A cure for blue light
The main character of the entry is a small application for desktop computers running under Windows, Mac OS, and Ubuntu Linux. f.lux makes the computer display change the colour temperature after sunset, thus adapting to the artificial light that fills the room we are in (the light of the bulb is at a different temperature than the light of the sun). Without going into technical details too much, the monitor’s image becomes more orange, so we’re not attacked by the blue glow that becomes unbearable in the evening and collides with the warm-yellow colour of the light bulbs.
I have been using f.lux for over a year and I can recommend it to everyone with a clear conscience.
– Not only “night owls”.
The application, although it requires installation on our computer, works in the background and after informing it where in the world we are located it does not require our intervention. f.lux calculates the moment when the sun sets and automatically places a filter on the digital screen, and if you are working at dawn – restores the “day” mode of operation. Although the first contact with the orange screen is not very optimistic (quick change is quite shocking), it is worth considering how much impact the change of the colour temperature of the display can have on the comfort of our work.
f.lux is ideal for late evening internet browsing.
I don’t like oranges, I prefer grapefruits
The program also allows you to adjust the power of the effect. If the standard temperature of 3,400 Kelvin makes the image too orange, you can use, for example, the intermediate option – 4,200 Kelvin. We can also force the program to switch from day to night mode in one hour instead of the standard 20 seconds (the change is then practically unnoticeable). For people working with graphics and photography (where colorimetric correctness of the image is important), there is also a switch enabling switching off the effect for an hour or until the next computer start-up.
The program is obviously not suitable for tasks that require precise color display. However, the filter can be switched off when working with photographs.
Green robot behind orange film
Today f.lux is unfortunately not available for Android mobile devices (it works with iOS, but requires jailbreak), but in Google Play there are at least a few similar applications. Particularly noteworthy is the EasyEyez version free, and the full, paid (PLN 6.30) version. In practice, the program offers the same functionality as f.lux, and the paid version also allows the automatic change of the colour temperature of the display in relation to our geographical location. It’s worth investing a few zlotys – especially if you tend to browse social networking sites or play a small game on your smartphone or tablet just before going to sleep. Our eyes will appreciate that.
Science, SCIENCE!
Finally (for the persistent and curious), I recommend the tab “research” on the programme website, where you can find sources for scientific publications on the influence of blue light on our mood, problems with falling asleep, and also too much fatigue – especially in winter, when there is little sunlight.
