Samsung's new 3-D TVs come with health warning: Don't watch if you're pregnant, sleep-deprived
BY MICHAEL PANTELIDIS AND OREN YANIV
DAILY NEWS WRITERS
Wednesday, April 14th 2010, 4:00 AM
Wargo/Getty Pregnant? Elderly? Avoid using Samsung's new 3-D television, the company Web site warns.Watch these cutting-edge TVs at your own peril.
Samsung's new and much-hyped 3-D televisions now come with a health warning that rivals a typical pharmaceutical ad.
Pregnant women, the elderly, people under the influence of alcohol, those with serious medical conditions and the sleep-deprived "should avoid utilizing the unit's 3-D functionality," the company says on its Web site.
Children and teenagers "should be closely supervised when viewing these images" because they're more likely to experience side effects, the warning added.
At worst, viewing the lifelike pictures can cause epileptic seizure or stroke, the company said. It also listed milder symptoms, including dizziness, nausea and disorientation.
The innovative gizmo - which Samsung dubbed "the future of television" - hit the shelves last month.
Panasonic, which also markets the new TVs, does not carry a similar warning on its Web site.
Some shoppers at a Best Buy on the upper West Side - where the new Samsung screens are being sold but no warning is posted - were put off by the potential health risks.
"If I can't have a couple of beers and watch TV, that eliminates the whole purpose," said James Robinson, 50.