Light relief

Artificial lighting is a key feature of the modern workplace, but its uniform quality and inadequate brightness compared with natural light is known to have a negative affect on wellbeing and productivity. Scientific studies show that changes in the colour of natural light during the day influence our mood and productivity, but most of us spend too much time indoors for our inner clock to perceive these changes. German lighting brand LUCTRA has identified an innovative solution to this problem, utilising the latest LED lighting technology to replicate natural-lighting conditions and facilitate accurate adjustment throughout the day.

LUCTRA is owned by German firm DURABLE, which is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of office equipment. For almost 100 years, the company has focused on improving efficiency in office environments, so workplace lighting was a logical next step. According to Thomas Raadts, DURABLE’s vice president of marketing: ‘New LED technology enables added value beyond just good light and this created an opportunity to enter the market with a real innovation.’

In April, LUCTRA published the conclusions of a clinical study conducted last year that examined the biological effectiveness of its pioneering lighting products.

During the study, participants were exposed to five different light settings over the course of five separate evenings, ranging from dim to bright light and including three settings produced by LUCTRA lamps. Measurements showed that the cold-white and mixed lighting settings suppressed melatonin secretion, which contributes to making us feel tired and reducing activity. Participants also stated a preference for the warmer end of the light spectrum and suggested they would be likely to work for longer in these conditions.

The results of the study indicate the importance of being able to choose a warmer light in the evening that will improve our experience of activities such as working or reading without disrupting melatonin secretion, and therefore negatively affecting sleeping patterns. ‘As we anticipated, the study confirmed the biological effectiveness of the LUCTRA light, but the consistency of results across the test panel was a surprise,’ says Raadts. ‘The relatively low light intensity required to produce these effects clearly shows the sensitivity of the body to lighting signals.’

The LED light sources used in LUCTRA lamps are capable of producing a high light intensity and a wide colour spectrum that can emulate the properties of daylight. Each lamp incorporates four high-performance LEDs that generate up to 1000 lux, which is double the minimum recommended brightness for illuminating workplaces. The configuration of two cold white LEDs and two warm white LEDs allows the colour temperature to be set virtually anywhere along the natural spectrum of light, so users can easily alter it to suit their needs at different times of day.

A consequence of the implementation of adaptable lighting technologies is that interaction becomes much more important in LUCTRA’s lighting products than in traditional lamps. This led the design team to develop an intuitive and unobtrusive touch-panel interface called VITACORE, which is integrated into the lamp’s body. The screen only turns on when needed and provides controls for precisely adjusting the brightness and colour of the light by simply placing a finger on the relevant symbols.

An even more intuitive and advanced way of controlling LUCTRA lamps is provided by the VITACORE app, which creates a personalised 24-hour lighting sequence based on the user’s preferences and requirements. The app varies the colour temperature of the light automatically throughout the day and can be adjusted using simple graphics on its interface at any time. ‘The app makes it easy to find the ideal personal lighting profile to fit the individual circadian rhythm,’ Raadts explains, ‘and because it is programmed in the personal mobile device, it stays with the individual and can be transferred to any LUCTRA working place. This kind of individual setting will be the key differentiator in future lighting and is the core element of any human-centric lighting concept.’

The combination of smart technology and adjustable light sources enables the LUCTRA system to automatically deliver the right sort of light when it is needed, while also allowing for accurate customisation. The company’s focus now is on expanding its biologically effective lighting range to increase the solutions for working in the office, at home, or on the move. By using technology to emulate nature, and placing the user’s needs at the centre of the development process, LUCTRA aims to bring us out of the dark ages and into a new enlightenment that ensures lighting is helpful rather than harmful.