We moved to our new offices, and they are great, except for the fact that I now work in a room with no windows. There is only an overhead fluorescent light.<p>I usually program for 10-12 hours a day, and have now noticed that my eyes hurt, and I am getting bags under them.<p>What is the best way to light the room so that my eyes are happy again?
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 the point of windowless offices? This is just quite obviously a serious factor for potentially making your people suffer in subtle ways. In tech, you don't want them to suffer, no? What am I missing?
Somewhat related:<p>Has anyone ever experimented with RGB LED's and some sort of controller hooked up to a PC? That way you would be able to change the colortemperature of your lightning source, and get a really cool way of lighting up your office or home. You could even attach some light sensors so that the ambient light level stays the same. When the sun goes down the lights slowly turn on to compensate. Would be cheap in electricity too.
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.
Ah yes, I know exactly what you need.<p>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.<p>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.<p>I did have a window but I put my back to it. The view was pretty depressing anyway.