Science f.lux: Prevent your computer monitor from ruining your circadian rhythm

[Pyromaniac605]

This seems kind of pointless to me, can anyone explain why this is useful at all?

 

[N_Molson]

This seems kind of pointless to me, can anyone explain why this is useful at all?

Because it reducts the amount of Sun-like white light (6500K) that your eyes get when staring at the screen, to a dimmer 3500K light. Tells the brain "it's sunset", because our biological rythms are greatly determined by the amount and color of the light we perceive.

They do something similar with red lights at night in submarines.

The best would be to adapt the room lightning the same way, but that's much more difficult to do...

 

[Pyromaniac605]

Umm... okay... sure thing, I still say it seems pointless.

 

[Pablo49]

Umm... okay... sure thing, I still say it seems pointless.

Look up some info on circadian rhythm, and things like light therapy for circadian rhythm speed disorders, like DSPS. Should fill you in well enough to understand the concept.

 

[Jarvitä]

Because it reducts the amount of Sun-like white light (6500K) that your eyes get when staring at the screen, to a dimmer 3500K light. Tells the brain "it's sunset", because our biological rythms are greatly determined by the amount and color of the light we perceive.

The biorhythm theory is pure pseudoscience. You're thinking about circadian rhythm.

 

[orb]

Too yellow in night mode for me, even with 4500 K set as minimum

That's probably because of the very high contrast setting I use on my monitor, but I found a good compromise for settings of f.lux on it (with nearby lighting): 5500 K for night, 6500 for day.

 

[garyw]

having used this for 24 hours I have to say that I like it. It reduces my monitor to a nice warm glow in the evenings which is perfect, if you don't believe its doing a good thing just run it late in the evening for an hour then turn it off - the difference is very dramatic.

 

[N_Molson]

The biorhythm theory is pure pseudoscience

Wow. I know some doctors in research where I work that would merrily crucify you for saying that. :shifty:

That one in particular, she uses to dismember people that doesn't agree with the biorythms theory.

http://carrefour-sciences-arts.over-blog.com/article-sommeil-et-rythme-de-l-enfant-conference-de-nicole-delvolve-59885980.html

 

[Manichean]

I've been using the program for two days now, and while I don't know about the sleep thing yet (I've got kind of a messed up sleep rhythm as it is, right now, and two days just isn't much of a sample size), it's definitely more comfortable looking at a dimmed monitor in the evening. I recommend it.

 

[Lucy]

having used this for 24 hours I have to say that I like it. It reduces my monitor to a nice warm glow in the evenings which is perfect, if you don't believe its doing a good thing just run it late in the evening for an hour then turn it off - the difference is very dramatic.

Hear, hear. I've had it installed for over a week now and have barely noticed it running - it's not intrusive, sits in the tray quietly doing its job, but I noticed while burning through an insomnia moment at few times tonight that my eyes were a lot happier looking at the screen than without this little gadget.

I've had a "OMG BRIGHT" moment a few times while deciding after lying in bed unable to sleep for a few hours (in darkness) to get up and do something productive, turned the screen on and flinched at the brightness compared to the room lighting (CFT bulbs, so they come on quite dim and take time to power up and reach full brightness - perfect in this instance, give your eyes a while to adjust to the light level). OK, the screen's still just as bright, but the colour temperature makes so much difference.

 

[Ripley]

I installed it both at home and at work, and I'm trying it out.

What "bothers" me (but I can live with that) is that there are only two configurable light "levels", or steps, one for "day" and one for "night" light.

When the pc clock tells F.lux that sunset is just passed, F.lux switches directly to night settings, even if it's still sunlit outside. Monitor will have the same temperature at midnight, when it'll be pitch dark. I think transition should be more progressive and slower.

Meanwhile I have set transition speed to "slow 60m". Let's see how it performs...

 

[orb]

Meanwhile I have set transition speed to "slow 60m". Let's see how it performs...

It was the first option I set. You won't notice the change in colors with it, unless you are using 5500 K CFL bulb/tube in your computer room.

 

[Jarvitä]

Meanwhile I have set transition speed to "slow 60m". Let's see how it performs...

I'm using this setting as well. I watched it change during the sunrise today. It's just right, it begins adjusting the colour 30 minutes before sunrise and reaches normal daylight colour 30 minutes after the sunrise. You barely even notice it changing during that hour.

 

[Wishbone]

Oh goodness... The ultimate software for workaholics (or computaholics, for that matter).

 

[Unstung]

It's now night, and when I temporarily disable it, I realize how bright and blue my monitor is. Great stuff.
I'm using 4200K - 6300K. (2:3 ratio)

 

[n122vu]

I've been using it for a couple days now both at home and at work, and I really like it. Trying 4500K -6500K, 60m transition on my desktop @ home, seems to be a nice balance for me. I can honestly say I had less trouble falling asleep last night.

3800K - 6500K on my laptop @ work, it's been a smooth, gradual brightening as I catch up on my emails this morning.

Thanks to Jarvita for sharing the link!

 

[Ripley]

When I switch my home pc on at evenings, I barely notice the reddish tint, it's quite comfortable, and as Unstung said, it's a chock to suddenly switch to "daylight" and realize how blue it is.

 

[n122vu]

You can also click on the taskbar icon, and in the popup, click along the sun path and it will give you an accelerated preview of the 24 hour cycle.

 

[Artlav]

Be advised about novelty effect.
It may help for the first few days because you believe so, but that does not guarantee the same effect in the long run.

Looks nice, however.

 

[statisticsnerd]

I've been experimenting with this for a week now and I'm finding it much easier to fall asleep after using my computer in the evening.

That would be called the placebo effect.