Tag Archives: lighting

The danger of blue light

lighting,

I recorded this video in my labs at the University of Leeds. We have a special lighting lab where we can adjust the spectral properties of the lighting in the room. I started the video and had the lighting automatically cycle through some colours. After a short while it became irritating so I had to pause brlefly and set it to one colour.

We use this lab to carry out various studies into the effects of lighting.

Here’s the video.

Here are some of our fairly recent papers.

Xia G, Li M, Henry P, Queiroz F, & Westland S, 2021. Effects of coloured lighting in the real world environment and virtual reality, Journal of the International Colour Association, 27, 9-25.

Lin J & Westland, 2020. Effect of long-wavelength light on electroencephalogram and subjective alertness, Lighting Research and Technology, x.

Lin J, Westland S & Cheung V, 2019. Effect of intensity of short-wavelength light on electroencephalogram and subjective alertness, Lighting Research and Technology, 1477153519872801.

You can download many of my papers from my publication page which you can see here.

light that changes colour with your mood

design, news, technology, , , ,

LED-Smart-Bulb-silver-715x400

The future of lighting is LEDs and that means more colour. There are many advantages of LED lighting over tungsten or even fluorescent lights not least of which is the opportunity for more colour. I have noticed all of the new buildings on the campus at the University of Leeds are equipped with coloured lighting. The Laidlaw library – and even the new car park – is illuminated at night in an eerie purple glow.

The Syska SmartLight plugs into a standard socket but then can be controlled using the “Syska Rainbow LED” app for your Android or iOS phone or tablet.

I want one. But I am not sure they are on sale in the UK. More details here.