If you’re one of the millions affected by SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, you’re probably already readying yourself for the change in sunlight as summer’s long days slowly diminish into memory. Many people affected by the condition rely upon light therapy to ease the effects. While SAD lights have been proven effective, many of these lights designed for treating the seasonally induced depression aren’t exactly the most pleasing to keep around the house out in the open. Many resemble plasticky luminous tablets rather than a traditional lamp. SKYVIEW’s pair of sunlight simulating lamps aim to boost mood without requiring that degree of compromise.
BIOS, the company behind each of the SKYVIEW lights, identifies as a biology-first lighting company that designs their products in accordance to well-documented scientific research aligning our body’s physical and mental state in relation to our exposure to natural sunlight throughout the day. They also set out to design lamps that feel/look like part of the home, lighting you can use throughout the year by the bedside, at the desk, or your favorite reading corner.
You may be wondering, “What’s the difference between these lights and countless high lumen, blue light options already available?” SKYVIEW adds automatic brightness and light temperature adjustments throughout the day, glowing a proprietary quality of illumination at comfortable brightness levels that won’t blast your retinas into awakened submission that changes incrementally in accordance to the time/light outside.
Both lamps are also designed to deliver this optimal wavelength of light at a height simulating sunlight shining from above the horizon, styled with a contemporary aesthetic sensibility that appears more like a normal modern lamp rather than a light treatment tool.
With SKYVIEW, this diverse spectrum is displayed as a pleasing gradient, the “blue sky” wavelength that our bodies have evolved to respond to positively.
Additionally, SKYVIEW differs because the light each lamp puts out isn’t merely bright, but replicates the diverse spectrum of natural light. Daylight isn’t composed of a single color, but all of them (this explains why we can see so many different colors at their best in natural sunlight).
One of the minds behind SKYVIEW is the near aptly-named Robert Soler, the company’s co-founder and EVP/Research and Technology. Soler’s resume includes efforts aiding NASA to develop lighting system onboard the International Space Station to help astronauts maintain healthy circadian rhythms while orbiting weeks in space. He has also worked with Olympic and professional sports teams to mitigate the effects of jet lag.
Using the app, the lights can also fill-in for the typically intrusive wail of an alarm clock, easing the body into a state of awakening incrementally.
SKYVIEW offers two models with similar specifications: 1,302 lumens of LED powered brightness, die-cast aluminum base, 80 color rendering index score (the measurement of how accurately color is rendered in relation to the output of light), each with an estimated 50,000 hours lifespan.
Mixing in warmer colors versus glowing singularly bright-blue light helps both the mind and body awaken during the day. A relaxing and warm amber spectrum during the evening hours aids in readying the body for sleep.
The difference between the two options? The $949 SKYVIEW 2 PRO is taller (20.7-inches versus 11.6-inches) and also includes a handblown glass globe rather than the lighter weight diffused polycarbonate globe featured on the $449 SKYVIEW 2 model. That’s not cheap by any means, but considering either lamp is every bit a health medical tool as they are personalizable lighting solution, it could mean the difference between feeling good daily or counting the days toward spring and summer in misery.
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