I couldn't see any flickering in the build-in light on my Aura HD. However, after firmware 3.3.0, the browser refreshes so frequently that it could give anyone migraine ... :-P

Have to agree with this. What is what the stuttering browser window since the update?

To the OP: I get frequent migraines, and I have not found that the Kobo Aura HD increases them. I use the light only late at night, and I keep it fairly low (around 50%), and it is always fine for me.

gabby98 · 06-11-2014, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharredScribe

Have to agree with this. What is what the stuttering browser window since the update?

To the OP: I get frequent migraines, and I have not found that the Kobo Aura HD increases them. I use the light only late at night, and I keep it fairly low (around 50%), and it is always fine for me.

I must say the similar for the glo...I have frequent severe migraines and a light sensitivity (even when not in migraine mode). I love my glo and it does not trigger anything for me. When I read in complete darkness i use my light, granted at only 1%, but during that time I don't even need my glasses (shaded at 80% gray for all day use) and the light still does not bother me. As for the flicker mentioned above, I have not experienced that, but I believe I am on a older firmware....reluctant to change it; you know "if it ain't broke..."

good luck!

JSWolf · 06-11-2014, 02:38 PM

The Aura has a newer screen with the lower flash refresh. So it will need to have the screen clean flash a lot less. Plus, the Aura has more internal memory and it smaller (overall) and lighter.

leaston · 06-12-2014, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

You triggered some memory and a search showed that some people have complained about a flicker. But, I was thinking this went away with a firmware update.

After performing a firmware update, I can confirm that the flicker has disappeared. Yay!

05-30-2014, 03:16 AM	#1
Britomart Guru Posts: 703 Karma: 1510625 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Opus, PC	Which Kobo reader for migraine sufferer? I am planning to give an ereader to my niece, who suffers from migraine. For various reasons, a Kobo is most attractive on other counts, so that's what she would like to have. Do any of you have any experience which, the Glo or the Aura, is better suited for someone who suffers from migraines and is very sensitive about anything to do with lights? Or is there an altogether different reader you'd recommend? Thanks a lot for your input! And if this has been covered elsewhere here, please point me to it!

05-30-2014, 04:14 PM	#4
leaston Addict Posts: 264 Karma: 1135030 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: England Device: Boox Go Color 7, Kobo Forma, Kindle Keyboard	This is a very good question. I've found the Glo screen flickers perceptibly when the light is set to 9% or lower. If I'm in a dim room with the light at a low setting, I can see the flicker quite easily when I focus my eyes on something other than the screen directly. At higher brightness settings, the flicker seems to disappear. I often wonder if this is a common thing with other models and whether it could induce a headache. Oh, and having had my son's Kindle (standard model - not touch screen or backlit) next to my Glo over the last couple of days, I have to say the text on the Kindle is sharper and has better contrast. Without comparing them side by side, I probably wouldn't have noticed. Last edited by leaston; 05-30-2014 at 04:16 PM.

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05-30-2014, 03:54 AM	#2
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	My wife suffers severely from migraines. She had a Touch and now a Glo. She doesn't think it is any worse (in inducing migraines) for her than a paper book. She rarely uses the light as she seems to think that it will affect her. I'm a little baffled by that as she will use a laptop in a fairly dark room. I can only think of two difference between the Glo and the Aura that might influence the decision. Some people say the Aura is a little less clear and the contrast isn't as good. That might make it harder on the eyes. But the two-finger light control might make it easier to control the light level quickly.

05-30-2014, 05:01 AM	#3
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,808 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	The brightness on the Aura goes a lot lower than the Glo, and the lighting is a touch more even.

06-01-2014, 12:48 PM	#5
NickyWithNook Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 3942770 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: American living in Australia Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle Fire, Kindle Pwhite (Don't use Nook anymore)	I have chronic severe migraines and I use two lit e-ink screens other than Kobo ones and I have no problem with them contributing to my headaches. Lit e-ink is OK for me anyway. Can't speak for Kobo. I use the light pretty low, particularly in a dark room. I don't like the contrast of a light screen in a dark room so I keep it as low as I comfortably can, or that contrast does seem to bother me.

06-01-2014, 03:17 PM	#6
Kasper Hviid Zealot Posts: 141 Karma: 2784614 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: none	I couldn't see any flickering in the build-in light on my Aura HD. However, after firmware 3.3.0, the browser refreshes so frequently that it could give anyone migraine ... :-P

06-11-2014, 02:38 PM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,528 Karma: 145863177 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The Aura has a newer screen with the lower flash refresh. So it will need to have the screen clean flash a lot less. Plus, the Aura has more internal memory and it smaller (overall) and lighter.

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