Greetings! Writing this from a hostel boat in Stockholm – presenting this morning at the Glamox offices and then at the WorkTech event at the Ernst and Young new headquarters across town. Super-nervous as usual so I’ve packed a load of props including my trusty brain model, a biofeedback headband and a giant lightbulb. I’ve […]
Gold standard – and getting geeky about mammograms Read More »
Amazon prime? Employee response to Amazon’s back to work mandate (one survey suggested 91% dissatisfied and 73% considering changing jobs https://www.xatakaon.com/business-and-economics/new-survey-finds-that-91-of-employees-are-unhappy-with-amazons-total-return-to-office-policy) demonstrates just how much things have changed since the pandemic. This mass exodus means not only a loss of talent to the business but a gain for competitors. The office needs to earn the commute,
Earning the commute – and why smiling is good for sore eyes Read More »
National Deaf People Week Maybe you’re one of the 13% of the adult population in the US affected by hearing loss (the percentage is much higher among men) – Quick Statistics About Hearing, Balance, & Dizziness, Declining Prevalence of Hearing Loss in US Adults Aged 20 to 69 Years. Or perhaps you live or work with someone who
Light for listening – and why the moon is gold Read More »
Embrace the dark and ban indoor light pollution There is growing evidence of a link between patterns of light exposure and mental health outcomes. While you may not be in charge of the lighting in the office, you can take control of the conditions at home. Evening light levels in the average home are high
Lumens per watt (lumens for what?) So many flaws in the equation: Lumens – a simple measure of brightness based on sensitivity of ‘standard’ retina, which does not account for qualities such as glare or colour rendering. Watt – energy in use is a fraction of the whole life costing of a light fitting, whether
Lumens for What? – plus national positive thinking and chocolate day Read More »
It’s Migraine Awareness Week here in the UK. Migraine affects around one in seven of us at some point in our lives – over a billion people worldwide. This chronic condition causes debilitating headaches alongside difficulty focusing, nausea, problems with vision and extreme sensitivity to light, sound and smell – Migraine. Research over the past decade
“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Lies, damned lies, and statistics How do you know if applied lighting research results are valid? Veitch et al ask this important question in this brilliant paper, using the celebrated Kruitoff Curve to demonstrate her argument: Kruithof proposed that we prefer bright lights to
Damned Lies and Statistics – and lighting = electric windows… Read More »
Design for Diversity As many as one in five of us are neurodivergent in some way – Neurodiversity at work: a biopsychosocial model and the impact on working adults. An estimated one in 100 people in the UK experience some degree of autistic traits, with over four times as many boys as girls receiving a diagnosis
Divergent or inclusive? – and spectral tuning for art’s sake Read More »
Dark sky tourism It’s amazing to travel in search of a view of the stars – Night Sky Tourist. But why not bring the joy of the night sky closer to home, boost the local economy, and feel better, too? The Lake District estimate a return of £1.93 for every £1 spent on dark-sky friendly lighting
Dark Skies at home, plankton – and why high C02 is bad for your eyes… Read More »
First, do no harm One in five older adults suffer from insomnia, contributing to cognitive decline, depression and falls. Sedative medication is over-prescribed in long-term residential care despite little evidence that it improves sleep, while many of the most commonly-used drugs increase mood swings and risk of falls – Optimizing Sleep for Residents in Long-term Care
Hippocratic Oath – and dynamic lighting helps to heal at home Read More »