Research

PILCS

In the PILCS project (Personalized Intelligent Lighting Control Systems) office workers were exposed to a carefully designed, randomly selected lighting regime for 3 weeks and then a new test regime for the following weeks. Either, the worker would receive standard office lighting, that is, 500 lux average illuminance on the desk with a neutral white light. Alternatively, he or she gets a dynamic light with varying colour temperature and intensity. This light was customised to the test person’s age and chronotype.

Segment: Office

Start: 2016
Place: The Netherlands
Research institution:TUe

Publications: http://www.pilcs.eu/publications.html

TUV School

Dynamic lighting in a school. Effects on sleepiness, attention and sleep in 8-10 year old children.A lighting system was installed in the classroom of 13 pupils (4th grade), with the classroom of 14 pupils (3rd grade) as control condition. The installation allowed for semi-manual switching between 4 conditions, light intensities ranging from 309 - 976 lux and color temperatures from 2700 - 6500 K. Sleepiness, attention and sleep were measured before and four weeks after the installation using the Pictorial Sleepiness Scale based on Cartoon Faces, the d2-test of attention and the Children Sleep Habit Questionnaire.

Results
Overall the pupils reported less subjective sleepiness at post-test compared to baseline (F =4.71, p=.041), with a trend towards an interaction effect between test day and class (F =4.05, p=.056). Further analyses revealed less sleepiness at post-test compared to baseline in the test class (8.9% improvement, p=.006) but not in the control class (0.2% improvement, p=.917). There were no effects of the intervention with respect to attention or sleep. Source: I.W. Saxvig2, S. Pallesen1,2, B. Bjorvatn1,2, 1 Norwegian Competence Center for Sleep Disorders, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway 2 University of Bergen, Norway

Segment: Education

Place: Hemsedal, Norway
Time: Study conducted in January and February 2014

Research institution: UiB, Haukeland University Hospitaland the Norwegian Competence Centre for sleep disorders.

Østmarka psychiatric hospital

Installing tuneable white light in all areas used by bipolar patients.From 18-08.00 the patients will only be exposed to orange light containing no blue wavelengths. A research study will document the effects on the patients. More information will be added as the project evolves.

Segment: Healthcare

Place: Trondheim, Norway

Start: November 2017
Research institution: NTNU

DEM.LIGHT

Three nursing homes in Bergen will be fitted with tuneable white luminaires as an integrated light therapy system. DEM.LIGHT aims to boost the development of light therapy as a ceiling-mounted solution for the treatment and rehabilitation of dementia patients. The project has a considerable clinical and commercial innovation potential as it aims to implement novel medical technology in the primary healthcare sector, thereby alleviating the distressing symptoms of dementia, one of society’s great challenges. Premium luminaires + Glamox HCL control system Measurements: core-temperature, depression, actigraphy, quality of life, neuropsychiatric inventory, behavior observation etc. More information will be added as the project evolves.

Segment: Healthcare

Place: Bergen, Norway
Start: 2017
Research institution: UiB

SONAS elderly centre

More information will be added as the project evolves.

Segment: Healthcare

Place: Athlone, Ireland

Start: 2017

Research institution: ITSligo

Shift work simulation experiments

The project comprises three laboratory studies where different lighting scenarios in terms of colour temperature, lux levels and monochromatic vs. full spectrum light will be applied to students simulating night shifts. The studies will monitor the effect on alertness, cognitive performance, sleep duration and sleep quality. More information will be added as the project evolves.

Segment: Office

Place: Bergen, Norway

Start: Fall 2017

Research institutions: UiB, Haukland University Hospital and the Norwegian Competence Centre for sleep disorders.