Animator's Paradox: Light and Screens

This page is part of the BA Thesis "The Animator's Paradox" by Lukas Wind (2022)

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Natural light and screens

Natural light is key to our health because of its direct effect on our bodies’ internal clock, the circadian rhythm(s). Every work place should have a window nearby for several reasons. The natural light changes in temperature, intensity and angle during the day and year. Exposing us to more daylight can help to sleep better while boosting cognitive energy during the day. Why? Circadian rhythms are biological processes on cell level that are influenced by environmental cues (zeitgebers) such as light (both natural and artificial), temperature, eating and drinking patterns and more. Thus they prepare the body for productivity, concentration, digestion and sleeping by anticipating regular changes in the environment.¹

When the circadian rhythm is out of synchronization, like it is when someone experiences "jet lag" due to time zone difference, it not only displaces the sleep-wake cycle, it also affects cognitive performance, mood and appetite.²

Exposing us to cold screen light late in the evening (when natural light would become warmer in temperature and finally vanish) will displace the sleep-wake-cycle by suppressing the secretion of melatonin, a hormone produced by the brain in response to darkness. Fireplaces and light bulbs never interfered as strongly as LED lights and screens that have been entering our lives in the recent years. It is a common recommendation to limit exposure to blue light prior to going to sleep. There are lots of technical recommendations out of scope for this work that should be considered when buying lights, generally it can be said to aim for equal lighting in order to avoid high contrast and strain for the eyes.³

Helpful Links

More information on lights can be found here:

Checkliste Beleuchtung am Arbeitsplatz | Suva.ch

Windows

In the working environment, the natural light from the window optimally falls in from the side to avoid reflections. Having a window ties in with two other factors, one being the opportunity to get up and open the window (movement opportunity) for more oxygen and a feeling of freshness; the other is to relax our eyes that are being over-strained by focusing on the same distance for hours. Only a window allows to shift focus in the far distance thus training the muscles around the eyes. And it's even better when we are able to see some green instead of the wall of the opposite house blocking the view. In short: A window connects us to the world outside, giving us information about weather and time of day which in return assist our internal clock.

Lighting the workspace efficiently and comfortably is one thing, turning the lights off at appropriate times is another. Working night shifts is ruining all the efforts put into ergonomic lighting.

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Sources

¹ Wikipedia contributors. (2021, 7. Mai). Zeitgeber. Wikipedia. Retrieved December 20, 2021 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeitgeber

² Cardinal, F. (2018, 28. März). Night Owl Syndrome: Do You Have It? HealthCentral. Retrieved December 20, 2021 from https://www.healthcentral.com/article/night-owl-syndrome-do-you-have-it

³ Harvard Health. (2020, 7. Juli). Blue light has a dark side. Retrieved December 20, 2021 from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-hea