Turn Your TV Into a Computer Monitor: How I Used a Sharp TV as a Giant Display

Learn how to turn a TV into a computer monitor using HDMI. A simple step-by-step guide that shows how to connect your PC, optimise picture settings, and improve text clarity.

Many of us have an older television sitting around the house that isn’t being used very often. But here’s a handy trick: you can often turn a modern TV into a perfectly usable computer monitor with nothing more than a simple cable.

I recently did exactly that with a Sharp LC-43CFE5111K,at the suggestion of my wife and the results were surprisingly good. 

If you have a similar TV, this could be an easy way to create a large workspace without buying an expensive new monitor.

Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Connect the Computer Using HDMI

The easiest way to link a computer to a television is with an HDMI cable.

Plug one end of the HDMI cable into your computer’s HDMI port.

Plug the other end into one of the HDMI ports on the TV.

Turn on the television.

Most TVs have several HDMI inputs, usually labelled HDMI 1, HDMI 2, HDMI 3, and so on.

In my case, I had to cycle through three HDMI inputs before I found the correct one, so don’t panic if the screen doesn’t appear immediately.

Using your remote control, press Input or Source and select the HDMI port where your computer is connected.

Step 2: Tell Windows to Use the TV

If the screen doesn’t automatically appear:

Press Windows + P on your keyboard.

Choose one of the following options:

Duplicate – the TV shows the same screen as your computer

Extend – the TV becomes a second display

Second screen only – the TV becomes the main screen

For productivity, Extend is often the most useful.

Step 3: Set the Correct Resolution

To get the clearest picture:

Right-click on the desktop.

Select Display Settings.

Set the resolution to 1920 × 1080 (Full HD), which is the native resolution of many televisions.

You may also find that 125% scaling makes text easier to read on a large screen.

Step 4: Improve Text Clarity

Televisions are designed primarily for video, not desktop text, but a few adjustments make a big difference.

First, rename the HDMI input to PC in the TV’s input settings if the option exists. This tells the television to switch off extra video processing.

Next, adjust the picture settings:

Turn Game Mode ON to reduce input lag

Set the picture size to Just Scan or Full Pixel if available

Disable any unnecessary picture enhancements

Finally, run Windows ClearType to optimise text rendering.

Click Start.

Search for Adjust ClearType Text.

Follow the quick tuning process.

A Surprisingly Good Workstation

Using a 43-inch TV as a monitor creates a huge amount of screen space. You can comfortably place multiple windows side-by-side, which is ideal for writing, research, spreadsheets, or editing.

For many people, this can be an inexpensive way to build a large desktop workspace using equipment they already own.

Sometimes the best tech upgrades are simply about making better use of what’s already in the house.

Why did my wife hit on this idea? Whilst watching the Artemis II mission (a cousin of hers works at mission control) she saw the large monitors the mission control staff were using, thought about our rarely used 43 inch Sharp TV and thought "My husband needs a larger monitor!"

Other modern TV sets will also work as monitors, though you'll need to refer to their handbooks.

Uniblue Launches a Brand New, Feature-Rich 2012 Version of SpeedUpMyPC

SpeedUpMyPC System Scan

Since being launched in 2003, Uniblue SpeedUpMyPC has established itself as a popular software utility, assisting global PC users challenged by compromised computer speed. Faced with slow start-up and shutdown times, deterioration in performance and even system crashes, SpeedUpMyPC has helped novice and expert users alike to overcome these frustrations.

Uniblue has drawn on years of experience in the software utility industry in order to develop the new version; a vastly improved product with a professional set of tools and features. The new one-click installer provides a simpler and quicker user experience from the outset, whilst a CPU monitoring tool runs in the background ensuring that runaway processes don’t compromise system resources.

The software now cleans up invalid registry entries and has been equipped with a new set of tweaks to optimize boot up and system management speeds. In addition to the new features in the full version, the trial version now contains a collection of free tools that will enable the user to preview some of the software’s functionality prior to purchasing the full product.

