Using Your Laptop In Bed

ryanaip writes "The New York Times has an article looking at the social implications of technology in the home. Specifically, the problems a spouse can face when their loved one is working in bed." From the article: "As electronic devices get smaller, people tote their technology around the house more than ever. And as the number of home wireless networks also grows, laptops — along with Treos, BlackBerries and other messaging devices — are migrating into the bedroom and onto the bed. The marital bed has survived his-and-her book lights and the sushi-laden bed tray. Can it also survive computers that tether their owners to the office or make the bed the workplace itself?"

Comments

"working"

[User 956]

Specifically, the problems a spouse can face when their loved one is working in bed.

I don't know if you'd call looking at pr0n "working". Although it's certainly a good excuse if you've got one of those fancy laptop privacy screens with the limited viewing angle... (you know, for airplane travel and such).

It is not just the bed..

[Anonymous Coward]

I have my main computer in the family room. My wife typically hits bed at 10-11pm, me, about 12-2am. I am using my computer until then. Since I am not in the bed, at least she can sleep and I will not be bothered to "put that computer away".
Okay, so our time is spent apart from 8pm on, is that a problem? She likes to watch TV and use her computer as well, I like to use mine. We happen to be in separate parts of the house. I can tell you that she does not like when i hit bed much later then her and try to wake her up so we can spend a few really close minutes together ;) I try that about once a month and typically get told it is too late and to go back to my computer if I want to some tits and ass. We have modified our typical sex time to a few times a week between 7-8pm during the week (just after dinner but before we go our separate ways) or any convenient time during the weekend depending on where the kids are.

For reference, our 17th anniversary was last week, we got married just after high school.

Posture

[PhotoGuy]

I use the laptop a lot in bed, and I consider (for myself at least), problems with the neck/back/posture to be a bigger problem. (Of course, I am divorced, too; d'oh!)

Anyone have tips or recommendations for helping one's back/neck? Do those bed-chair thingies work (the cheap ones, or only the really expensive ones?) I saw one contraption that puts the laptop quite a bit above you angled down; it looked rather awkward.

Re:I sleep in my bed

[Mad_Rain]

One of my jobs as a grad student involved working at a sleep research lab at Stanford University, and I get questions from a lot of people about insomnia (it's part of my job). I usually point them to this page of Dr. William Dement who wrote a number of books on sleep (go do your own Amazon.com research ;) ). The page lists about 10 other things you can do to help with your sleep. Give that a try for two weeks, get into that pattern, and your sleep should improve.