Project BioLED

HFC started working on project BioLED in May 2009 in the course of a collaborative undertaking with its partners from the Humboldt University of Berlin, ITP GmbH and OUT e.V. .

Goals

The objective of the three year research project is the development of an application which uses the therapeutic effect of monochromatic, colored light. The focus of the project is the research and development of light-based methods that can be used to increase mental performance and support the cognitive processes of human beings.

Approach

HFC conducts laboratory tests investigating the effects of monochromatic light on metal performance and drowsiness. Different variants of light therapy were tested:

• Pulsing vs. continous light,
• different wavelengths of the light's spectrum: blue, green, red, white

Measured parameters are psychological tests and interviews, as well as physiological parameters like ECG, EOG, breath rate and skin conductance. The variables of interest for the investigation of lights effects were: attention, concentration, fatigue/activation, working memory, arousal and mental load.

Results will be used to identify dependencies between lighting conditions and psychophysiological states. The question of which lighting properties are beneficial for optimizing cognitive performance will be discussed and possible applications derived. As the projects follows a user-centered-design approach, the design of applications will correspond to users' needs and requirements. User tests will be conducted to validate with respect to usability and acceptance.