daestrom said:
I think, in part, you misunderstand George's use of the term
'workstation'.
He doesn't mean, "those places where you work" exactly, he means more "the
places you're at when you need light to do something."
If that's so why didn't he say it. Note no question mark.
In that sense, a 'workstation' could be a reading lamp next to your sewing
chair that just sheds enough light for you to see what you're doing.
Similarly, most people like some sort of lighting around the kitchen table
when they eat dinner rather than sit in the dark.
We eat in the dining room ... if it's dark we light candles more often than
not. There's an argument for overhead general lighting in some
circumstances, such as when there are small children (we have a lot of
grandchildren).
Or a light that just shines on the counter-top where you prepare dinner.
But not general lighting up the whole room.
In a small kitchen like mine the overhead light which DOES light the whole
room is more than adequate for the counter. We have a special one over the
sink so that we're not standing in our own light at night. In any case, when
one's preparing a meal - or baking or whatever - one doesn't stay in one
place, it's necessary to move round the room.
George is advocating to just use small 'spot lighting' to light up just
the immediate area around what you're doing, not the whole room.
Reflectors behind bulbs or focused bulbs/LED can provide a bright work
area without sending a lot of light off in directions where you don't need
it.
There are disadvantages. For instance, my 'sewing chair' (which is just my
normal easy chair where I do anything I'm doing in the sitting room) is
diagonally opposite the door. If I use its light when it's dark then turn it
off I can't see to get to the door. If I leave it on to get to the overhead
lightswitch next to the door I have to return to turn off the little lamp.
For most sewing the overhead light is more than adequate but I mostly sew
during the day anyway and the window is behind me.
I sew by hand, Spouse by machine. His machine has a light immediately over
the needle bed, during hours of darkness he also uses the overhead room
light because he's moving round the room from time to time.
But I've tried that sort of lighting myself and don't like it.
Ah!
Whenever I look up from my work, my eyes have to adjust from the bright
lighting on my desk/work-bench/table to the much darker room and
surroundings. Then when I go look back at my work, my eyes have to adjust
again. Makes for some eye-strain and the pupils keep adjusting back/forth
for light/dark as you glance around your area looking for things.
Quite. And as you age it gets more difficult to accommodate quickly.
Kind of like watching TV in a dark room.
No TV here but I know what you mean. that's why I have an overhead light
above my pc for when I use it after sundown.
I believe that there's no ideal system which will suit every circumstance
and every individual. To scorn one type of lighting just because it's not
right for the person who scorns it shows a lack of understanding of that
principle.
Mary
