Lighting a keyboard with a cold cathode light

[]V[]essenjah · Post by **[]V[]essenjah** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:11 pm

Ok, I really didn't trust the prices on illuminated keyboards so I got a nice black keyboard with white lettering on the keys.

However, I still want to find a way to light it for night use. So, I was wondering about using a small 4" cold cathode UV light (black light) to light up the letters.

However, I am worried about getting headaches with teh light being that close. So, I was wondering what others thought about this idea? Thanks!

Here is some info on the light kit:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 039&depa=0

Vindicator · Post by **Vindicator** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:20 pm

As long as youre not looking directly at it you should be alright. What I would do is 1) learn how to touch type already

2) have it shrouded a bit so that its shining on the keyboard but not visible just by looking down.

Nitrofox125 · Post by **Nitrofox125** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:43 pm

Yeah just put black consturction paper/metal/etc. over the top...

AceCombat · Post by **AceCombat** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 8:02 pm

UV Lights give you headaches?

first ive ever heard of that...............

ohwell

Nitrofox125 · Post by **Nitrofox125** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 8:52 pm

Me too. My eyes can't focus on UV lights and everything lit by them is blurry. My eyes keep trying to compensate, never do, and a headache comes.

[]V[]essenjah · Post by **[]V[]essenjah** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 9:13 pm

Vindicator wrote:As long as youre not looking directly at it you should be alright. What I would do is 1) learn how to touch type already 2) have it shrouded a bit so that its shining on the keyboard but not visible just by looking down.

1. Touch typing is easy. Been doing it for oh say.... 4-5 years now. I just need it for some of those hard to see areas of the keyboard and various shortcut keys for various 3D modeling programs I sometimes need to see. I also sometimes need to see which buttons to center my hands over.... since my soda drink to typing ratio tends to break the position of my hands.