6 ms·

> A lot of people would be willing to.. Sure, for a couple of years, when you're young and just using your house to sleep. Problem is that people who are not w

> A lot of people would be willing to.. Sure, for a couple of years, when you're young and just using your house to sleep. Problem is that people who are not willing would also end up in these semi-houses. > What if windowless apartments had a built-in 12" video wall That would look really cool, but would do little for receiving the health and mood benefits of natural daylight. Or for the sense of being connected with whatever is out there.

capableweb 4y ago
> That would look really cool, but would do little for receiving the health and mood benefits of natural daylight. Or for the sense of being connected with whatever is out there. Add in some more light sources around the display that stimulates sunlight (something like CoeLux) and you might be able to get at least the mood benefits and some of the health ones too. Artificial sunlight therapy is frequently used in countries that gets very dark during the winter, where there isn't many sunlight hours. I remember some friends many years ago went to those kind of therapies in the winter times and felt benefits from it. Not sure exactly what light sources they used, but if you can manage to buy those, maybe it'll be at least a bit better?
- mcluck 4y ago
  This literally sounds like something out of a cyberpunk dystopia novel
  - capableweb 4y ago
    You don't want to live in 3 m2 room that just have a bed, TV with 24/7 news/ads and a giant display simulating the outside? Come on, you wanna live cheaply in the middle of the city, you're gonna have to sacrifice something! Joking aside, I agree, sounds dystopian. I'm just having fun with the idea I guess.
    - xnx 4y ago
      I'm so naïve, I hadn't even considered ads. These apartments could have multiple revenue streams. Imagine if the ads were something really innocuous, like slow TV to promote travel.
  - xnx 4y ago
    An interior space filled with artificial light and real plants could definitely be superior to an apartment with a window overlooking a noisy and dirty highway (for example).
    - salawat 4y ago
      Note: Real plants don't freshen the air in the dark, and need darkness cycles to rest. Also, if you don't have a green thumb, good luck taking care of them.
      - xnx 4y ago
        Plants are beneficial to well being even if they aren't actively cleaning the air. Darkness cycles would happen for the plants when they do for the resident, while sleeping. There are lots of low maintenance plants that can grow exclusively on indoor light, and even without soil (e.g. Pothos). It's not for everyone, but would be a good option for many.
- throwaway743 4y ago
  This sounds like a depressing solution.
- erikerikson 4y ago
  You're talking about full spectrum lighting and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
xnx 4y ago
I'd posit that a fake view of nature is superior to the real view of many windows (that look out on alley's full of dumpsters, etc.). One study showed that looking at pictures of nature could be beneficial: https://www.sciencealert.com/just-looking-at-photos-of-nature-could-be-enough-to-lower-your-work-stress-levels https://www.sciencealert.com/just-looking-at-photos-of-natur...
ghaff 4y ago
I'm open to the idea that a video wall--which could even have a real outside view feed--isn't necessarily that dystopian. Having stayed in hundreds of urban hotels, I'd actually say the view is suboptimal more often than not. On the other hand, shared bathrooms/kitchens/etc. are going to be a non-starter for most people. Especially, as you say, once you get beyond the live for a few more years like you're still in college demographic.
baggy_trough 4y ago
Then don't rent/buy it? Why should this be an illegal choice for an adult to make?
- dazc 4y ago
  Because there are health and safety issues that some adults are happy to overlook whilst society, eventually, picks up the bill.
  - baggy_trough 4y ago
    Fire safety I can see; health benefits sound like a rather dubious claim.
    - dazc 4y ago
      Poor housing has detrimental physical and mental health benefits, I'm not sure many people would find this such a dubious statement?
      - xnx 4y ago
        Countless situations, like living in a rainy climate, have detrimental physical and mental effects, but we still allow it.
      - baggy_trough 4y ago
        I think adults should be able to evaluate if they can put up with missing the health benefits of a window for improved location or reduced cost. Life is about tradeoffs.
        dazc 4y ago
        Maybe, but the reason there are rules and regulations relating to many everyday activities is that when people make decisions about their own lives those decisions can result in negative impacts to society as a whole. OK, I think not having fire protection in my building can save me a lot of rent. And yes, I have picked an extreme example to validate my point just have you have done.
xnx 4y ago
> Sure, for a couple of years, when you're young and just using your house to sleep. Problem is that people who are not willing would also end up in these semi-houses. For sure. These dwellings are not meant for every stage of life, but they might be perfectly suited to people living by themselves (young or old).

