Companies Ditch Fluorescent Lights in Battle for Office Return (msn.com)
- Reference: 0177087771
- News link: https://slashdot.org/story/25/04/22/1542204/companies-ditch-fluorescent-lights-in-battle-for-office-return
- Source link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/tech-companies/offices-ditch-harsh-fluorescent-lights-new-tech-is-on-the-way/ar-AA1Doy1B
The technology arsenal includes faux skylights displaying virtual suns and moons, AI-controlled self-tinting windows, and customizable lighting zones that can be adjusted via remote control. Research suggests these innovations may improve brain function during tasks requiring sustained attention. "We've known for a long time that natural light is better and makes people feel better," says Peter Cappelli, professor at Wharton School. The innovations stem from discoveries in the early 2000s of photosensitive retinal cells that affect biology independent of vision. Industry specialists report a "huge uptick in requests," though implementation adds 20-30% to project costs, potentially slowing mainstream adoption.
[1] https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/tech-companies/offices-ditch-harsh-fluorescent-lights-new-tech-is-on-the-way/ar-AA1Doy1B
Nice try (Score:4, Insightful)
Still not coming back
"designed to improve cognitive function" (Score:3)
I'm calling unreplicated pseudo-science, i.e. psychology, research.
Re: (Score:3)
Management Fad of the Month Club. You get a free subscription with your MBA.
Re: (Score:2)
Depending on your light sensitivity, cognitive function may be improved by fewer migraines from godawful indoor lighting
In my office they keep burning out (Score:2)
I'm told they don't want to call electricians until enough are out to make it worth it.
Re: (Score:1)
> The smarter companies just replace all the bulbs on a regular schedule (once a year for bulbs that are always on, as florescents last about 10,000 hrs, and that is only slightly longer than a year).
This is really dependent on a lot of factors. I used to keep saltwater reef tanks from the late 1970's until the early 2000's. a lot of those specialty lamps would spectrum shift and need to be replaced every 6 months. With the ones that I replaced every 6 months there was a very noticeable amount of tungsten deposition on the ends. So they were wearing much faster. The full spectrum ones were usually good of a year. I used those in my garage when I swapped them out of the tank.
Certain cool white lamps
"Offices nationwide". So, two of them? (Score:3)
I feel it would be more effective for them to employ the magic of crystals along with aromatherapy.
Re:"Offices nationwide". So, two of them? (Score:4, Insightful)
Aromatherapy? There will be fish in the microwave.
A bit surprising (Score:2)
I'd expect an office to just chill at high intensity 6500k because that's "alert" lighting. As a business owner you wouldn't want sunset to roll around at 5pm and all your lights are sitting at 3000k and dim because that means people are winding down at work. I'm down for this kind of home lighting 100% though; have been doing it for years.
Re: A bit surprising (Score:3)
Ah, fellow circadian nerd :-)
And with high-CRI LEDs, and then slowly dimming the maximum allowed intensity from 100% down to 20% between 6pm and 11 pm, and only allowing it up at 100% @ 6500K again at 6am the morning.
The true legacy of civilization :-D
Leave it to tech bros (Score:4, Funny)
To re-invent "The Window"
Re: Leave it to tech bros (Score:2)
Windows are so "olden days". Now we have screens and cameras, so that it costs more and needs repair more frequently. Also you could lookat whatever you want, don't be limited by what's outside. Boooring.
Also, what ever the article says, something about lights, I think. Get modern, Gramps.
(:-)
Re: (Score:2)
Oh shit my window needs a firmware update to open. Only $19.95 a year, what a bargain.
Re: (Score:2)
> To re-invent "The Window"
Windows work in low-density offices for companies with a small number of employees. For everyone who isn't running a small business, the "reinvention" is a necessity. Many office spaces being rented simply do not get sufficient natural light.
Re: (Score:2)
Yes it was a bit pithy but maybe that's part of the reticence of workers to return to office. I guess we'll see if virtual windows are appealing enough as actual windows.
Re: (Score:2)
But this is an improvement. Windows can reveal the depressing reality of bad weather or unpleasant conditions that can dampen the mood. With this it's possible to create the appearance of perfect conditions whenever that nasty sun is unobscured. If they can figure out a way to give the lighting the appearance of seeping through the door crack at the top of the stairs it will be perfect.
raw dogging it with fluorescent lights (Score:2)
"Grandkids, did you know that back in my day we had to be so tough that we could sit in fluorescent lights all day ?"
I hope that never impresses anyone.
