Smartphones have become so ingrained in our everyday lives that smartphone separation anxiety is actually a thing. Go ahead, Google it.
So yes, we use them for almost everything. Some of us even read off of them – myself included – at least as much as can fit inside the relatively small screens. But we’re not to worry about that for long, as the phablet industry seems to be flourishing.
But no matter how convenient that might be, reading from a smartphone’s screen is not the best idea – nor the healthiest, especially come night time. In order to reduce the eye damage, many reading apps, as well as book readers, have been offering users the possibility of switching to night mode reading.
Google’s Play Books app is just one of them, as it recently joined the trend of lessening the strain on your eyes. You might not even notice how tiring it is to read with white light, especially if you’re hooked on a gripping novel.
But it’s a widely accepted theory that blue light – the one emanating the screens of PCs, smartphones, and tablets – interferes with the healthy production of melatonin, the hormone responsible with good sleep. Therefore, our body’s natural clock can be disrupted by think kind of light, which in turn can lead to various kinds of disorders and ailments.
The general recommendation would be to detach from any kind of source emanating blue light for a good hour before bedtime. Some have adopted this as a healthy lifestyle, but those who prefer reading e-books before bed find that to be an impossibility.
Manufacturers have already found a solution for that in the form of e-ink or e-paper display, which is known for being easy on the eyes even in direct sunlight. However, vendors like Amazon or Google would much rather see you keep using their apps on the full-colored LCD devices.
This is where the feature comes into play, allowing users to keep reading at night, but with the help of app that reduce blue light emissions. Amazon already did that with the Blue Shade feature, which is still fresh having rolled out early this month.
But Google has also hoped on the train with the new Night Light feature in the Play Books app. It’s pretty neat, as the app filters out the blue light depending on the time of day and the user’s location. So instead of straining your eyes, Night Light will automatically use increasingly warm amber light. Every bit counts!
Image Source: Droid Life