SBLE3123 ENGLISH PROFICIENCY III

GROUP AH

(GROUP REPORT)

QUESTION: With the ongoing classes in the new semester, students have to
stay in front of their laptops for long hours and this can be harmful to their eyes.
Suggest ways to solve this problem.

PREPARED BY:
NO NAME MATRICS NUMBER
.
1. Tan Hui Cin 271934
2. Nur Sarah Lia binti Shamshul Kamar 273808
3. Nur Alia Sofea binti Mohd Ridzuwan 271876
4. Zulamrin bin Isno 272338
5. ‘Aarif Hakimi Audadi bin Mohamad Salleh 273642

PREPARED FOR:
Puan Izyan Izzati binti Zainuddin

DUE DATE:
 22nd December 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. PROBLEM STATEMENT 1

2. RECOMMENDED SOLUTION 2

3. DESCRIPTION OF CONCEPT 3-4

4. ANALYSIS OF CONCEPT 5

5. ADVANTAGES OF CONCEPT 6-7

6. CONCLUSION 8
 1. PROBLEM STATEMENT

Startled by unpredictable COVID–19 outbreak, world undergo a drastically change

from various angles. Education is one of the most affected aspect. Government had ordered
all educational institution to stop their operation by giving lecture in study hall. Due to this,
thousands of students need to start a new semester at home. Learning and teaching 100% by
virtual is a new standard for students and lecturers. It has been months since all parties are
going through all of this using digital devices. This journey undeniably sometimes is
complicated, confronted technical problems and affect emotional stability in fact mental
health. On the other hand, there are piles of work that should be settled that requires one to
face computer, laptop or smartphones for long period of time.

Eye’s health could also affect as students need to stay in front of their laptops for long
hours. Eye is a limb that consider as small parts on human body however had very high value
to mankind. If only a vague happen has already disturb the eyesight, what about other serious
injuries? Therefore, eye’s health is needed to give extra care beside undergo the online
classes. Long hours of class make the eye become tired and easily to doze off. This is because
the eye is being exposed to UV light from the screen. Eye disease can occur when students
see laptop screen in brightness level that is relatively high. This condition may lead to
computer vision syndrome.

Computer vision syndrome can happen due to two circumstances. First, when eyes
become dry and eye irritation. Dryness of eye occurred due to lack of blinking. During people
sees the screen, they become so into it until they forget to wink. The healthy eyes should be
able to wink at least 15 times in a minute. If the flickers are not enough, so the eyes become
dry and cause blurriness. The importance of blinking eyes is to protect the eye’s surface since
there is a liquid being channelled on points. Irritation exist when the eyes feel uncomfortable
towards screen brightness, distance from laptop is too close and not wearing spectacles
according to accurate prescriptions also may be the reason. Situation like this which likely
can causes headache because the eyes had no more capability to focus on screen.
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2. RECOMMENDED SOLUTION

It has many ways to solve the problem that state in 1.0 such as using eye protection
glasses, adjusting the brightness of the monitor or laptop screen and so on. Mostly, the
brightness of the monitor or laptop screen is still too bright for students who focus on screen
for a long time especially for those who prefer to complete their assignment at midnight. The
glasses that have the function of UV protection glasses are not suitable to use for a long time.
It still works when users apply for a short period. 

However, the most recommended solution that is suitable for computer or smartphone
users is an application called “Notify Me”. This application is a concept that is based on the
“20-20-20 rule”. This “20-20-20 rule” can be definite by every 20 minutes students look at
the monitor, they have to look in another direction which is 20 feet away from them for 20
seconds after 20 minutes focusing on the monitor or laptop screen.

         Every student can install this application from any resources. Basically, this
application is suitable for students to install on their computers because students always use
computers to complete their tasks, tests, exams and assignments. By using this application,
lectures and teachers can remote control their students to take a rest. This solution can help
students to calm down their eyes. It also can be avoided by overusing their eyes that can
affect increasing the diopter eyes. Indirectly, students will experience headaches and
dizziness. In addition, this application is free of charge means that students and lectures no
need to pay any money for registration. So that every student and lectures are required to
install this application. 
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3. DESCRIPTION OF CONCEPT

By using this concept, the problems experienced by students after looking at the

screen for a long time can be reduced. This concept is very simple and certainly does not

involve any cost, students just need to practice it. Below is the draft of our 20-20-20 rule

concept idea.
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1. “Notify Me” Application

Students need to install this application into their smartphones or laptops and computers.

This application serves as a notification to its users to look in the other direction which is

20 feet away for two minutes after 20 minutes looking at the computer or laptop screen.

2. Objects That Are at A Distance Of 20 Feet

Any type of object that is interesting to see to be placed at a predetermined distance of 20

feet. For example, paintings hanging on walls, flower pots, fish aquariums and more.
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4. ANALYSIS OF CONCEPT

1) Let us imagine a situation of 2 hours class, a student and a lecturer are learning

and teaching online. Usually, they maybe had a five minutes break in the

middle of a class, 5 minutes can be considered as a long break, and it does not

as efficient as the 20-20-20 concept. Therefore, ‘Notify me’ acts as a timer and

helps both students and lecturers to notify them every 20 minutes interval.

