If anyone else would like to post a picture of their set up, I would be interested.
My set up at work (attached) is not for trading per se. 1 screen handles Bloomberg only. Next screen is where all the work happens: excel, ticketing, etc. The vertical screen is for email, reading landscape documents, and most browsing.
I have 4 HP 12Cs: 1 at my work desk, 1 in my bag, 1 by at on my night stand for those calculations that keep you up at night. Last one is a spare.
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I am really astonished that most of the monitor setups are completely ignoring basic ergonomic requirements.
The distance between the monitors and the eye should be somewhere between 20'' and 40''. The distance also depends on the size of the monitors. In case that you use 24'' monitors, the recommended minimum distance is 30".
For the setups above I cannot see, how you can work with your PC and at the same time maintain that distance. The distance from the edge of the table to the panels of the screen should be at least 20''.
The most relaxing position for the head is to look downward at an angle between 20° and 30°. If you use two rows of monitors make sure that you have the main stuff displayed on the lower row and only occasionally watch the upper displays.
@Big Mike, @bijeremiad: With the way you have set up your monitors you are going to kill yourselves.
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I am using an "EasyMountLCD" or "Tyke Supply" hex stand. It is two rows, so 3 wide, 2 high.
The quality of the stand is fantastic, which is the norm for this manufacturer.
But the stand is less than ideal, simply due to geometry. The upper row is tilted downward, and the outer columns are tilted both downward and inward. This means the edges do not align at all, which leaves big gaps between the borders.
For a single row of monitors, this is not a problem because they would be angled similarly. So I can't fault the manufacturer.
Since it is just VESA mounts on the back, I considered manufacturing my own improvements for the outer columns (far left, far right monitors - both upper and lower row). I can do this by making a VESA wooden block that would make the monitor come closer to me by about 3-4 inches, and thus eliminating the big gap. But it also would mean that the edges would be closer to me, which is not ideal.
Right now, despite the picture, it is actually very comfortable in this position. The gaps don't bother me, especially since I keep my office pretty dark throughout the day, so the gaps tend to just blend in.
As for distance, if they were much further away, I wouldn't be able to read the fonts. I have lasik surgery and my vision is 20/20 post-surgery, so I don't think it's just me. I would really say the distance for the outer monitors is more or less ideal. The only monitor that is not ideal is the one directly in front of my keyboard, the center bottom monitor, as it is the closest to me. I can't get any further from it physically due to the size of my desk. I would have to buy a deeper desk.
Like Fat Tails i am really astonished too that there are huge screen capacities but there is a lack in all other issues. If you can't find a desk that fit's your needs then go to a cabinetmaker. Some natural light (window) or a view wouldn't be bad. The last pictures looks like you are in a secret mission command dugout and controlling a unmanned aerial vehicle searching for terrorists.
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I know people in technical fields up that use that set up . I suppose with all the people walking or driving while texting lends some credence to the concept.
I'm just a simple man trading a simple plan.
My daddy always said, "Every day above ground is a good day!"
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About 23 years ago I bought a black wooden plate and two stands ..... I love it this way, because I am tall, and there is nothing that interferes with my legs. The wooden plate has a size of 60'' x 30''. The distance between the central monitor and the edge of the plate is 25''.
When I am sitting at my desk, the distance between my eyes and each of the monitors is 30''. My head is looking down at an angle of about 20° while I am writing this post.
All PCs in my home are set up in a way that the user does neither have a window behind his back nor in front of him. The main panel of the PC should always be perpendicular to the window of the room. My office is located on the Northern side of the house. This avoids direct sunlight. The window is left from the panels, as I am writing with my right hand, and I do not want to have the shadow of my hand covering the text. On the right side of my desk there is the trading library, just in case that anybody comes up with a new idea.
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If I dislike a book it is transferred to the basement of my house. After some time the books may end up in a cardboard box. Once and then, the cardboard boxes are opened and a select choice of its contents is transferred to the garbage can.
Also I do not purchase many books nowadays, as I still have a pile of unread books. Although I have a Kindle, I have not yet purchased a single e-book covering subjects such as trading, mathematical finance or economics. I do not read these books in a linear fashion but jump back and forth, which I cannot do with an electronic book. The Kindle is well suited for reading novels, as you never look back when you read them.
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What do you need the angle for? Depending on type of display The viewing angle should be no problem, also the distance between you and the monitors probably have quite an effect, the further the better I guess.
@vvhg, I tried no tilt and it was a little difficult to read but bearable. The biggest problem with no tilt for me is I use a lot of opacity so the colors on the top monitors were washed out. With LCD screens if you look at them directly no problem but once you start viewing them on an angle it can be a problem. I'm ok with gaps.
