Alex_Altair comments on My simple hack for increased alertness and improved cognitive functioning: very bright light - Less Wrong

54 Post author: chaosmage 18 January 2013 01:43PM

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Tags: alertness self-improvement luminosity

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Comment author: Alex_Altair 18 January 2013 07:47:00PM 12 points [-]

We bought three of these.

We've tried to put them around the room evenly. You can see all three in the right picture (one in the foreground). We'll report back in a few weeks about how much it helped.

Comment author: Jayson_Virissimo 20 January 2013 12:11:54PM 0 points [-]

We'll report back in a few weeks about how much it helped.

How are you measuring how much it hurts/helps?

Comment author: Alex_Altair 20 January 2013 04:43:18PM 0 points [-]

Completely non-rigorously. I'll probably just look at my hours, and reflect on how I feel about its effect.

Comment author: Dorikka 15 February 2013 08:37:22PM 1 point [-]

I'm curious how this worked for you. (The lighting, not particularly the experimental method.)

Comment author: Alex_Altair 15 February 2013 08:57:35PM 3 points [-]

Unfortunately not enough of an effect for me to claim anything. I do like it brighter though, so I will continue using the lights.

Comment author: Dorikka 15 February 2013 09:12:18PM 0 points [-]

Okay -- thanks for the results. :)

Comment author: timtyler 19 January 2013 02:03:26PM 0 points [-]

It looks as though you'll soon be needing some diffusers...

Comment author: David_Gerard 18 January 2013 08:03:09PM 0 points [-]

The nice thing about CFLs is that you can put really quite bright ones in small desk lamp housings - because they dissipate a lot less heat. Only problem is physical size of the bulb.

Comment author: rhollerith_dot_com 19 January 2013 12:56:30AM 2 points [-]

The CFL I tried tended to give me headaches.

Comment author: David_Gerard 19 January 2013 10:08:27AM 1 point [-]

YMMV. Horrible yellow or daylight spectrum?

Comment author: rhollerith_dot_com 19 January 2013 05:52:56PM 2 points [-]

No yellow tinge. Made by Feit Electric.

Comment author: David_Gerard 19 January 2013 08:37:52PM 0 points [-]

Well, that sucks, since CFLs are only going to increase. There's a pile of crank sites about CFLs and migraines; closest to non-crank I can find quickly is this Australian government site, which says this from CFLs (as opposed to the older ones that flicker at 50/60Hz) is generally badly set-up lighting.

Comment author: rhollerith_dot_com 20 January 2013 06:33:55PM *  1 point [-]

Your "poorly set-up lighting" is a reference to this:

the primary cause is likely to be glare, highly contrasting, or inappropriate light levels. These problems are a result of poor lighting design rather than a feature of fluorescent lamps and can occur with any lighting technology if used inappropriately. Light fittings that enclose lamps and distribute light evenly without compromising light output and efficiency can help avoid these problems.

Poor set-up is unlikely to be the cause in my case because I did not make any changes except to replace an incandescent bulb (on my desk) that never gave me any problems with a CFL of similar brightness.

Comment author: rhollerith_dot_com 20 January 2013 05:56:07PM *  1 point [-]

I do not dislike all fluorescents. For example, the cold-cathode fluorescent lamps in my monitor and my best friend's TV give off completely-unproblematic very nice light. (The light from the two LED-backlit devices in my life on the other hand is not nearly as nice.)

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