Influence of LED-based assistive lighting solutions on the autonomous mobility of low vision people

• Published in: Building and environment Vol. 157; pp. 172 - 184
• Main Authors: Katemake, P., Radsamrong, A., Dinet, É., Heng, C.W., Kuang, Y.C., Kalavally, V., Trémeau, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 15-06-2019; Elsevier BV; Elsevier
• Subjects: Color temperature; Diodes; Engineering Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; Illuminance; Library and information sciences; Lighting; Low vision; Mobility; Older people; Optics; Photonic; Smart lighting; Vision; Visual aid; Visual enhancement; Visual impairment; Mobility; Visual aid; Low vision; Visual enhancement; Visual impairment; Smart lighting
• ISSN: 0360-1323; 1873-684X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2019.04.026

This paper presents novel LED-based lighting solutions that can impact the mobility of individuals with low vision. By conducting three separate experiments involving mobility courses, the authors evaluate the effects of illuminance, correlated color temperature, object edge enhancement and contrast-enhancing lighting on the mobility of people with low vision. Using a total of 134 participants comprising of elderly, low vision subjects, and normal vision subjects wearing low-vision simulation glasses, the impact of these lighting solutions on the mobility of low vision subjects with blurry vision, central scotoma, tunnel vision and cataract are presented, making them a potential alternative to conventional mobility aids.
•Existing visual and mobility aids for low vision people are reviewed.•Effectiveness of LED-based light settings in improving mobility of people with low vision is investigated.•Illuminance and correlated color temperature of light are shown to have no significant impact on mobility.•Edge-lit objects and optimised light spectrum are shown to have the potential to improve mobility.