User-Centric Measures of the Perceived Light Qualities of Lighting Products

https://doi.org/10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-02-022
Visual Perception Lighting Assessment Sensory Analysis Light Qualities Light Colour Diffuse Light Distinct Light Analytical Assessment.

Authors

  • Carolina Hiller
    carolina.hiller@ri.se
    Division Built Environment, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Box 857, SE-501 15, Borås,, Sweden http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2302-9098
  • Magdalena Boork Division Built Environment, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Box 857, SE-501 15, Borås,, Sweden
  • Johanna Enger Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design, Box 3601, SE-126 27 Stockholm,, Sweden
  • Karin Wendin 3) Department of Natural Sciences, Kristianstad University, SE-291 88 Kristianstad, Sweden. 4) Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 26, 1958 Frederiksberg C,, Denmark
Vol. 7 No. 2 (2023): April
Research Articles

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Nowadays, lighting planning is predominantly determined by the need to meet physically measurable requirements that are often based on current lighting standards. However, meeting the minimum technical requirements of the standards is no guarantee for a visually appealing light environment. Instead, requirements based on perceived light qualities also need to be included to achieve better user comfort. Taking perception-based qualities into consideration when creating a light environment is, for many, not an easy task. In addition, a common terminology for perceived light qualities is currently lacking, both in industry and in research. The aim of this paper is, therefore, to explore how perceived light qualities of white light sources can be described when employing user-centric measures. The focus was on the qualities of light colour and diffuse and distinct light since these qualities have a great impact on the visual impression of light. The perception was assessed by applying analytical sensory analysis to lighting products, a method found to be promising in previous work. The methodology is based on analytical measurement by the human senses, which is particularly valuable when developing a general terminology. Since sensory analysis is still quite new to the topic of lighting, the applicability of using the methodology to assess lighting in a real context was also investigated. The results of the studies showed that the perception of light qualities can be described using further concepts in addition to those currently used. For light colour, the concepts of reddish, bluish, yellowish, and greenish light colours proved suitable for providing a richer description of the quality. The concepts of diffuse and distinct light satisfactorily captured variations in light contrast produced by shadows, reflections, and sparkles. In addition, the studies revealed that analytical sensory analysis was applicable for assessing the perception of lighting in a real-world context. The latter means that knowledge gained in the laboratory can be translated into real environments. The user-centric measures investigated in this paper have contributed to the terminology related to perceived light qualities. These can complement the physical measures in lighting planning to promote light environments that are not only energy efficient and meet technical requirements, but also cater for increased user comfort.

 

Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-02-022

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