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Let’s face it, even if you don’t have a desk job you probably spend a lot of time at
your desk. Proper lighting is critical to all tasks performed at your desk. Regardless
of the work performed (be it on a computer or on paper), the amount, intensity and
positioning of the light will make a significant difference in fatigue and eye strain.
It is simply not enough to take any desk lamp and apply it to every task. Different
desks, or work tables, require different types of lamps as well as specific lighting.
The proper desk lamp can also add a bit of style and flexibility to the desk.
First, Seek Great Light
A good desk lamp will, first and foremost, produce excellent task light. Proper task
light is more complicated than simply being able to perform a specific task. For long
term desk tasks such as reading, proper lighting is critical to the long term health
of the eyes. Several types of bulbs are used in desk lights; halogen, full spectrum
fluorescent and incandescent.
‘Full spectrum’ fluorescent lamps, although better than fluorescent lamps of the past,
still fall short of the other alternatives. Although it doesn’t bother every user, the
light they produce still flickers somewhat causing eye strain. Standard incandescent
bulbs are very common in older desk lamps. Although the light produced by standard
incandescent bulbs doesn’t flicker, it has a high color temperature. A high color
temp results in a more yellow light that makes text on white backgrounds harder to
read.
The best light is the crisp, bright, flicker-free, pure-white light provided by
halogen bulbs. Halogen lights will make the dark characters easily legible against
white paper.
Types of Desk Lamps
Desk lamps are basically small forms of table lamps that should add fashion as well
as function to work spaces. They come in many shapes and sizes. Some have
traditional appearances while others display contemporary flair. There is a desk
lamp for any taste, function or environment.
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