Get Your own Anti-SAD ceiling
This is the Luminous Elyptical Sky Ceiling by the Sky Factory which emits light to give an illusion that you have a real view of the sky.
The light is daylight balanced light apparently at the same level used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder and although the picture doesn’t change you can arrange for the lightto dim when appropriate.
Shame about the price - about $300+ a square foot.
Note and correction: Following Bill’s comment, it seems the price is a lot cheaper than that - $95 a square foot which puts it much more in reach
technorati tags:SAD, Seasonal+Affective+Disorder, Sky+Factory
October 16th, 2006 at 10:32 am
PRICE CORRECTION: Price for a rectangular 6500K fluorescent SkyCeiling from The Sky Factory is approximately $95/sq. ft. or, for example, under $2,400 for a 4 foot x 6 foot version - no shame in that. $165/sq. ft. is the approximate price for a rectangular LED driven SkyCeiling - used only in RF-free environments such as MRIs. Elliptical SkyCeilings are significantly more costly, about $215/sq. ft. for 6500K fluorescent and $375/sq. ft. for LED.
TREATMENT CORRECTION: While the light is the same as that commonly used to treat SAD, the intensity of a SkyCeiling is NOT at the same level as is commonly used for treatment. The 6500K light has been selected for use in SkyCeilings for two reasons:
First, it is a beautiful light for the illumintion of color and the lamps used also have a high CRI
Second, in spite of what the intellect may know, the senses and mind do not distinguish between true daylight and this 6500K light source. This is the reason it can be used for treatment of SAD. However, The Sky Factory uses this quality of 6500K light to help build the “illusion” of real sky. The goal of a successful illusion is that the mind will trigger a physiological relaxation response in people present in an interior environment illuminated by a SkyCeiling.
October 16th, 2006 at 10:56 am
Sorry Bill, I have made a correction on the main entry too re the price as I felt this might put people off looking into this further when I think it really could help with Seasonal Affective Disorder.
I’ll leave them to read your comments about the light levels
Jan
October 16th, 2006 at 11:13 am
Thanks Jan,
While we do not claim to treat SAD we have heard from lots of people, especially in healthcare, who work inside under artificial light all day and get very little true daylight in winter. They say that working under SkyCeilings makes them feel a lot better. But we don’t yet have any objective research so we are reluctant to make claims.
The light level of a SkyCeiling is about 15 foot candles at 5 feet. A typical 6′x 8′ installation (the most common size) uses about 340 watts.
We would like to do high quality research. Are you aware of any potential cooperators?
October 18th, 2006 at 3:40 pm
Hi Bill
the main researcher into Seasonal Affective disorder I know of (although I don’t know him personally) is Norman Rosenthal author of Winter Blues. His website is at http://www.normanrosenthal.com/ and he works in Washington DC. I believe he is a sufferer himself.
I know there is research goung on around the country so you might be better to look for a local SAD research clinic and they may be able to point you in the right direction.
Good luck with getting some official recognition from the SAD community for your product
Jan