The other problem is HEAT. I'm not sure what you do for cooling, but anything over 4 monitors in warmer spring and summer the heat was unbearable even with central air so a separate HVAC air conditioner was required. I also have another PC with 2 monitors as well on the next desk, so that adds to heat. So 10 monitors and 2 PCs generates a huge amount of heat.
Hi, I believe multiple monitors are able to better provide the trader with a holistic view of the market than using one or two monitors. Personally I did not feel "in tune" with the market or the instruments I was trading using 2-4 monitors. …
Cheers
DJ
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The Dell U2412M's are LED's, with lower power requirements than typical LCD's. I researched this prior to buying, and it definitely has made a difference with heat. Still, with six of them, the office is noticeably hotter than a room without them.
I also physically relocated my PC to an adjacent room's closet, and just knocked out a small hole in the wall to run the DisplayPort monitor cables, audio cable, and USB cable (connected to a USB hub on my desk). This eliminates heat from the PC, but also makes my office silent.
I have measured the power consumption of the Dell monitors. With brightness reduced to 40% - this is what is most comfortable for my eyes - power consumption is about 14 Watts per monitor.
Running 6 monitors is about 85 Watts, which is the equivalent of a conventional light bulb. The aggregate power consumption of my 3 monitors is 42 Watts, I am very satisfied and do not suffer from excessive heat.
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Big Mike/Fat Tails. That is very low heat and power output. I wasn't aware there was such a difference between brands and is something people should consider if going multi-screen.
My monitors are all samsung 245BW. The power assumption according to the default specs is 100 watts for each monitor. I also have them at default setting brightness 100% and contrast 75%. On a very hot day I can cool the room to a very comfortable level in 20-30 minutes.
I also have a commercial grade treadmill in this room which peaks at 20 amps on startup, a massive 1000 watt high current power amplifier and the HVAC. All this lot kept the electrician busy for awhile installing new circuits.
Cheers
DJ
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The colors washing out at higher viewing angles is dependant on the LCD technology used. Most standard monitors have not very high viewing angles and colors wash out quickly when viewed from an angle. There is a technology which produces very high viewing angles but at the expense of lower dynamic contrast which makes them less suitable for games and movies (and these two are probably quite important to many, so these high viewing angle displays will hardly ever be mainstream...).
Heat is not such a big problem where I live, people around here traditionally focus on heating, not on air conditioning
Temperatures rarely hit 30 degrees centigrade in summer.
What also helps is that my office is a bit bigger and I have all the other tech stuff ( 2nd PC, printer, NAS...) in an adjacent room. Slightly different approach as @Big Mike but also keeps my office quiet the trading PC is integrated into my desk and is not audible at normal loads. I mainly did that as i didn't want to have to run into an other room and back and forth if I should experience any problems with the computer.
Vvhg
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Hic Rhodos, hic salta.
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While the concept is cool and executed well, I can't help being distracted by the exposed cabling. I may be alone in this, but I am always trying to reduce the amount of visible wiring/cabling. And it's not even due to pressure to conform to some WAF (wife approval factor).
This is basically a prototype created for Eddi's thesis, so it may be a bit before it or something like it is commercially available. If it gets to that point, hopefully cable concealment gets a little more attention
Edit: Just came across another article about Eddi and his project (have not read this yet): https://goo.gl/g9oMJ
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. ~ Seneca
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I've been using a couple of these USB to DVI(or VGA) adapters/videocards to hook up more monitors then hook them all up to a USB hub, then to my laptop. Doesn't work well with 3D graphics, but fine for 2D apps and Ninja, ThinkOrSwim etc. I picked mine up at Fry's.
Wow--some professional looking setups. I'd post a picture of my desk but afraid I'd get raided by the Health Department or at least Better Homes & Gardens
Seriously though, while I do well enough have to wonder if I'd do better if my desk were "dressed for the part". The problem is any neatness seems like too much--makes me uneasy. Suppose "only my shrink can say for sure" :-/
A very nice desk in deed, but a bit overwhelming...I would probably do considerably better at flying a space shuttle than at using the full potential of your setup! Makes mine look like a kindergarten toy
Thought I'd share a pic of my desk:
As you can see there is a window behind the screens, so light shining through gaps would probably be extremely irritating. At least it was the main reason to chose this setup...
vvhg
Hic Rhodos, hic salta.
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I really enjoy seeing other trader's setups and offices - thanks! Only 2 monitors here (22" widescreens) but it works...