capableweb 4y ago

> That would look really cool, but would do little for receiving the health and mood benefits of natural daylight. Or for the sense of being connected with whatever is out there. Add in some more light sources around the display that stimulates sunlight (something like CoeLux) and you might be able to get at least the mood benefits and some of the health ones too. Artificial sunlight therapy is frequently used in countries that gets very dark during the winter, where there isn't many sunlight hours. I remember some friends many years ago went to those kind of therapies in the winter times and felt benefits from it. Not sure exactly what light sources they used, but if you can manage to buy those, maybe it'll be at least a bit better?

mcluck 4y ago
This literally sounds like something out of a cyberpunk dystopia novel
- capableweb 4y ago
  You don't want to live in 3 m2 room that just have a bed, TV with 24/7 news/ads and a giant display simulating the outside? Come on, you wanna live cheaply in the middle of the city, you're gonna have to sacrifice something! Joking aside, I agree, sounds dystopian. I'm just having fun with the idea I guess.
  - xnx 4y ago
    I'm so naïve, I hadn't even considered ads. These apartments could have multiple revenue streams. Imagine if the ads were something really innocuous, like slow TV to promote travel.
- xnx 4y ago
  An interior space filled with artificial light and real plants could definitely be superior to an apartment with a window overlooking a noisy and dirty highway (for example).
  - salawat 4y ago
    Note: Real plants don't freshen the air in the dark, and need darkness cycles to rest. Also, if you don't have a green thumb, good luck taking care of them.
    - xnx 4y ago
      Plants are beneficial to well being even if they aren't actively cleaning the air. Darkness cycles would happen for the plants when they do for the resident, while sleeping. There are lots of low maintenance plants that can grow exclusively on indoor light, and even without soil (e.g. Pothos). It's not for everyone, but would be a good option for many.
throwaway743 4y ago
This sounds like a depressing solution.
erikerikson 4y ago
You're talking about full spectrum lighting and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

xnx 4y ago

I'd posit that a fake view of nature is superior to the real view of many windows (that look out on alley's full of dumpsters, etc.). One study showed that looking at pictures of nature could be beneficial: https://www.sciencealert.com/just-looking-at-photos-of-nature-could-be-enough-to-lower-your-work-stress-levels https://www.sciencealert.com/just-looking-at-photos-of-natur...

ghaff 4y ago

I'm open to the idea that a video wall--which could even have a real outside view feed--isn't necessarily that dystopian. Having stayed in hundreds of urban hotels, I'd actually say the view is suboptimal more often than not. On the other hand, shared bathrooms/kitchens/etc. are going to be a non-starter for most people. Especially, as you say, once you get beyond the live for a few more years like you're still in college demographic.

baggy_trough 4y ago

Then don't rent/buy it? Why should this be an illegal choice for an adult to make?

dazc 4y ago
Because there are health and safety issues that some adults are happy to overlook whilst society, eventually, picks up the bill.
- baggy_trough 4y ago
  Fire safety I can see; health benefits sound like a rather dubious claim.
  - dazc 4y ago
    Poor housing has detrimental physical and mental health benefits, I'm not sure many people would find this such a dubious statement?
    - xnx 4y ago
      Countless situations, like living in a rainy climate, have detrimental physical and mental effects, but we still allow it.
    - baggy_trough 4y ago
      I think adults should be able to evaluate if they can put up with missing the health benefits of a window for improved location or reduced cost. Life is about tradeoffs.
      - dazc 4y ago
        Maybe, but the reason there are rules and regulations relating to many everyday activities is that when people make decisions about their own lives those decisions can result in negative impacts to society as a whole. OK, I think not having fire protection in my building can save me a lot of rent. And yes, I have picked an extreme example to validate my point just have you have done.

xnx 4y ago

> Sure, for a couple of years, when you're young and just using your house to sleep. Problem is that people who are not willing would also end up in these semi-houses. For sure. These dwellings are not meant for every stage of life, but they might be perfectly suited to people living by themselves (young or old).