Week 6

     Today the group worked on developing combinations of red, green, and blue light to mimic different types of daylight. For example, red is at 100% intensity, green is at 100% intensity, and blue is at 98% intensity for high noon; and red is at 24% intensity, green is at 61% intensity, and blue is at 100% intensity for a clear blue sky. These percent values will be converted to hex code and outputted as a color value, which will be displayed by the LEDs.
     The group will receive help on MATLAB to work on outputting the correct data that will create a simulation displaying the intensity and color on the computer screen.

Trip to St. Francis Country House

Lights in the room created to distract and help the dementia patients.

 
     On Friday, May 4th, George and Kate visited St. Francis Country House. They explored the area that will implement the light, and took measurements of the current light values. The light values of the rooms were recorded so that their brightness could be seen numerically.

George taking a light measurement.

     There was a much higher value under the fluorescent lights than next to the wall-mounted light fixtures. These fixtures did not provide very much light, and mostly served as decoration. The project will focus on replacing the fluorescent lights with the color-changing lights.

On left: Fluorescent light at a low shutter speed. On right: Fluorescent light at a high shutter speed.

     The area that will implement the fixtures will be renovated so that there are different individual rooms and a common area. The light was measured in the bedrooms on each side of the hallway, as well as in the current common area.

Current hallway to common area with fluorescent lights on top and 4 watt bulbs on the walls.

     

     A good amount of data was taken at the House, and George and Kate learned about how the color changes will help the patients. There are many distractions, such as paintings of fish and motor activities on the walls to improve their disorder. The light fixtures will aid the sleeping patterns of the patients so that they have a more efficient circadian cycle, which results in a better disposition and a healthier outlook.