David Walsh, Chief Marketing Officer at Uniblue says, “We believe feedback from our millions of customers is invaluable in driving our in-house product development. By listening to our customers we realised that by combining the functionality of our best selling products, we could deliver a best in class solution - at a lower cost for the customer. {{The latest release is superior to previous versions and is the first of many improvements in the pipeline}}.”

SpeedUpMyPC 2012 contains the following new features and improvements:

• CPU Manager to ensure runaway processes do not monopolize CPU resources
• Proactive thumbnail generator
• Faster launch times for applications accessed through the start menu
• Quicker software start up by boosting allocated resources
• System resource management tweaks
• Boot up and shut down tweaks
• Windows user interface tweaks
• Option to deactivate processes and services in order to free up resources
• Clean up of invalid registry entries that may hinder the Windows registry speed
• Localized in 17 different languages
• 1 click installation

The software can be downloaded from: http://download.uniblue.com/site/prodpage/sp/speedupmypc.exe

FACTFILE:
Uniblue Systems Ltd is creator and provider of award-winning software products designed to deliver superior performance and stability to PCs everywhere. Uniblue has risen to be known as the thought leader in the utility software market. The company’s products, services, free resources and help guides such as www.Processlibrary.com are recommended by IT experts as definitive reference points for ensuring consistent computer functionality. Uniblue is a customer-oriented company and provides support in several languages. Uniblue software benefits don’t end at great software; customer satisfaction is a priority which Uniblue takes pride in.

Uniblue offers a 60 day money back satisfaction guarantee.
Uniblue is a Microsoft Partner Independent Software Vendor with a Gold competency.

Microsoft is a trademark of the Microsoft group of companies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Leading IT optimisation consultancy Intergence, announced as specialist cloud services supplier of G-Cloud

Leading IT optimisation consultancy Intergence, a business that is focused on people and performance in IT infrastructure, has been announced as one of the suppliers of the UK Government’s cloud computing procurement initiative, G-Cloud.

The framework will feature services divided into four segments, with Intergence as part of the specialist cloud services. Other supplier segments include infrastructure as a service, software as a service and platform as a service.

As part of the £60m framework, Intergence will be a listed supplier on the Government’s ‘CloudStore’, an online marketplace where supplier services will be detailed and rated, allowing public sector departments and buyers to make comparisons for future procurement.

The CloudStore is expected to be announced shortly following a posting on the site stating:

“We’re currently testing that what we’ve done makes sense and works and then we’ll be opening the store up for everyone to see, use and feedback on but before we can do that we need to get on with working through and assuring the 1700 services for the catalogue.”

Commenting on being selected as a G-Cloud supplier Peter Job, CEO at Intergence said: “We were selected as part of the framework for our strong cloud management, infrastructure and ability to create and manage cloud strategies and deployment.” Peter continued “One of our major strengths lies in our flagship product Hyperglance, which will enable G-Cloud buyers to prioritise their IT decision-making with a visual perspective, allowing the allocation of resources based on real priorities, not guesswork.”

FACTFILE:
Intergence (www.intergence.com) is a leading independent IT Optimisation Consultancy, headquartered in Cambridge, UK, with a regional office in the Middle East (Dubai, UAE) and was founded in 2003 to address the growing requirements of clients demanding high-level impartial expertise in networks and IT. Our close relationship within the Cambridge academic community enables us to innovate in partnership, rapidly incorporating the latest technology advances into our products and services.

Intergence operates over two distinct lines of business; people and performance. Our expertise and knowledge within the field allows us to resource the right people in the right place, getting your IT projects completed quickly and hassle free. Utilising world first products and professional optimisation services, Intergence has a clear and common purpose- to improve performance and extract more value from your IT infrastructure.

