Several of my students had these problems.
The refresh rate of the fluorescent lights mixes (beats) with that of the
computer screen and produces the sum and difference frequencies. The
difference frequency can be the resonant frequency of the brain waves - like
disco flashing lights.
Remedies - switch off fluorescent lights or change the monitor refresh rate
using the Windows software.
Gil

Dr G Cleeton welcomes you to ‘Lifelong Learning and Teaching’, at -
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and
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>From: Penny Gray <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: "* EASI: Equal Access to Software & Information"
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Vertigo and Windows
>Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2005 19:47:21 -0500
>
>Richard,
>
>This is a 15 in. flat panel display. She's running Windows XP Pro SP 2, 500
>MB RAM, 3.2GHz, Radeon X 300 series ATI video driver. She does have
>fluorescent lighting as do all of our offices.  So I guess we could pull
>the
>lightbulbs in her office and replace with desk and floor lamps.  I hadn't
>thought about the refresh rate of the fluorescent lighting.  Thank you for
>the thought.
>
>Penny
>
>
>   _____
>
>From: * EASI: Equal Access to Software & Information
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Richard Jones
>Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 4:06 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Vertigo and Windows
>
>
>Dear Penny Grey,
>Is your friend using a CRT Cathode Ray Tube monitor? These traditional
>monitors refresh 60 or more times a second.  The slower the refresh rate
>the
>more likely you will experience vertigo.  The new LCD flat monitors do not
>flicker in the same way.  Please be aware that an office's florescent
>lights
>are torture for everyone.  It is just that most of us are so bludgeoned
>that we no longer care.  Florescent lights have refresh rate too. You eyes
>can pick this up.  Now combine the refresh rate of a CRT and that of the
>room's florescent lights and you have a formula for a migraine.
>
>
>Richard Jones
>Assistant Director
>Disability Resource Center
>Arizona State University
>
>480 965-6045
>
>CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:  This e-mail message is intended only for the use
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>please notify the sender.
>
>
>
>   _____
>
>From: * EASI: Equal Access to Software & Information
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Penny Gray
>Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 1:52 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Vertigo and Windows
>
>
>
>Hello listers,
>
>please excuse the cross-posting.
>
>I'm working with someone who suffers from severe vertigo.  Looking at words
>on a computer screen, as well as looking at text on paper, the words began
>to crawl (in her words) and start a full-blown vertigo episode.  This also
>happens with Windows popping up on screen.  I made several suggestions to
>her and she seems to be more comfortable with the changes that we have made
>to her workstation but I still don't know how to stop Windows popping up on
>screen.  This includes any startup of any program, ToolTips, system
>warnings, start menus ect.  The changes that we have made are: changed the
>screen resolution to 800x600, change to high contrast black (standard),
>changed the ToolTips to a black font so she can't see the text (but a white
>square box still appears around what would be the text) changed the font
>size in Internet Explorer and Microsoft Outlook.  I have reminded her to
>stop looking at the computer every 10 minutes or so and look away and relax
>her gaze for about 30 seconds, and to remember to blink (which apparently
>people who stare at computers forget to do).  I've also recommended the use
>of text-to-speech software, a larger monitor to accommodate larger screen
>fonts, and scan and read software.
>
>Does anyone have any ideas of any way of fading in Windows that pop up?  I
>think she would do best in a purely text based interface but that's not
>realistic in her job.  Does anyone have any other suggestions that we can
>pass along?
>
>Thanks everyone.  Penny
>
>Penny Gray
>Certified Adaptive Technology Specialist
>Bucks County community college
>275 Swamp Road
>Newtown, PA 18940
>[log in to unmask]
>215-968-8012
>
>This document has been created using Dragon NaturallySpeaking Pro version
>7.3 voice dictation software.  Please disregard any unedited
>misrecognitions.
>
>