LCD writing tablets have exploded in popularity in recent years as a reusable, eco-friendly alternative to traditional pen and paper. Their ability to let you write on an illuminated screen that can be wiped clean and reused endlessly makes them quite handy.
But are LCD writing tablets actually safe? What about for kids? With technology, usage concerns rightfully arise.
In this in-depth guide, we will thoroughly cover the safety of LCD writing tablets from all angles. Read on for a transparent look at whether using an LCD writing tablet poses any risks for your health or your child’s development.
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How LCD Writing Tablets Work
To understand whether LCD tablets are safe, it helps to first understand what’s inside them and how they function.
LCD stands for liquid crystal display. LCD writing tablets use this display technology to create digital writing surfaces.
Here are the key components inside an LCD writing tablet:
- LCD Display – The top transparent plastic layer coated in microscopic liquid crystals.
- Liquid Crystal Film – Applying electrical signals rearranges this film’s crystals to form images.
- Adhesive Layers – Bond the external case and LCD display together.
- Electrodes – Detect stylus pressure and transmit signals to the liquid crystal film.
- Circuit Board – Controls the electrodes and electrical pulses.
- Battery – Small watch battery provides consistent low power.
When you write on the screen, the pressure pushes down on the liquid crystal film below. This allows electrodes to detect the pressure and send tiny electrical pulses to rearrange those crystals to become dark, mimicking pen ink.
Erasing the tablet realigns all the crystals back to transparent. This erase/write cycle repeats endlessly.
Now that we understand the inner workings, let’s analyze whether any aspects could pose health or safety concerns.
Are LCD Tablets Safe for Your Health?
When looking at the health impacts, the key factors to evaluate are the materials used and any emissions.
Materials Safety
LCD writing tablets consist mostly of:
- Plastic housing
- Glass LCD display screen
- Liquid crystal film
- Adhesives
- Printed circuit board
- Metal electrodes
- Watch battery
All these materials have well-established safety profiles and have undergone extensive testing.
- The plastic housings are made from thoroughly vetted polymers like ABS and polycarbonate blends chosen specifically because they do not leach harmful chemicals.
- The glass LCD screens utilize specially formulated alkali-aluminosilicate glass designed to be optically clear but durable and shatter-resistant.
- Liquid crystal films contain sandwiched layers of liquid crystals between plastic substrates. The liquid crystals used are non-toxic organic compounds.
- The adhesives such as epoxy, acrylic or polyurethane are also non-toxic and chemically stable polymers.
- Printed circuit boards use heavy metals like lead and tin in the solder, but these are completely sealed and inaccessible.
- Button batteries also utilize heavy metals but in inaccessible sealed cases with no exposure risk under normal handling.
In summary, all the materials are standard non-hazardous electronic components with no risk of leaching or off-gassing toxic chemicals.
Lack of Emissions
LCD tablets themselves have zero emissions – no gases, radiation, or byproducts are given off in use.
- They contain no mercury, in contrast to older CCFL backlit LCD monitors which did use mercury vapor.
- There is no backlighting, rather LCD tablets use ambient surrounding light. So there is no blue light emitted.
- With no cells, antennas or wireless connectivity, they emit no EMF radiation.
- The static display avoids flickering, flashing or any optics concerns.
- The components all have low heat outputs avoiding any burn risk.
FDA and EU Compliance
LCD writing tablets sold by major established brands will have undergone safety testing to comply with regulations.
For example, the Boogie Board Sync is registered with the FDA and CE certified to conform to EU standards. Products are required to meet strict limits on hazardous substances in electronics like lead, mercury, and cadmium.
Given the choice of thoroughly safety-tested materials and zero emissions, LCD writing tablets pose no health or chemical exposure hazards.
Are LCD Tablets Safe for Children?
Beyond general health factors, the safety of LCD tablets takes on special importance when it comes to child usage. Let’s evaluate if any facets could impact kids’ development.
No Radiation
One major plus of LCD tablets is they emit no radiation whatsoever since they lack wireless connectivity. There are:
- No radio waves like WiFi and Bluetooth give off
- No microwave or UV radiation as found in older CRT screens
- No blue light emissions which can disrupt sleep patterns
This makes them far safer than giving young children tablets, phones or using laptops which do emit EMF and blue light.
No Distracting Content
Another benefit for kids is that LCD tablets display only what the child creates. There are:
- No distracting apps, videos, or games
- No engagement metrics creating compulsion to keep scrolling
- No inappropriate mature content risk
Rather than passively taking in content, LCD tablets encourage active offline creation.
Promotes Handwriting
Rather than replacing handwriting practice with typing on keyboards, LCD tablets actively reinforce this vital foundational skill.
The stylus interaction helps:
- Develop fine motor control
- Practice letter and number formation
- Build hand-eye coordination for proper writing strokes
- Grip and manipulate the stylus correctly
This sets up lifelong proper penmanship.
Encourages Creativity
LCD tablets provide the perfect open-endedcanvas for nurturing budding imaginations.
Kids are free to:
- Draw anything they can envision
- Practice early storytelling and comics
- Explore artistic concepts like shapes and colors
- Doodle new inventions and designs
Without limits, artistic experimentation is fully encouraged.
No Mess or Waste
For parents, the reusable nature means no mess of pens, markers, crayons or paper scraps left behind. No more stained clothes or furniture!
Kids don’t have to worry about wasting paper and supplies either. They can create freely without limits.
Highly Durable and Reliable
These tablets are designed to withstand regular child misuse. Perks like:
- Plastic cases that can handle drops
- Pressure-resistant glass screens
- No moving parts that can break
Mean minimal damage risk and consistently safe, reliable operation. Kids can use independently without constant supervision.
Maximizing Safe Usage Practices
While already quite safe when used properly, following some best practices helps ensure LCD tablets remain ideal kids’ devices:
- Supervise young child usage – While durable, inspect for any cracks and teach respect for electronics. Monitor battery compartment access.
- Avoid high heat situations – Don’t leave tablets baking in hot cars or direct sunlight which could damage components.
- Keep away from water – While splash-resistant, these are not waterproof. Avoid use in the bath, poolside, etc.
- Use included stylus – For pressure sensitivity to work properly, use the correct thin stylus tip rather than random objects.
- Check for sharp edges – Inspect build quality and smooth down any flaws on plastic cases to prevent cuts.
- Follow recommended ages – Match developmental abilities to tablet sizes and complexity.
- Remind not to chew – While non-toxic, tablets are not edible. Supervise oral-phase infants closely.
- Store tablets securely – Return to locked case or closet between use to avoid damage or misplaced components.
By following common sense precautions, LCD tablets provide a safe outlet for learning and creativity.
The Bottom Line – Are LCD Tablets Safe?
After looking comprehensively at the materials, construction, emissions, regulations, and usage, it’s clear LCD writing tablets pose very little risks to health or development when used properly.
Some key takeaways on LCD tablet safety:
- All components meet rigorous standards for consumer electronics materials.
- No emissions are given off in use for 100% safe operation.
- Compliance with FDA and EU regulations minimizes hazards.
- For kids, lack of connectivity and simple format promotes learning.
- Durable build quality withstands regular child handling.
- Basic common sense precautions optimize safe usage.
For parents seeking safe offline activities to encourage creativity, penmanship and imagination, LCD tablets check all the boxes. They represent zero physical or developmental hazards when chosen mindfully and paired with attentive supervision for young kids.
So don’t be afraid to let your little ones doodle away worry-free on these engaging magical slates! With the right education on proper use, LCD tablets can become trusted kids’ learning tools.