Effects of dynamic lighting on the visual performance of older adults

Abstract

This is the second of the three papers providing fundamental information for the development of an adaptive lighting system for older adults. This paper examines the effects of two different forms of dynamic lighting — having the same average illuminance over time — on the performance of the numerical verification task (NVT) by older adults. As a group, the older adults showed no difference between the two forms of dynamic lighting. However, by involving the individual’s sensation seeking needs it was shown that the kind of dynamism (quickly increasing or quickly decreasing) influences both the subjective preferences and the objective visual performance. As individuals, all of the participants’ performances were determined mainly by the time, and illuminance variables proving the effect of dynamic lighting.