You can follow Intergence on Twitter

The Donkey Sanctuary chooses Advanced’s systems to improve performance and deliver real time reporting

International animal welfare charity, the Donkey Sanctuary, which provides sanctuary for 14,500 donkeys in 29 countries, is implementing a suite of integrated financial management (OpenAccounts), business intelligence, budgeting & forecasting, supply chain management, document management and payroll systems from Advanced Business Solutions (Advanced).

These systems, which will go live in a phased approach from April 2012, will further automate the charity’s financial processes and enable instant access to real time financial and non financial information for improved decision making. The supply chain solution will also improve the stock management of the charity’s online store, Donkey World (www.donkeyworld.org.uk).

In recent years the charity has grown in size and complexity and so has outgrown its current financial management system, requiring a more sophisticated suite of software solutions to meet its evolving needs. After a competitive tendering process, Advanced’s suite of software systems, centered on Advanced’s OpenAccounts financial management and procurement system, was chosen.

Advanced is providing the charity with a fully-integrated software proposition that will automate a range of manually–intensive financial processes and provide visibility of financial and operational performance across the organisation. The development of impact reporting, which is becoming a key requirement for charities, will also be more easily delivered using Advanced’s reporting functionality. Advanced’s systems will be integrated with the Donkey Sanctuary’s fundraising system, The Raiser’s Edge (from Blackbaud), as part of the overall software project.

Chris Young, Finance Director from The Donkey Sanctuary says, “As a growing international charity, we need to have a holistic view of our financial and operational performance to ensuret we operate as effectively and efficiently as possible whilst remaining compliant with Charity Commission and HMRC regulations.”

Young continues, “Advanced’s software will provide us with real time web-based access to a number of resource planning applications and group reporting functionality, improving financial control whilst aiding decision making.”

By moving to more automated financial processes using Advanced’s financial management system with integrated document management (powered by Version One), The Donkey Sanctuary will also free-up document storage space and time-consuming document handling.

Advanced provides solutions for a number of animal welfare organisations including RSPB, Cats Protection and The Blue Cross.



FACTFILE:
www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk
The Donkey Sanctuary is a UK-based charity working worldwide to improve conditions for donkeys and mules.
The objectives of The Donkey Sanctuary are the provision of care, protection and/or permanent security anywhere in the world for donkeys and mules which are in need of attention by reason of sickness, maltreatment, poor circumstances, ill-usage or other like causes and the prevention of cruelty and suffering among donkeys and mules.

www.advancedcomputersoftware.com/abs
Advanced Business Solutions (Advanced) provides leading integrated business applications and services that enable public, private and third sector organisations to retain control, improve visibility and gain efficiencies whilst continually improving corporate performance. ABS prides itself on getting close to its customers by understanding their businesses and responding to their evolving needs.
Advanced’s software systems comprise core accounting/financial management, procurement, human resource and payroll systems, integrated with a range of collaborative, document management and business intelligence solutions to extend the value and effectiveness of the finance, human resource and payroll departments, which can also be delivered as a managed or bureau service option.
Customers come from both public and private sectors and include Companies House, Newcastle City Council, WH Smith, Royal Bank of Scotland, Aer Lingus, National Express Group, DFS, RSPB and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust.
Advanced Business Solutions is a division of Advanced Computer Software Group plc, a leading supplier of software and IT services to the health, care and business services sectors.

Cloud & Virtualisation experts Assist Ltd come to the rescue of Royal College of Physic

When the load balancing solution at the near 500 year old Royal College of Physicians (RCP) required an upgrade Assist Ltd (www.assist.ltd.uk) was recommended to the organisation and provided prompt assistance.

With over 15 external facing websites becoming intermittently unavailable, the RCP required fast, flexible and responsive support. Reputational and financial damage was at risk due to downtime on systems that processed payments for the RCP Membership and Stakeholders.

The Assist Ltd team worked on site, including around the clock on a number of occasions, deploying Citrix NetScaler, and replacing old NetContinuum boxes with a highly available NetScaler pair.

Ross Bentley, Head of IT services at Assist Ltd: “It was an honour and privilege to be invited to work with the RCP. We were delighted to have services up and running again within four days.”

