Portable DVD player for a vehicle and/or car sick

bczoom · Apr 27, 2005

Hey All,

Mrs. Zoom wants to get a portable DVD player for the kids to put in the van.

First, my daughter gets nauseous when reading in a car. We put a 9" TV in but she had to look downwards to see it (bottom of screen was at seat level). After 1/2 hour of watching, the puke bucket was required. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

My questions are:
If the TV/DVD screen was more at eye level (mounted to head rest of the seat in front of her) would that help or stop the sickness?

If so (or probable), we were thinking of getting a dual screen DVD player (my son gets the 2nd screen). Does anyone have any recommendations on what to get? Not yet knowing if they can watch without getting sick, we want to keep the cost down. Heck, it may end up on the RTV. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

She found units on Sam's club and Wal-Mart for under $300 but with manufacturers like "Durabrand" and "Venturer" I'm not very comfortable.

Thoughts?

Thanks
Brian

PhilNH5 · Apr 27, 2005

Motion sickness is caused by the disconnect of what your eyes see and what your inner ear balance mechanism feels.

You body can sense motion but if reading a book in a car your eyes do not see any motion. This affects different people in different ways. Looking out the window is the best way to combat it. I had a colleague who could not sit in the back seat of a car. She needed to be driving or in the front seat to not get sick.

Anyway I do not think staring at a small screen will help your daughter.

Phil

Bob_Skurka · Apr 27, 2005

First, I don't want to ride in your car. Second, I'm not going to argue with Phil.

However, my daughter uses a laptop computer to watch movies in the car and doesn't have problmes. We already own lap tops, the screen sizes about about 400% larger (15" diagonal screen versus a 7" screen) and she's used it when sitting with other kids so I know the screen is large enough for them to share the view.

If you have a laptop it might be worth testing it to see if she will get car sick before you drop money for some other form of view. But, just make sure you wrap the keyboard in saran wrap before you put it in the back seat with her /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

bczoom · Apr 27, 2005

Thanks Phil. I was hoping that if mounted high, the motion can be accounted for using peripheral vision.

Bob,

( First, I don't want to ride in your car. )

Afraid? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Forgot to mention. I had tried a laptop as well but that was a few years ago. I might have her try it again.

BTW - Can your daughter read and stuff in a car?

Brian

Bob_Skurka · Apr 27, 2005

BTW - Can your daughter read and stuff in a car? 

My daughter gets a headache if she reads in the car. Movies don't seem to be a problem.

PBMAX · Apr 28, 2005

My wife has one in her car that jo jo (3 yrs old)watch's . He has been doing so for 1 1/2 yrs. The unit hangs or sits in the floor with one screen built in and one remote screen mounted infront of him on the drivers head rest. He has never been car sick that I know of.
Again as phil mentioned all are different when It comes to motion sicknes. While in the navy I never had it even in 100 swells. While one fellow I knew turned green at the mintion of ALL LINES ABOARD. My wife has a hard time reading for to long and the video bothers her. She compensates by looking out the window or closing her eyes for a moment. Maybe you could teach your young something along one those habits and see if it helps... I read, watch movies and even play games on my laptop(yes I let the wife drive when I doe these) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

O the player is some odd brand from B Buy.... put so far has been ok.

rdln · Apr 29, 2005

best buy audiovox

This straps in between the headrests and also has a tv tuner for cable or antenna hookup. If she can see the road and the tv it might help. it also comes with 2 wireless headphones.

I packaged the chevy malibu maxx rear seat center console dvd player, we tried to position it as high as possible.