Scobleizer - Latest Comments in Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

George Black — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:39:48 -0000

I prefer light but my colleague, a developer, prefers dark.

@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!

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Robi B. — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:11:49 -0000

Are you black or white Spy vs. Spy Robert ?

Best wishes,
Robi B.

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Ed Schipul — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:53:26 -0000

@boo - they call that the Hawthorne Effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...
"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...

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Grant — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 13:38:48 -0000

Dark, if you can see the keyboard by the light of the monitor, your good.
:)

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

boo — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 02:55:03 -0000

I find fault with the authors in Schipul's post, though he did make some interesting points, especially on privacy.

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?

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

jeffwallace — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:19:38 -0000

Same debate in our offices. Personally I like it light, but not too much. Diffused daylight is OK but no florescent bulbs...

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Conrad Halling — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:10:13 -0000

At home, I prefer the dark so I can enjoy the backlit keyboard of my MacBook Pro.

At work, I prefer lots of light. But why is it that the people who sit next to the windows always close the blinds?

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Jeremy Brooks — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:56:49 -0000

Dark, dark, dark!
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.

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

George Athannassov — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 20:36:55 -0000

Hi Robert,
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".

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Dave M. — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:25:20 -0000

The office I was working at was setting up a new floor plan with folks that want to sit in the dark vrs. those that want to sit in with those nasty floresent lights on. I was one who wanted the dark. :)

Dark is just easier to read a screen with.

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Jon Moss — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:15:31 -0000

Hmmm... probably light for me, if in an open office with loads of space.... dark if in a closet!

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

ET — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:05:01 -0000

I like it dark but not pitch black. Especially with my glossy MacBook screen. My HDTV is enough extra light in the room.

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Guest — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:50:39 -0000

Light! I do my best work in light-filled spaces, as long as the computer is set up so there's no glare. Dark has never worked for me ...

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Jeremy Palmer — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:43:44 -0000

Dark, but not pitch black. A little natural light keeps the spirits up when I'm pounding the keys for 16 hours straight.

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Ed Schipul — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:19:45 -0000

Interestingly enough - I recently researched this from a business perspective. From the book "Using Office Design to Increase Productivity" (Brill) there are two points worth making.

"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.

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

James King — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:12:04 -0000

Night dweller. I can't stand florescent lighting!

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Robert Scoble — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:11:38 -0000

Todd: Apple 30-inch monitors work better in the dark! :-)

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Lewis Iceman — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:11:06 -0000

All that Microsoft guys know to discuss is "the color of Office Theme"?? ahhahahahahhahah

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Denise — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:09:59 -0000

I'm dark, totally! When my partner came back home to work she struggled with my need to have the office dark but now she's seen the light... err the dark... whatever, it's dark in home our office as it should be.

And this type of division is exactly why I would hate to have to work in an office.

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Levi Figueira — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:06:35 -0000

Not sure about "pitch black" :p but definitely dark...

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! :)

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Sheldon Kotyk — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:01:38 -0000

Dark. We have that controversy in our office as well.

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Todd Dailey — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:55:26 -0000

Probably the people who favor dark all have laptops with glossy screens. :)

Re: Controversy at Rackspace: light vs. dark offices

Rob La Gesse — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:51:55 -0000

I'm for pitch black!