Towards the integration of personal task-lighting in an optimised balance between electric lighting and daylighting: A user-centred study of emotion, visual comfort, interaction and form-factor of task lights

Abstract

Task-lighting is a well-known strategy to save energy by bringing light where it is most needed, providing adaptable localised light conditions of special interest in the current home-office context. Despite these benefits and in addition to negatively impacting biological rhythms, the generalization of backlit screens has made task lights less demanded, with screen users tending to accept significantly lower amounts of the illuminance standards. In parallel, the advantages of task-lighting may contradict the energy benefits of presence-driven lighting or blinds automation. This pilot experiment aims at evaluating the task light usage patterns and characteristic preferences for both paper and computer work from a user-centered perspective to provide guidelines in terms of luminaires characteristics. Thirteen participants evaluated three different task lights in both paper and computer conditions. Our results emphasize the role of the luminaire’s form factor, interface and lighting control characteristics, providing general recommendations on luminaire design.