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Ask YC: What is the best lighting source for a room with no windows?

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Re: Ask YC: What is the best lighting source for a room with no windows?

#11

Post by tim2 »

Ah yes, I know exactly what you need.

I too programmed for an uncountable number of hours in a similar setup at my university dorm. What I did is keep those bright lights on while wearing a baseball cap. This is very easy on the eyes and keeps you alert.

Why is this the best setup? Studies have shown that having lighting from the sides but not the top, simulating somewhat of an artificial sunset in the horizon, keeps people awake and alert for longer periods of time. Plus, that narrowed field of vision seems to help with concentration. Don't dismiss this until you try it.

I did have a window but I put my back to it. The view was pretty depressing anyway.

Re: Ask YC: What is the best lighting source for a room with no windows?

#12

Post by mosburger »

mixmax wrote: post #6
dualogy wrote: post #5

I've heard about this problem repeatedly before. Why are people apparently seriously building and renting offices without windows outside of Western Europe? I mean, you're spending 10-12 hours a day on sophisticated things of (hopefully) very high value that is (hopefully) rewarded accordingly in the marketplace---and yet, such a simple and essentially free thing as daylight is outside your scope? Why is this? What's…

I didn't even know that anyone besides sweatshop workers and miners worked in offices without windows. Sounds totally unthinkable to me, I would never get anything done. Guess I'm lucky working from my boat with 22 windows and a view of the sea wherever I look :-)

I used to work for a fairly well-known manufacturer of disk drives. In their typical paranoia, they intentionally ensured that our labs had no windows to mitigate the possibility of corporate espionage.

Re: Ask YC: What is the best lighting source for a room with no windows?

#15

Post by cdr »

migpwr wrote: post #2

They make floor lamps that point up to the ceiling and reflect light off of it... I personally like those the best. They're inexpensive and usually have 3 settings.

In my computer room, I use one of these with a "white" light bulb - a traditional bulb with blue glass that makes the light much more white. They seem brighter, too. I don't care as much for florescent lighting, so that's worked best for me so far.

Re: Ask YC: What is the best lighting source for a room with no windows?

#16

Post by ardit33 »

rrival wrote: post #3

Full spectrum lighting, used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a decent sunlight replacement, though it's sort of expensive.

Even better, I just moved from Boston to SF, and now I have an awesome view of Golden Gate bridge, and the bay, and the rest.

When the sun is setting it is just beautiful. The whole office area is well lit by natural light. It makes me a happy person.

(Having cubes with low wall also helps alot).

In Boston, I was miserable, working in a cube with high walls, away from any window, and when you go out, it gets dark by 4:30 pm. I just had the winter blues. No wonder Bostonians are so cranky and rude. You could tell when the weather got better, people were happier and nicer.

Re: Ask YC: What is the best lighting source for a room with no windows?

#17

Post by jsjenkins168 »

rrival wrote: post #3

Full spectrum lighting, used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a decent sunlight replacement, though it's sort of expensive.

You can source a generic 6500k light (try to get close to 98 color rendering index) for pretty cheap at most local hardware stores. My guess is this is all what these "full spectrum lights" essentially are, re-branded and marked up.

I use 2 6500k lamps as a bias lights (reference white) when coding and also for watching movies. The light will appear a bit "blue" at first (compared to most other lights), but you will get used to it. Color temp is like you are always working outside in the midday sun, its great.

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