Attention, please. Peripheral Vision, Distraction, and Lighting Technology in Low-Light Domestic Environments

Legackaja, Viktorija

4. Term

Lighting Design

2026

2026-01-19

33

Lighting standards often focus on seeing the task right in front of us, giving less attention to how light in our side vision affects attention and distraction. This thesis examines how changes in peripheral lighting influence perceived distraction, visual comfort, and focus during a visually demanding task in a dim, home-like environment, and how this varies with self-reported attention habits. Using an exploratory mixed-methods, research-through-design approach, the study built and tested three lighting scenarios. These varied the brightness in the periphery (illuminance), the contrast between the task area and its surroundings, and the color of the peripheral light (spectral composition), while keeping the same task. Data included observations of gaze shifts (how often participants looked away from the task), ratings of focus, distraction and comfort on simple scales, and brief open-ended feedback. Eight participants with a range of self-reported attention experiences took part. Findings suggest that strong brightness contrast between the task and the periphery increases monitoring of the surroundings and feelings of distraction, even when the task is clearly visible. Lower-contrast peripheral lighting supported steadier attention and higher reported comfort across participants. Colored peripheral lighting produced mixed responses, indicating a trade-off between creating atmosphere and drawing attention. Participants who described themselves as easily distracted were especially sensitive to high-contrast peripheral stimuli, whereas lower-contrast strategies produced more consistent experiences across users.

Belysningsstandarder fokuserer ofte på at sikre synlighed i det, vi ser direkte på, og lægger mindre vægt på, hvordan lys i sidesynet påvirker opmærksomhed og distraktion. Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan ændringer i perifer belysning påvirker oplevet distraktion, visuel komfort og fokus under en krævende synsopgave i et svagt belyst hjemmemiljø, og hvordan dette varierer med selvrapporterede opmærksomhedsvaner. Med en eksplorativ, kombineret metode og en research-through-design-tilgang blev der udviklet og afprøvet tre belysningsscenarier. De varierede periferens lysniveau (belysningsstyrke), kontrasten mellem opgaveområdet og omgivelserne samt lysets farve (spektral sammensætning), mens selve opgaven var den samme. Data blev indsamlet gennem observation af blikskift (hvornår deltagere så væk fra opgaven), skala-baserede selvvurderinger af fokus, distraktion og komfort samt korte åbne kommentarer. Otte deltagere med forskellige selvrapporterede opmærksomhedserfaringer deltog. Resultaterne peger på, at stærk lyskontrast mellem opgave- og periferområder øger overvågning af omgivelserne og oplevet distraktion, selv når opgaven er tydeligt belyst. Lavere kontrast i periferien gav mere stabil opmærksomhed og højere rapporteret komfort på tværs af deltagere. En farvet perifer belysning gav blandede reaktioner og viste en balance mellem stemning og det, der fanger opmærksomheden. Deltagere, der beskrev sig selv som let distraherbare, var særligt følsomme over for høj kontrast i periferien, mens strategier med lavere kontrast gav mere ensartede oplevelser på tværs af brugere.

[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]

Peripheral vision ; Peripheral lighting ; Luminance contrast ; Visual comfort ; Distraction ; Low-light (mesopic) environments ; Inclusive design

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