Observation #1 at 6:00 PM
8-30-12
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Health and Lighting
Health and Lighting Sarah
Mabry
8-29-12
In
new evidence and research is leading scientists to gain a greater understanding
of how light is affecting our health.
For the past 120 years humans have been exposed to artificial lighting. The exposure to light is impacting out health
by increasing cancer rates, effecting Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. Increasing cancer rates are beginning to
appear in people who work at night.
Night shift working nurses are at a higher risk for breast cancer in
particular. Workers who chose to work at
night are going against their natural circadian rhythms that allow the body to
sleep. Melatonin the hormone that is
crucial for sleep is the link researchers are using to study why these rates
are going up. When working at night a
person body is exposed to one bright light source. The hormone melatonin is not released when
the body wants to naturally with the changes in light. Abnormal release of this hormone is not healthy
for the body. Researchers are also
looking at the color of light and how that affects the brain. Studies have been conducted exposing men to a
blue light and a red light. It has been
shown that men exposed to the blue lights were having trouble going to
sleep. This was not the case with a red
light. More and more blue light is being
used in technology and other products.
The exposure to these lights are contributing to how our health. Designers are one of the crucial elements in
building to controlling these issues.
The more knowledge designers have on the subject allows for change in
occur.
Light Relationships
Light Relationships Sarah
Mabry
8-29-12
The
connection between light and place create the memories we keep of a place. When first entering in a new space the light
is what defines the place for us. The
light that surrounds the space is what first impacts the brain through our sight. We can see the shape of the walls, the
objects in the room and then the finishes used in the space. Once the brain has determined all these
elements, the memory of the place is imprinted on the brain. If it is a space that is continuously lived
or worked in the light is key for defining the place. Light is a huge aspect of nature. Nature comes to life with the light created
from the daily rotation of the earth.
With the sun and moon rising in the sky day in and day out it allows for
the beautiful hues of the grass, sky and other plants come to life. The light is crucial for the survival of
nature. Without the bright light of the
sun we would live in a barren, dark and undesirable outdoor environment. Light is absorbed by the oceans, river and
lakes creating the beauty of water. Our
oceans are a rich blue due to the light absorbed by the sun during the day then
as night falls it turns to a shiny navy blue.
Light forms nature without it there would be no nature to be
enjoyed. The earth’s climate is
determined by the light. If it is a
winter day we immediately know due to the light in the atmosphere. Darkness falls early giving us the clue that
winter is here signaling cold temperatures.
One trick Mother Nature places on us is in the middle of winter we can
have a clear blue sky outside. This
clear blue sky can be very deceiving to us as humans. When standing in the warmth of a building it
appears to be nice and warm outside due to the light generated by the sun. As soon as a person steps out the cold air
reaches the skin and the brain immediately feels the cold. The light plays a trick on the brain. The light in certain climates is also defined
by location. The light in Miami is much
brighter and warmer verses light in New York City. Light is a clear signal of what time of day it
is. The brighter the light is a signal
for daytime. As the light begins to fade
nighttime is approaching. This is the
signal sent by the earth’s movement that lets us know what we should be
doing. In the faint light of the morning
we are rising then the fading light of the evenings we are settling down to
sleep. Lastly, light defines what tasks
we should be doing. In an office
building bright task lighting is used to signal the time to work. It wakes us up as we enter in the morning and
keeps a person going as the day progresses.
Many times lighting such as this can be very uncomfortable. It is dominating to a person. Reminding everyone they are there to
work. In restaurants we see soft
lighting telling us it is an intimate space for dining. People can be together in quiet and romantic
ways. Lighting is the dominate element
that defines a space for humans. Many
signals are gain about the space just simply from the lighting used.
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