Re: (Score:2)
and we had to walk up stairs both ways to the kitchenette
totally worth giving up remote work (Score:2)
... NOT!
Commitment spike (Score:3)
The psychological game here is to make an expensive (relatively speaking), visible commitment to a change (serfs returning to the panopticon).
The way this works gets interesting, but the operative details here are simple: signaling to the serfs that The Man is serious, and that serious investment will be "wasted" by failure to use it, thus displaying ingratitude for the expensive gift.
And you don't want the boss to think you're not grateful, do you?
Solving the wrong problem (Score:2)
It's not the lighting that makes office work so distracting.
ORLY (Score:1)
No thanks, I prefer the comfort of my home and I will search harder to preserve my work from home for 3 days a week. Ideally, five.
Mimic natural light patterns (Score:2)
Are you certain you know [1]your employees [indiependent.co.uk]?
[1] https://www.indiependent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Nosferatu-1-1024x576.png
None of your cheap Jedi Mind Tricks will work. (Score:2)
Business owners, especially you obstinate luddites that run cube farms: Fuck off.
None of your cheap Jedi Mind Tricks will work. None of them will entice us to go to the "office" because that means traffic, gridlock, upsetting my own cicardian rhythm, all to support your arbitrary start time.
Better lighting and environmental condition is a welcome change, but nothing you can offer me -- including piles of cash -- will ever take the edge off having to go to the office.
We used to joke at this one place I wo
syncing with employees' biological rhythms? (Score:2)
Or attempting to control them?
Re: syncing with employees' biological rhythms? (Score:2)
Well, you need to sync before you can effectively control, don't you?
I miss the hum (Score:2)
I know I'm weird, but I miss the hum of old school magnetic ballasts. There's nothing like going into a 5000 sq ft cube farm on the weekends with nothing but the hum of lights and air conditioning to keep you company.
How about a door? (Score:3)
Give me 4 walls and a door I can close and I'll (begrudgingly) come back in. I haven't been in a cube since 2012, and I'll never work in an open plan office.
Raises... (Score:2)
Raises would have been better. Or free snacks and drinks. Or fewer meetings. Or better chairs. Or more plants. Or a fridge that doesn't stink. Or... or... or...
Or... or... or... (Score:2)
> Raises would have been better. Or free snacks and drinks. Or fewer meetings. Or better chairs. Or more plants. Or a fridge that doesn't stink. Or... or... or...
unemployment.
Fluorescent lights and Pavlov (Score:2)
Worked in a dull office with white FL tubes for decades. My brain associates the color with working. So in every room where I work, I installed the same lighting. (garage, small home office. As long as they do not flicker at 50 or 100 Hz, I do not mind.
People care about 2 things (Score:2)
1) commute
2) privacy
If you can't fix those, then no one wants to come in - simple as.
Re: (Score:2)
The commute is an interesting case of unforeseen consequences. After WW2 the government decided to move people (some of them at least) out of the cities into suburbs. As the suburbs grew then things like industrial and office parks started springing up in the suburbs, so that employment was no longer supportable with a hub-and-spoke transportation system designed to bring people into the city from bedroom suburbs. Then in the 70s-90s we transitioned from one income families to two income families. Finally
Early Start Time (Score:2)
I typically show up at the office at 6:30am. For a big chunk of the year, that's before sunrise, so the "natural light pattern" would be darkness. I don't think that would be a boost to either my morale or my productivity. Same issue for people who work swing or graveyard shifts.
Disclaimer: I live 6 minutes from my office, so going there isn't an issue. I work a hybrid schedule - office in the morning, home in the afternoon.
Smells Like Horseshit (Score:3)
Syncs with who's circadian rhythm?
This article strikes more more as an advertisement for the lighting company than anything remotely sciency.
People can take action themselves... (Score:2)
When I was assigned an office with fluorescent lights, I replaced the existing bulbs with full-spectrum bulbs. Simple, easy.
Not as easy for cube-farms and open plan workspaces, but it can be done.
It's not enough, but yes, please do (Score:2)
Fluorescents are bad and weird, and the light is bad and weird. The very best aren't too bad, that's not good enough.
Then again, bad LED lights are also terrible...
Wow, so cutting edge (Score:5, Funny)
Better lighting will certainly make people happy over being stuck in traffic two hours a day.
Re: (Score:2)
Better lighting will definitely make the office a nicer place to be. I can't be the only one who's sick of the bright lights everywhere. My eyes get tired.