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My eyes are quite sensitive to light (one of the reasons I opted for a matte screen too) and so I tend to be able to focus a lot better at night and in dark(er) rooms! :)
And this type of division is exactly why I would hate to have to work in an office.
"Approximately 85% of the information needed to perform these tasks (office related work) is received through the eyes (Hughes, 1976). Therefore a luminous environment is not only desirable, but a necessity." (pg 175)
and
"Within a reasonable range of lighting levels, increasing the amount of light in a setting may lead to improvements in worker performance." (pg 176)
Bottom line - most of us personally prefer dark, quiet, secluded offices with windows. But proper high quality lighting (read "not harsh white florescent") is better for the team as a whole. At least according to the studies.
This is counterintuitive similar to the fact that increased privacy in an office setting *increases* communications according to studies. And open office formats reduce communication despite being more aesthetic. (Brill, pg 199)
Who knows, geeks may be different.
Dark is just easier to read a screen with.
We have a section in our office like that since 2002. Initially in the old office and when we moved to our own new facilities in 2005. We got the same people in a completely separate hall where the only light comes from the monitors. Not that the room does not have the lights installed. I will blog about it on our blog and I will show you some pictures too. I have seen and heard about many places like that and I am surprised that you are surprised. I also have a bunch of reasons given to my by the boys about that "dark side".
On the rare occasions when I have the blinds open a bit in my office, people will actually stop and ask if I'm ok.
At work, I prefer lots of light. But why is it that the people who sit next to the windows always close the blinds?
There was a study done where they increased the lighting in a factory and productivity increased. They lowered the lighting and the productivity increased. The study's authors concluded that any change will increase productivity. If I weren't so lazy, I'd look it up. Anyone heard this?
:)
"a short-term improvement caused by observing worker performance."
and yes, you definitely have to control for it. If Brill did that rigorously in his studies I am not sure. But he mentions it as something to control for, so my guess is yes.
In practice we have a programmers office that is close to pitch black. So we consider lighting preference in seating assignments. But if in a shared environment we default to light as the most productive common denominator (again - not for all people, just for most). My two cents...
Best wishes,
Robi B.
@boo I've found that changing where I sit or my desk position improves my productivity too. As does a break in routine.
@Ed Schipul That's without anyone watching me either!