The new NetScalers also brought advanced application firewall capabilities to the solution.

Errol Trott: “We found the Assist team to be extremely responsive and flexible in terms of our requirements. Their technicians were very proficient and worked well with the RCP’s internal staff to ensure that the replacement firewalls were installed, configured, tested and deployed both professionally and rapidly. Despite the challenging circumstances, the project was a success thanks in no small part to Assist”.

TAAP announces Windows 8 versions of tablet applications

TAAP – the field service software application specialist – plans to offer its technology on tablets running the Windows 8 operating system, when it is released in Autumn next year, and is currently developing on the test platform.

This is in addition to its current offering which encompasses applications for tablets such as the Apple iPad, Motion CL900 and a proliferation of mobile PDAs. TAAP currently supplies clients within the utilities and construction sector with applications which use Microsoft Silverlight technology and operate on the Windows Phone 7 operating system and the Motion CL900 tablet.

Reportedly with two touch keyboards – one which operates in ‘split’ mode so that users can type with their thumbs – the Windows 8 operating system will make it easy for users who type messages or fill in forms whilst walking for example, so they can still hold their mobile device securely.

The new user interface design will allow operators to use touch-screen functionality to navigate and use apps, to use gestures to control how the interface behaves, and to use enhanced internet browser attributes, amongst other features.

In response to customer demand for tablet-based applications, TAAP plans to provide a number of its established applications on the new operating system, including vehicle inspections; data capture; job allocation & scheduling; deliveries; repairs & maintenance.

TAAP is currently offering applications on Windows 6.5 and the Windows Phone 7.5 Metro operating systems, as well as iPad/iPhone. TAAP’s Windows Phone 7 applications, which run on handsets such as the Nokia Lumia 800, the HTC Radar, and the Samsung Omnia W, allow users to navigate through screens using gesture controls to complete job details easily and quickly. The interface is clear and easy to use which assists field service personnel to complete jobs more easily.

TAAP’s applications will also work on devices such as the HTC Titan and the forthcoming iPhone 5 (rumoured), which have larger screens than a traditional mobile phone, but are not quite as large as a tablet.

These particular applications are available through the Microsoft Market Place as well as directly from TAAP, which will enable users to download an application straight to their existing handset and start using it immediately. This means applications such as TAAP Advantage Lite can be used instantly for electronically documenting the delivery of a product or service.

Applications don’t just operate solely using a device – any information captured or sent is saved within a secure web portal which can be configured to display reports in the form of graphs and charts. Customers can easily build their own reports within the system to show management information such as productivity levels or outstanding issues. These ‘back-office’ solutions make use of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 online, for which TAAP is committed to providing off-the-shelf and customised systems.

This functionality will also be available on the new Windows 8 operating system when it is released next year, so clients can look forward to increased flexibility and easy to use monitoring tools.

Steve Higgon, Product Architect commented:  "Windows 8 is an ideal platform for TAAP’s software solutions as they are designed with data collection and information sharing/transfer in mind. Being able to use the same operating system on different devices makes it easier to develop applications that behave the same on tablets, PDAs, and PCs, as users only need to become familiar with the software and not with different operating systems.

"Windows 8 will give users iPad-like performance with the flexibility to use all your office applications on the same device. This means information transfer using TAAP’s software could be even more streamlined than it already is.”

TAAP is a leading provider of software solutions which allow organisations to mobilise their operations using hand held computers.

Tel: +44 (0) 845 230 9787
Email: angela.walker@ontaap.com
Website: www.ontaap.com

Boston Limited unveil their revolutionary Boston Viridis Ultra Dense Ultra Low power Computing Platform

Boston Limited, are proud to unveil their latest innovative collaboration with Calxeda with the announcement of Boston’s new generation of ultra low power computing platforms based on Calxeda ARM® EnergyCore™ SOC (System on a chip) processors.