2) As ‘Notify Me’ application is an invented app that helps anyone, specifically

students and lecturers in maintaining their health issues that might occur while

learning and teaching virtually. This would help a lot as the concept of 20-20-

20 rule’s motive is to ensure that students and lecturer will have more ‘relax’

and enjoyable class.

3) As the timer rings every 20 minutes, the student and lecturer should’ve known

what they got to do which is they are required to look away from their screen,

at any object at the distance of 20 feet for 20 seconds.

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 5. ADVANTAGES OF CONCEPT

As we are having our learning session virtually right now, it is undeniable that it
brings us, as students, workers, lecturers or anyone whose involved in this journey, a quite
number of negative impacts. Luckily, this concept had been brought out. This concept had
carries tons of benefits that can be seen in both direct and indirectly towards anyone who
practising it.

First of all, it carries no charges at all. Some people might think of other alternatives
that can be considered more efficient, yes it is true that other machines and inventions might
help with the eye strain but it could be hypocrite for me to say it comes with no charges. It
wouldn’t be a big deal to some people who are able to purchase or really have the opportunity
to do so, it will be a problem for those who are incapable of purchasing it, we are addressing
this to students specifically. Students, who are still living under their parent ‘supervision’
most of them didn’t have their own personal income as the difficulty to cope their time and
online classes schedule is what preventing them to do so. As for 20-20-20 rule, this would
help students a lot since its free. The only thing required is their efforts to practise the concept
said. Best believe that not only students, but all people who involved in doing work virtually
will definitely have the effort to make this concept happen. The result can clearly be seen
once they’re committing in practising. As Sophacles said, success is dependent on efforts.

Next, it lessens our feel of discomfort and eyestrain. According to KPJ Klang
Specialist Ophthalmologist and Ocoplastic Surgeon Consultant, Dr Zurina Zainal Abidin, eye
fatigue, blurred vision, dry eyes that caused headaches are common symptoms that occur due
to using gadgets for too long. This problem is becoming more serious especially for those
who stares at screen for a long time. We can directly see that the doctor’s sentence above is
very relevant to the situation of students and all who face learning and work virtually. When
we look too much at the glowing screen for too long, our eye’s muscles will feel tired and
that fatigue can lead to other diseases that may be more serious if left unchecked. With the
20-20-20 concept, this exercise is very helpful to reduce eye fatigue. This is because by
looking at a distance it can relax the eye muscles thus making the eyes more relaxed.

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 Another point would be regarding alertness. It shows that we could be more alert after
practising this concept. Working long hours can cause fatigue. The act of looking at the
screen for a long time, of course, it is tiring. Furthermore, students and instructors spend their
time staring at their gadgets and computers screen teaching and learning. Teaching time is not
short, one class takes about an hour to two hours, multiplied by the class that needs to be
attended every day. It is undeniable that it takes a lot of time. This 20-20-20 concept allows
students and instructors to have regular breaks to increase productivity and quality of work,
level of attention, awareness and how fast they work. Body will give the following signals
indicating that it is time to rest for a while. Observing the screen for too long can make it
difficult for us to concentrate, feel tired and hungry. So, after making 20-20-20, we will
definitely feel fresher and able to focus back and give full attention to class and work.

As conclusion, whatever the method recommend is, we should really have screen
breaks as it really helps us in so many forms. Most importantly, it helps us in matters
pertaining health. ODL will not lead to a serious health issues if we really know how to cope
with it.
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6. CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, it is clear that during the covid-19 pandemic, students have

undergone Open and Distance Learning (ODL). They need to use electronic devices such as
smartphones, laptops, computers and others for learning purposes for a long period of time
that can have many side effects on the health of students, and educators will also be affected
and among them is eye health will be affected such as eyes become dry and eye irritation
which in turn will cause severe dizziness and headache.

There are various ways and steps to overcome this problem but we have
recommended an appropriate and effective solution to this problem. The way is to install an
application for smartphones and software for laptops called "Notify Me". This app is free to
all students and educators. This application is based on the concept of "20-20-20 rule", where
this application will provide a reminder for students and educators to see objects within a
distance of 20 meters for 20 seconds after 20 minutes focusing on the electronic devices. The
suitable objects are such beautiful pictures hung on wall, aquariums, flower pots and others.
With this concept, the period of students and educators focusing on electronic devices can be
reduced.

This concept and application have many advantages that can be utilized by students
and educators where the installation of this app will not be charged. In addition, it can also
reduce discomfort and eyestrain as a result of too long focusing on the screen of electronic
devices. The app also warns and reminds its users to be alert to apply the concept of 20-20-20
rule which can help reducing the risk of declining eye health levels throughout the ODL
period.

Every problem must have a solution, as well as the problem faced by every students
and educators throughout the process of teaching and learning online that is prone to
decreased eye health because it takes too long to focus on the screen of electronic devices. It
can be solved by adopting the concept of 20-20-20 rule which will be reminded by the
application called "Notify Me".

Then Open and Distance Learning is no longer a concern because it gives a negative
effect on eye health with the existence of this concept and application.
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