As we move towards a world in which the lines between the physical and the digital are increasingly blurred, we see a maturing vision for architecture that actively participates in our lives. Our architectural surrounding has become so closely tied to technological trends that the two ultimately define each other. The push for ubiquitous networking and device inter-connectivity in buildings is fueling the development of a new wave of smart devices with embedded electronics, sensors and wireless connectivity that can collect, process and exchange vast amounts of data. This data can be used to inform and ultimately enhance the experience of the occupants and users of built environments. It is thus understandable that, the more recent trends in lighting design, has been to use it as a form of ambient light communication to create more lively and dynamic environments based on live data. This thesis project focuses on exploring the use of this technology in architectural environments in order to enrich the experience of users of public architectural environments with the aid of ambient light communication to inform them of relevant information and entice them to perform desired actions.
Specifically, this project set out to answer two questions: Can ambient light communication be used to convey information without the need of a priori knowledge or training? Can ambient light communication be used as an effective means of triggering a desired behavior in humans? To answer these questions, two experiments were designed and carried out. The results of the first experiment showed that most participants did indeed have a common perception of the selected data categories. This means that the participants shared a common understanding of these visualizations which suggests that in more general terms, light visualization can be used to form a very basic language to transfer information. Similarly, after the conducting the second experiment, it was concluded that ambient light communications can be used effectively to trigger certain desired behaviors and actions in humans (specifically, direct the attention and gaze of humans using directional cues).
4 different novel applications of ambient light communication concepts within office environments were presented which combined its aesthetical value, its ability to convey meaningful information and trigger desired behaviors. Specifically, we explored how the results of the experiments could be used in order to find more concrete solutions in a specific scenario. It was shown that the conclusions drawn from the first experiment could be used effectively to determine the best visualization to communicate a particular information. Based on the results, we saw that the proposed concepts can take advantage of various light characteristics and their effects on human physiology as well as psychology to create persuasive environments which are intended to improve the experience of the occupants and users. In summary, the concepts provided in this project are merely a demonstration of the capabilities and benefits of ambient light communication and its ability to provide useful information and create persuasive environments which enhances the experience of the users of built environments