Desk is an old oak drafting table (a favorite of mine) and my uber comfortable Herman Miller Aeron chair:
Guts behind the screens:
Lot of wires running up to the cable modem, routers, etc. - still working on that:
Being able to look over and see the world outside is a biggie for me:
And the requisite inspirational art:
"Is it hard? Not if you have the right attitude. It's having the right attitude that's hard." - Robert Pirsig
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Site Administrator Swing Trader Data Scientist & DevOps
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I did think about getting more.
But the desk won't support more than six, and this room isn't really big enough for a bigger desk. Remember, I live in a tiny house after I changed my life after my divorce.
I know a lot of people trade from a laptop and don't see extra monitors as useful. I'm simply not that kind of person. I am a multitasker. It is in my nature, I need to look at a lot of things and be constantly working on different ideas in order to feel "right".
Extra screens just help me keep an eye on additional markets, which I believe to be useful tools. But let's be honest, six 24" monitors is plenty
They're Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells. Changing the weight is fast and easy so there are few excuses not to use them. They're a little pricey but worth it - if you use them of course.
And there's a closet directly to the right of those that I use a lot, so I'm constantly walking by them, which gives me plenty of opportunity for a little "gun development" during the day.
I also have a Door Gym pullup bar in the doorway that isn't in the pictures. Gotta stay toned...
- D4
"Is it hard? Not if you have the right attitude. It's having the right attitude that's hard." - Robert Pirsig
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I know a couple people that have them...and they BOTH said the same thing...They love them, but they are pricey.
Never asked the price...but thats the third time someone mention price when the talk about those wieghts. But they also raved about the ease of use. Never tried them myself, but now I am intrigued.
Me, I use a kettle bell. A canon ball with a handle.
I'm a minimalist.
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Thanks. It's really nice to have plenty of desk area to work on. I also like it because it's higher than a normal desk and I have a place to put my feet (you can see the support bars running underneath - kind of like a bar stool I guess) rather than just on the floor.
My wife gave me the Aeron chair for my birthday 6 or 7 years ago. I spend a lot of time working in my office (probably less time than you do though), and it's worth every penny to have a premium chair like this to sit in for hours on end. I wouldn't have anything else.
- D4
"Is it hard? Not if you have the right attitude. It's having the right attitude that's hard." - Robert Pirsig
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Kettlebells will do the job (I've seen guys doing the Russian pistol exercise with kettlebells - ouch!)!
The SelectTech's I have run about US$350 direct from Bowflex.
Hahaha! I'm a minimalist too (should be apparent from my office pics), but it's always in how one defines minimalism...you say you're a minimalist because you use the kettlebells, I say I'm a minimalist because I only have two dumbbells to find a place for - it's all in our perception of things...
Take care,
- D4
"Is it hard? Not if you have the right attitude. It's having the right attitude that's hard." - Robert Pirsig
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In the interest of quick reference, I've modified the Quick Summary Post for this thread by adding links to each member's post/pictures regarding their respective trading desks.
I'm subscribed to this thread so I'll try to watch for posts/reply's with new user pics and add them to the Quick Summary Post, however anyone here can feel free to modify it if it needs corrections or additions - it's for the futures.io (formerly BMT) community to use and benefit from.
"Is it hard? Not if you have the right attitude. It's having the right attitude that's hard." - Robert Pirsig
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Here's my trading desk. 24" monitor, 22" monitor and laptop. It's enough for my needs at the moment, but soon I want to get another 24". Ill then either use the two 24" monitors on the desktop and use the 22" as a 2nd monitor on the laptop. Or ill use all 3 monitors on the desktop. Not sure yet.
The laptop I use for browsing, news, forums etc. I also use it as a backup for trading in case there's any power cuts or problems with the desktop.
The desk is my favorite part (my wife got it for me ). It's big enough for plenty of growth in terms of monitors.
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I am currently adding hardware to the set up and like everything else I am trying to figure "prefect". Much of what Fat Tails says about distance and angle is the generally accepted approach of companies that want to configure professional desks. The client firms though are less concerned with trader ergonomics than cramming the most into the available space.
I've both camped my ass in a herman miller and stood, finding distinct advantages to both. I think I will have a dual set up allowing each approach to have a fair chance. Over the last twenty years or so I have employed ten screen set ups as well as single 12 inch hand held monitors. I found that more information was usually a distraction but how would you know unless you filtered down from or up to something. I generally trade one product but keep an eye on risk on/off. I will use the added space for the risk trade and market internals as it has been suggested to me that my lack of that info might be hurting my timing.
Question for the 4+ monitor guys: Do you have a hierarchical view of the info coming in? How do you "progress" or do you "progress" from one monitor to the next (like a filter)? How many products do you trade?
