Analyzing occupants’ control over lighting systems in office settings using virtual environments
Author(s)
Advisor
Afacan, YaseminDate
2020-12Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
308
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Abstract
This study systematically analyzed the impact of having personal control over
lighting system on occupants’ lighting choices, lighting satisfaction, and task
performance in a virtual office setting. For this purpose, 30 participants took part in a
3-phased experiment with immersive virtual environments (IVEs). Each phase of the
experiment offered a different degree of control over the lighting. Personality traits
were also studied in relation to lighting choices. Finally, a technology acceptance
model (TAM) was employed to further investigate the participants’ attitude towards
the virtual reality (VR) technology.
The findings of this study showed that using an interactive lighting system, which
was as satisfactory compared to a conventional lighting system, encouraged the
participants to use more natural light. The interactive lighting system imposed the
same amount of cognitive load on the participants for performing a reading task as a
conventional lighting system, which was significantly lower than their cognitive load
scores for performing the task with automated lighting system. Personality analyses
demonstrated that the participants with a high score on openness had a wide range of
lighting choices either with conventional or with interactive lighting. This study’s
results differed from the previous studies by highlighting that the participants
considered VR as a better fit to an enjoyable experience rather than as a useful tool
for performing serious tasks.
Keywords
Automated lightingCognitive load
Immersive virtual environments
Lighting choices
Personality traits