Based on a completely new architecture outside of the traditional x86 platforms, the Boston Viridis Project provides a revolutionary new approach to highly parallel ultra low power computing with a self contained highly extensible multi node cluster with integral high speed interconnects and storage all contained within a tiny 2U rack mount appliance.

With 48 nodes available in a 2U enclosure this exciting new platform can provide for up to a staggering 900 servers per industry standard 42U rack and can deliver up to 10x the performance per watt over existing processor technologies.

Designed and built exclusively for the server market this ultra efficient new server appliance has been optimized from the ground upwards to provide data centre performance whilst consuming power comparable to a mobile device to assure industry leading power, space and operational costs.

Boston is working closely with Calxeda to demonstrate the full breadth of capabilities offered by appliances that fall within Boston’s Viridis Project. Now, OEM partners and large data centre customers can leverage both Boston and Calxeda’s design expertise, allowing them to easily build hyper-scale sized clusters in a fraction of the time compared to designing traditional server systems from the ground up.

Boston will be making this platform available very shortly to provide interested partners with access to these leading technologies to test, benchmark and optimise their code via our Boston labs facilities. For more information please register your interest here: http://www.boston.co.uk/about/labs/default.aspx.

Based on Calxeda’s ultra efficient EnergyCard’s this platform assures game changing performance within the server arena. Based on four quad Core EnergyCore SOC’s (system on a chip) integrated onto a local fabric Boston’s solution collectively forms a complete multi server cluster that can be easily expanded with additional cards. With each board exposing up to eight 10GbE fabric links and SATA to a passive system board for previously unheard of levels of expansion.

Similar in concept to blade servers, each EnergyCore-based server chassis contains a base system board with one or more slots compatible with Calxeda EnergyCards. This extensible approach means that as your computing requirements grow, meeting that demand is as simple as plugging in additional EnergyCards as needed.

Manoj Nayee, Managing Director of Boston Limited, says, “As a specialist in low power, server and storage platforms, Boston have been inundated with requests for highly efficient scalable solutions that provide increased power savings over the current technologies. Calxeda's unique approach provides a server on a chip that consumes 5W under maximum load with dynamic power optimisation and routing that enables us to provide up to 90% power savings over traditional platforms.”

“We are happy to partner with Boston Limited, who are bringing new clients and workloads to ultra-low power computing” said Karl Freund, VP of Marketing of Calxeda. “This market is going to explode next year, and Boston is ready to support customers lining up for proof of concepts and subsequent production systems”.

About Boston Limited

Rowanmoor Pensions cuts budgeting and forecasting time by two weeks per year with Advanced Business Solutions

Rowanmoor Pensions, a specialist pensions provider with over 30 years’ industry experience, has reduced the time taken to budget and forecast by two weeks per year since implementing a budgeting, forecasting and planning system from Advanced Business Solutions (ABS).

Rowanmoor Pensions researched the market and chose a budgeting and forecasting system that best fit its requirements in terms of price and level of functionality.

James Simpson, Financial Administrator from Rowanmoor Pensions, says, “We approached Advanced Business Solutions because we needed a more robust and functionally-rich alternative to our existing systems.”

The new ABS system is being used for budgeting and planning for the current financial year and the next two years. It is also being used for ‘what if?’ scenario planning, providing the company with greater confidence when planning for the future.

“We are now better equipped for forecasting the effect of potential company and market changes such as income fluctuations or altered tax rates”, explains Simpson.

Since moving to ABS’ system, Rowanmoor Pensions has cut the time it takes to budget and forecast, enabling the finance team to spend less time on administration and more time on other added value activities.

Simpson says, “Thanks to ABS’ system, budgeting and forecasting is now more automated and intuitive, saving the finance team two weeks’ of budgeting and forecasting time each year.”

Simpson adds, “Producing balance sheets is quick and easy, delivering a holistic view of the company’s finances at any one time whilst enabling accurate and timely reports.”

