dhm@cs.hw.ac.uk (David H. Marwick) (01/29/88)
In article <848@cos.COM> smith@cos.UUCP (Steve Smith) writes: >In article <2260@gryphon.CTS.COM> tsmith@gryphon.CTS.COM (Tim Smith) writes: > >>I find that I can write code (any language) very well while listening to music >>(just about any kind), but cannot write coherent English while listening >>to music (even purely instrumental music). I don't know if this is a >>purely idiosyncratic foible, or is widespread. Any comments? > >I have found (the hard way) that I work at half or less effectiveness in >the presence of ANY kind of music. I have real problems convincing >people of this - especially the Yuppie /I'm-OK-You're-OK types who can't >imagine *anybody* with differing tastes. While I do believe that other people can have tastes different to mine, I cannot accept that anyone is able work effectively while listening to music (my children think I'm mad too!). Either you listen to the music or you work (exclusive OR). I can work against random noise (within reason) but my work rate drops rapidly in the face of music, conversation, etc. -- David H. Marwick JANET : dhm@uk.ac.hw.cs Department of Computer Science ARPA : dhm@cs.hw.ac.uk Heriot-Watt University, EDINBURGH UUCP : ...!ukc!cs.hw.ac.uk!dhm
nlouie@hpirs.HP.COM (Nancy F. Louie) (02/17/88)
In article <2701@sfsup.UUCP> dwd@/guest2/dwdUUCP (45421-D.W.Dougherty) writes: >I'd really like to know what this discussion (offices vs. cubicles) has >to do with education!! Could the conversation be taken elsewhere? >PLEASE??!?? This may not be what you want to hear, but this "argument" has been the subject of varying lectures at my University. There are many things to be said for either case. Cubicles: pros- -provide more flexibility should the office be rearranged in the future -allow the company to "make the most" of the usuable floor space (i.e., put as many employees in the alotted space as possible) -encourage employee interaction, thus improving communication between group members cons- -tend to create noisier environments (as there are no walls to deaden the noise) -overhead light tends to create glare problems on terminal screens -tends to create isolation effect if person sets up cubicle so that back is facing aisle -can become crowded especially when cubicle sizes are reduced to allow room for more employees Offices: pros- -create a quieter work environment for employees -allow the installation of controllable intensity lamps (this is a preferred setting as it reduces the glare when working on a terminal, yet when working at a desk, the intensity of the light can be increased in order to increase the contrast between the written material and the background) -allow more privacy for those who need a period of uninterrupted time for more "intense" concentration cons- -creates a "colder" work environment (detracts from employee interaction) -inflexible to office layout change Ergonomically, offices are preferred to cubicles because of the ergonomic benefits. Yes, they actually teach us how to analyze this at school. ...And, in case you think this is one of those hole-in-the-wall schools, it is good old U.C. Berkeley's Engineering program (for Industrial Engineers) that gets you into this. There has been much discussion on this issue internationally. My professor was from Nottingham University in England, and they had done many studies on which was better. Sorry to get my $0.02 worth in so late, this is in response to a prompting by one of my co-workers in addition to my manager to take a look at this string as I had recently participated in a group study that touched on this issue.