IoT Applications towards the Implementation of Dynamic Artificial Lighting in the Workplace
Silfia Mona Aryani1,2*, Arif Kusumawanto1, Jatmika Adi Suryabrata1
1Universitas Gadjah Mada, Faculty of Engineering Department Architecture and Planning, Yogyakarta Indonesia
2Universitas Sebelas Maret, Faculty of Arts and Design, Department of Interior Design, Surakarta Indonesia
*Corresponding author
Received: 11 January 2023; Revised: 08 February 2023; Accepted: 13 February 2023; Published: 10 March 2023
Abstract: Dynamic lighting requires a support system to set and control lighting according to the design. With advances in lighting technology and the internet, lighting settings do not need to be done manually. This article will discuss the Internet of Things (IoT) based applications, namely Blynk and WiZ. In the installation process, Blynk effectively connects the lamps used for research with the WiZ application. The WiZ application is needed to arrange the illuminance level, correlated color temperature (CCT), and the lights’ placement for creating dynamic lighting. This advantage makes Blynk and WiZ potentially effective for everyday use, including in the workplace. However, there are limitations to both applications that must be considered and anticipated to maximize their utilization.
Keywords: Blynk application, dynamic lighting, WiZ application
I. Background
N atural lighting, physiologically, is an effective stimulus to the human visual and circadian system (Boyce et al., 2003). However, most workers spend their working hours indoors. With office hours usually from 8 am – 4 pm, the workplace may have limited access to daylight because of limited space or functional requirements from work itself. Thus, the lighting source is dependent on artificial lighting. Artificial lighting can be an appropriate and effective method to create ambient lighting that is arranged to follow the sunlight cycle (known as circadian adaptive lighting) and meet the human biological needs cycle (known as bio-adaptive lighting) (amBX, 2017).
This adaptive lighting can increase the workers’ productivity and performance and reduce workplace accidents and health complaints (Burnett, 2012). Artificial lighting that simulates dawn lighting has been considered to improve well-being, subjective mood, and cognitive performance, compared to dim or blue monochromatic lighting with minimum impact on the circadian phase (Gabel et al., 2013). The rapidly changing hue and chroma seem to create a live atmosphere to activate humans. Alternatively, the opposite atmosphere can be relaxing for relaxation (Li et al., 2019).
Lighting that changes dynamically can increase well-being rather than monotone lighting (Kronqvist, 2012). The workers under dynamic lighting feel more satisfied than static lighting (De Kort & Smolders, 2010). Following the circadian cycle, the changes from cool white to warm white all day have been proven to increase work performance and protect eyesight (Gomes & Preto, 2015). Dynamic lighting positively affects work stress related to psychophysiology (Canazei et al., 2014). The positive effect of dynamic lighting can appear long-term in an environment with minimal or even without natural lighting or one with varied illumination levels or correlated color temperature (CCT) contribution (De Kort & Smolders, 2010).
The application of dynamic lighting that is changeable in CCT and illuminance level to adjust for the activity requirements (amBX, 2017) may need a support system to set and control lighting according to the purpose. The lighting settings can create different levels of dynamic lighting (Jensen et al., 2016) by using Potentio (Bangsawan, 2013) or using automatic regulators (Engwall et al., 2015; Lu et al., 2019). However, with the development of technology, lighting control can be supported by the Internet of Things (IoT) for switching on/off (Patel & Salazar, 2016) and providing adaptive lighting (Ramasamy & Kadry, 2021). This article discusses the application of Blynk and WiZ apps as IoT-based, their potency for dynamization, and consideration for future implementation in the workplace.
II. Literature Review
IoT is an infrastructure network with an internet medium that connects intelligent equipment and integrates physical and virtual worlds by exchanging information and communication (Patel & Salazar, 2016). IoT works on connected devices with wireless communication (Wilianto, 2018). In a smart building, IoT enables the user to control intelligent lighting and remotely monitor the designed condition (Patel & Salazar, 2016; Ramasamy & Kadry, 2021). IoT can be applied to create a personal experience (Salazar & Silvestre, 2017) by communicating intelligent equipment and human as the user (Ramasamy & Kadry, 2021).