Office Desk Lamps

Asthenopia, known colloquially as "eye strain," is a major problem for the modern workforce that routinely spends up to 8 hours a day in front of a computer screen. It's so bad, in fact, that it's known as part of something called "Computer Vision Syndrome." It's terrible, but thankfully there are ways to combat this or at least alleviate some of the more unpleasant effects. What is Eye Strain? When you concentrate on a visually intense task, such as continuously focusing on a computer monitor, the ciliary muscle - a ring of muscle inside the eye - tightens, becoming irritated and uncomfortable. Over time, serious eye strain can cause further problems from headaches to longer-term conditions such as myopia - shortsightedness. The colour temperature of a computer monitor is known to cause eye strain to some degree, and software is available to help reduce its effect. But the fact is, backlit monitors aren't helping. So in an office environment (even if you're one of the lucky ones working from home), what is there to be done?Office Lights at Sparks Reducing Eye Strain in the Office We've covered some general office lighting tips in our home office post, and most of them apply here, too. The first and most important thing to do is reduce the amount of glare reaching your eyes. Glare being caused by looking directly at a light source, there's not much to be done about the computer, but diffused or shielded light will direct it away from your eyes. Alternately, mount the light so it's a little bit above eye level. If you have the option, use a desk lamps to provide directed high-quality task lighting to complement the general overhead light. And if all else fails, or you don't have room for a desk lamp, follow the "20-20-20" rule: every 20 minutes, focus on something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Or close your eyes, which has a similar effect. Just try not to let your boss see you in case they think you've fallen asleep. Image by Cali2Okie (Creative Commons)

Recently, Wired UK published the results of an interesting report on how the design of a classroom influences student performance. The results, published in Building and the Environment, revealed that the architecture and design of classrooms has a significant role to play in influencing academic performance. Six of the environmental factors — colour, choice, connection, complexity, flexibility and light — were clearly correlated with grade scores. The study came at an interesting time; the U.K. government released some standardized templates for the design of schools at the tail-end of 2012, a move which was met with some derision from the architectural community. Of course, the lighting conditions are standardized in this document, but first, we'll briefly cover some interesting research findings on lighting and learning. Light Improves Concentration and Memory  In a study of Dutch schoolchildren, a flexible and dynamic lighting system was found to have a positive effect on the subjects' concentration - particularly the younger students. The word "dynamic" here means that the researchers had an element of control over the intensity and color temperature. And interestingly, in another study in Germany, bright lighting was found to have an effect on working memory for night shift workers. While this effect hasn't been studied in schoolchildren yet, it's still an interesting observation. The new findings are in line with what we already know about light's positive effects on learning. It's clear that schools need adequate light (preferably using as much daylight as possible to save energy, of course) and a flexible lighting system.Best Office Ceiling Lighting Designing Within Government Architectural Guidelines The government's baseline designs mandate sustainable lighting systems that are "future-proof" - they need to be reasonably flexible for use. At the same time, a "daylight design" principle is in place - the lights need to provide "balanced, glare-free luminance." At Sparks we distribute a wide range of LED ceiling lights, wall lamps, table lights, and floor lamps. As for the ceiling in the offices or in classrooms, the LED panels will help very much, for they are the best replacement for what we used to have before, e.g., the fluorescent lamps. As for flexibility, on a basic level, we would recommend LED dimmer switches, but a whole-building approach might be best. It's possible, and even easy, to design a lighting system for schools that improves learning and stays within government guidelines. For more information, why not drop by the showroom? Image by dcjohn (Creative Commons)