Thanks for all the input. DB
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Yeah, I think it's all about your style of trading. I actually have 3 other monitors in addition to my laptop, so I actually have 4 monitors, but I generally only use 3. I only need one screen to trade since my trading style only requires one chart. I often trade 2 different markets by putting up 2 charts on one screen. The other 2 or 3 screens, I generally have web browser on, and NT code editors to tinker with code when the market is slow.
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summer setup- 50"on left,front top 32 bottom left right are 24...measurements from my chair are front 24"s 28",top 32 is 33"inches away and 50" is 40"inches away...
winter add another 50" to my right because I move a outdoor display in for winter
A friend of mine borrowed my degree wheel and Im not going to shoot my laser transit to confirm @Fat Tails 20 degrees but mine is close to that.
Since Im here alot I added my daughters station to my right(she's 11 now) and I rob one of her 20" monitors for my summer setup.
Can you tell Im a visual person
hence anytime I add something in to my trading I stick it to wall behind me lol
I have wondered about others, thx for the thread start
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So many great setups....
But all this electrical spaghetti would drive me mad.... I'm rather untidy, so the only way for me to survive is to keep everything extra tidy...
Some raceways and cable straps would do wonders!
This is where I work. Where I relax to read and watch golf when I'm not playing golf behind me. And a view from my bedroom of protesters after Obamacare was upheld last Thursday, an hour later they were protesting in front of the Federal Bldg which is right across the street from where I live. I can look right in the FBI's windows, LOL!
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I would have opened the blinds to include a view of our backyard, but was too embarrassed by my unsuccessful attempts to motivate our lawn technician (me) this weekend.
Since I've done trading related stuff in damn near every square inch of the house, including the garage, I elected to contain my image to just my trading space.
Eventually, I'd like to migrate to a different desk setup that will let me eliminate the monitor on the left and have my laptop. I've already been able to scale back from a 5-monitor setup to my current configuration. Ideally, I'd really like to get it down to just a laptop only. No external monitors. At least for my actual trading station. I can see keeping screens and stuff elsewhere for research/homework/etc.
Good stuff, futures.io (formerly BMT)'ers! Reminds me of an old thread over on ET - like this one, it got lots of views and interaction.
Have great weekend y'all!
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. ~ Seneca
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@keymoo
Great desk, was it worth it? I've been considering a stand up desk, and it seems more are starting to be made that don't look like drafting tables. Whose cradle are you using for your computer box? I have not been able to find one that will take a heavy mid-size box.
Outside entertainment consist white and gray squirrels, barn owl, Pileated woodpeckers, and a moma bear with 2 cubs.
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It's great if I've spent too long at the desk and need to stretch my legs but can't nip out for a walk with the dog. I like to stand up when using the phone and recording videos, so I use it for that too. I got the desk with CPU cradle here. : Desking : Ergonomic Height Adjustable Workstations and Desks.
ActiveDesking Electric Power Adjustable Rectangular Shape Workstation with finger-tip control
- Size: 1800W x 1000D mm. With Central Wave.
- Height: Power Height Adjustable 640mm to 1280mm with twin motors, operation by Slide-out Control with UP and DOWN arrowed buttons.
- Tops: Beech Veneer. 25mm MCF.
- Frame: Steel and Aluminium with Telescopic adjustment that offers versatile setting-up upon installation to suit each requirement and is future proof for upgrading platform sizes. Silver with matching legs and feet.
Chair is Therapod
Therapod 7500 MFS Independent Task Chair.
- Extra High Seat Back with Therapod System Adjustable Strapping at 4 levels including Lower Lumbar Support.
- Height Adjustable Seat Back by Left Mechanism with adjustable neck support.
- Advanced Synchronised Seat Mechanism with Seat Back Rake to Seat Base Tilt Control with Anti-kick. PLUS Independent Seat Back to Seat Base.
- Seat Slider to adjust for leg length.
- Pressure Sensitive Seat Foam.
- Multi-function arms with Height, Rotate and Arm Pads that slide to minimise risk of arm clash with the desk.
I need to do something with the wires in my office, but just can't be bothered.
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@wldman, I found this article by Lance Beggs helpful in thinking about screen set up. He references his past as a miltary helicopter pilot and the habit of selective radial scan when navigating the markets. The linked article has suggestions for 1 monitor, but I thought it was an interesting way to think about setting up your screens visually.
From his website, looks like he trades off a two-monitor set up.
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Thanks, @keymoo, when I ventured into this thread, I thought I might see some slick set ups, and maybe I would want to buy another monitor, but now I realize I need to build a whole nother building!
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