FACTFILE:

• Rowanmoor Pensions provides and administers member-directed pension schemes:

o Small Self-Administered Schemes (SSAS)
o Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP)
o Family Pension Trusts (also known as Family SIPPs).
• Rowanmoor Pensions is the UKs largest independent SSAS and Family Pension Trust practitioner and administers around 4,000 schemes.

• Rowanmoor Pensions was awarded best SSAS provider in the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Moneyfacts Investment, Life and Pensions Awards.

• Rowanmoor Pensions was awarded best SSAS provider in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Pensions Management Technology Administration and Service Awards.

• The Rowanmoor Pensions website is www.rowanmoor.co.uk
• Rowanmoor Pensions currently employs over 200 people.
• Rowanmoor Pensions is a trading name of Rowanmoor Group plc (No. 5792242).

• Rowanmoor Personal Pensions Limited, a subsidiary of Rowanmoor Group plc is the scheme Administrator and scheme operator for schemes established under a Rowanmoor Pensions Family Pension Trust and the Rowanmoor Pensions SIPP and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (Register number 458260).

www.advancedcomputersoftware.com/abs
Advanced Business Solutions (ABS) provides leading integrated business applications and services that enable public, private and third sector organisations to retain control, improve visibility and gain efficiencies whilst continually improving corporate performance. ABS prides itself on getting close to its customers by understanding their businesses and responding to their evolving needs.

ABS' software systems comprise core accounting/financial management, procurement, human resource and payroll systems, integrated with a range of collaborative, document management and business intelligence solutions to extend the value and effectiveness of the finance, human resource and payroll departments, which can also be delivered as a managed or bureau service option.

Customers come from both public and private sectors and include Companies House, Newcastle City Council, WH Smith, Royal Bank of Scotland, Aer Lingus, National Express Group, DFS, RSPB and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust.
Advanced Business Solutions is a division of Advanced Computer Software Group plc.

“Man’s best friend” no longer his dog but his PC, poll reveals

The personal computer has overtaken the family dog as ‘man’s best friend’, according to an online poll conducted by YouGov for Computeractive magazine and the RSPCA.

Barely one in 20 of us (6%) believe “most people rely more on their dog than they do on their PC”. Over two-thirds (67%) of us reckon the opposite is true, according to the poll of over 2,000 British adults. (EDITOR: Surely this depends on what you rely on your dog or computer for? You would rely on your PC to connect to the Internet, but you would not rely on your computer to be -for example- a walking companion)

Even most dog-owners polled confessed to relying more on their PC than on their dog (38% vs 36%), while younger dog-owners did so most of all. Nearly three-quarters (71%) of 18-24 year-old dog-owners said that they relied more on their PC than on their dog.

Male dog-owners rely far more on their PCs than do female ones, reveals the poll, commissioned by Computeractive on behalf of the RSPCA’s Justice for Animals Appeal. Male dog-owners (48%) are almost twice as likely as female ones (28%) to rely more on their PCs than their pooches.

Almost two-thirds (61%) of those polled also felt that a PC is now “a more constant companion than a dog” for most people. Less than one sixth of respondents (16%) thought the opposite.

“These days you can even take your PC for a walk, provided you have a laptop or tablet”, says Paul Allen, editor of Computeractive, the UK’s best-selling computer magazine. “It’s only a matter of time until the first PC that fetches your slippers.”

The findings, adds Allen, also highlight what a major role computers now play in family life, particularly for men.

“With broadband bringing them global news and newspaper sales falling, the family dog even misses out on the pleasure of taking the paper to his owner.”

Is the family PC now a dog’s best friend?

It’s not all bad news for Rover, Mr Allen points out: “The family PC has given dog-owners access to a wealth of resources and information that can help with the long-term care that a dog needs. From finding the best vets to researching great new walks that all the family can enjoy, the Web enables the PC to become a dog’s best friend.”

RSPCA Inspector Tony Woodley adds: "The Internet is hugely important in all aspects of work the RSPCA carries out, from rehoming animals to campaigns, social media and online are fantastic ways for us to reach out to our supporters.

