Motion within one's visual field, especially intermittent motion, deters concentration on things other than that motion. (Why do you think TVs cut scenes every few seconds?) The desks there do not obviously make it possible to face away from the corridor; plus people walking by cast shadows. Facing away does help, but it's inferior. (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8895162 has someone else reporting the same complaints about motion; I guess it's not a coincidence this is someone else developing nontrivial algorithms.)
The feeling of being watched over your shoulder isn't something I'd dismiss either, though it's not a work-ruiner by itself for me. If you're actively anti-privacy, stop calling them private offices.
The feeling of being watched over your shoulder isn't something I'd dismiss either, though it's not a work-ruiner by itself for me. If you're actively anti-privacy, stop calling them private offices.