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People with low vision want to live independently in their own homes. But few lighting products on the market address the needs of those with sight loss. This study proposes new ways to create illumination where it is required.
Every day, it is estimated that 120 people in the UK lose their sight through eye disease or injury. Whilst many people think of blindness as complete loss of sight, only 4 per cent of people who are registered blind see nothing at all. The other 96 per cent have some vision and this varies enormously. For individuals with low vision to live independently, perhaps the most important change that can be made to their homes is to improve the lighting. Light is essential to sight - and sight is important for independence.
Lighting can make a huge difference in the home by enhancing contrast and improving the eye's ability to discern print and objects. This becomes a real issue as we get older - people aged over 60 need three times more light than people under 20. But despite the critical importance of light to people with sight loss, very few of the lighting solutions currently on the market address their needs. Standard ceiling fixtures and wall switches exclude the very people who need lighting that is well designed and easy to direct.
Common eye conditions
The project, undertaken in partnership with a leading sight loss charity, started by looking at four common eye conditions: glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. Five users with sight loss were visited in their homes and video interviews were carried out to understand their abilities and aspirations. To support their everyday lives, these residents wanted lighting that aids navigation, creates mood, is portable, and is easy to install and control and adapt to existing furniture and fittings.
Experts in lighting technology and occupational therapists who specify lighting were also consulted and a lighting installer for a local council was shadowed on rounds to residents' homes. A wider spectrum of people was consulted through online discussion groups and a user forum was convened to test prototypes and discuss the functionality of the design concepts at the conclusion of the project.
The study resulted in three concept directions that share the language of the domestic and represent a departure from existing lighting products on the market. 'Tack' is a small, low cost, self-powered light source that can be placed around the home to aid orientation and navigation. A line of these tiny objects could be located around doorframes or on staircases to help highlight points of potential danger. 'Frame' explores overall illumination and ambience within a room, offering a dimmable high-illumination object that can be hung on the wall like a picture frame. The lighting levels and colour can be adjusted to suit individual mood or preference. 'Candle' is a portable, handheld light which 'docks' for re-charging like a mobile phone and can be used as a task light or to create atmosphere.
Whilst the visually impaired market is considerable - in the UK there are over two million people with significant sight loss, and each year 65,000 people are diagnosed with low vision - the concepts also have relevance to mainstream home interiors. The ideas will now be developed in a second year of research with the aim to commercially produce new lighting and provide better lighting support for people living with sight loss.