“One crucial way we use the Internet is to raise funds for vital things such as the Justice For Animals campaign helping us prevent the most severe acts of cruelty from happening again."

To highlight how the home computer can help the family dog reclaim his place as man’s best friend, Computeractive is donating £2.50 to the RSPCA Justice for Animals Appeal, from every new or upgraded subscription to the magazine, from now until 31st August 2011.

Computeractive is working with the RSPCA to fight for justice against animal cruelty by raising funds for five prosecution cases of animal cruelty. It is donating an initial lump-sum of £2,100 to fund the first of these and then a further £2.50 for any new or upgraded subscription taken up before 31st August 2011.

The magazine is launching the initiative with a short video that takes a quirky look at how PCs have demoted the family dog. It can be viewed at www.getcomputeractive.co.uk/why_computeractive.php

Game Over?

Research shows that video game addiction is being cited in a growing number of divorce petitions.

The study shows that husbands are getting more pleasure from playing World of Warcraft and Call of Duty than cuddling up to their wives at night.

A survey by Divorce Online examined dozens of unreasonable behaviour petitions filed by women using its service between January and April 2011. In 15% of cases the wives complained that their husbands were happier to play on their games consoles than pay them attention, and cited gaming addiction as part of their husband's alleged unreasonable behaviour.

One disgruntled wife, 24, from London, who married husband Michael in South Africa in 2008 before moving to the UK. Her husband had played online games before their UK move but in 2009 his obsession seemed to take over.

She claimed: “He was addicted to World of Warcraft but played other games now and then. When it became serious he was playing up to eight hours a day and I threatened to leave.

“He then stopped playing World of Warcraft for a while and started playing Call of Duty instead but the amount he was playing just gradually increased until I could not take it any more.

“It got so bad he even organised to play on the day of our second wedding anniversary as we had decided to go out at the weekend instead.

“I was constantly trying to get him to cut back but he didn't think he had a problem or was doing anything wrong until I told him I wanted to leave but by that time it was too late.”

Ryan G. Van Cleave, an expert on video game addiction and author of Unplugged: My Journey Into The Dark World Of Video Game Addiction, said many partners were unaware gaming can become an actual addiction.

He said: “A lot of the problem spouses encounter with video game addiction is that the
non-gamer doesn't appreciate that it's an addiction. This means it's not a choice to spend so much time in a virtual environment versus time with the spouse and family. It's a compulsion.

“Trying to explain video game addiction to a non-addict is a lot like trying to explain to a fish what it's like to drive a car. It's no surprise that ‘gamer widows’ feel so insulted and disrespected that the most common advice given in gamer widow chat sites and websites is ‘Run for your life.’

“The reality is that with the proper professional support, a video game addict, like any other type of addict, can overcome the addiction.”

Mark Keenan, the Managing Director of Divorce Online, which carried out the research on 200 unreasonable behaviour petitions filed by women, said: “The increase in the number of video game addiction cases could be a consequence of the recession, or it might be being used by men in particular as a means of escape from an already unhappy relationship.”

Divorce Online is the UK’s leading do-it-yourself uncontested divorce website and has helped over 68,000 couples file their own divorce proceedings without needing a solicitor. For more information on Divorce Online visit www.divorce-online.co.uk

If YOU think you might have a problem with addiction to online games, you can visit Dr Ryan G. Van Cleave's website at website www.ryangvancleave.com.

(EDITOR: In some relationships it could well be a case of six of one and half a dozen of the other, but if neither party can see the other's point of view, then that is a recipe for disaster, if the 'addiction' is to playing golf every free moment, collecting stamps, being on chatrooms or reading all the time and expecting everyone else in the household to be absolutely silent all the time so as not to interrupt the reader.

Oddly enough people who complain about their husband OR wife having to create a virtual life never stop to wonder why it is that their partner might feel the need to create a virtual life for themselves?)