17 MAN’S PERCEPTION OF HIS ENVIRONMENT – LIGHT, GLARE AND SHADOW

S. Visalakshi Rajeswari

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1.    Introduction

 

Man and his environment are inextricable entities, though the nature of the environment may change. Throughout life he keeps interacting with his environment; may it be physical, natural or social. Such conscious interactions can impact both. Adjustments o n the part of man and the environment in which he lives or works can become highly beneficial. This is all the more pronounced in the ‘man – made’ world in which he lives, the so called residential spaces. This space therefore, has to be designed with utmost care.

 

2.      Learning objectives:

 

At the end of the session you will be able to:

  • Comprehend the significance of environmental factors in space designing
  • Know about the role of sensory systems in influencing house designs
  • Gain information on the impacts of environmental factors on man’s comfort zone

Osmond way back in 1959 had suggested that there are two kinds of designed spaces – socio-petal and socio- fugal environments.

 

3.    Socio-petal Vs Socio-fugal spaces

 

In Socio-petal spaces interaction takes place by arranging portable furniture which many a times facilitate face to face seating. The type of furniture arrangements made in spaces like church pews, benches in cafe and airport lounges belong to the other category called Socio- fugal environments. Here furniture is fixed to a supportive medium like a wall or floor, and are practically immovable. Such arrangements prevent face to face interaction and remove a person’s control over the environmental features and prevent them from taking any kind of action to promote interaction. Comprehending and adjusting to these kinds of spaces and environments invariably lead to important behavioral effects in the users. People find their own excuses to run away from such environments. Some people develop a sense of nega tive vibration which leaves tell tale marks of aversion towards such spaces. Contrarily, many such environments are created in public places to tackle a crowd or to disperse them at ease. We find snack bars and petty shops selling tea and small scale libraries capitalizing from this concept.

 

Almost anywhere where people cannot adjust to long time standing and interaction – less atmosphere and which showcase an aura of discomfort, we have seen people run away after the purpose of their visit. This has to be taken as a fundamental cue when designing residential spaces, because as residents, they would prefer to stay longer.

 

According to behavioral scientists, there are three main functions a residential environment has to satisfy.

  • It is expected to provide an appreciable physical shelter.
  • It should facilitate  conduct of routine household activities
  • It has to contribute its role as a good  “identity focus”

4.      Environment and its relationship to man’s pe rception

 

The term environment has its roots, it is said from the Medieval French word “environ”. It was coined to refer to form a ring around or to surround something. A more modern statement of the term states that it is more or less concerned with the conditions or influences which develop a human being, a living thing to be specific. What Einstein had remarked once is but true;

 

“The environment is everything that is not me”.

 

We live in the ‘information – era’. A glance at the world around makes it clear that information exists from environmental stimuli which may and can impinge on man’s passive systems. At the same time he also seeks stimuli based on his cognitive expectations and understandings. Prospects for constant sharing of information are quite evident in all our activities. Receiving necessary information and responding (communicating) in an appropriate manner vests with man. Information on the activities that take place in the physical environment around man – the main actor – seems to be obtained primarily through the two major senses of sight and hearing. Albeit his other senses like touch, smell, taste, sensations of heat or cold remaining with him, inter alia, he will be left in a world of his own without his senses for sight and hearing.These two are therefore, very important to him to make his life more active, fruitful and beneficial.

 

Man gains knowledge of the external environment only through these two important senses, because they are those through which he perceives his active being in any situation or the so called environment. Perception here per se means the senses of seeing and hearing, the associated sense organs and their interpretation in the brain – the cerebral cortex to be specific – as a personal experience. Man is created with various organs to be on the receiving end for understanding and communicating with his environment. Senses are entirely the domain of the brain. Even for children brain is the part that manages the senses development and stimulation according to the child’s surroundings.

4.1. Sensory receptors

 

The eyes and ears, act as the two major ‘receptor organs’, facilitating man to perceive these two senses – seeing and hearing. The receptor organs enable him to pick up energy from the exterior, his environment, as waves – light and sound waves and transform them into light or sound energy that becomes meaningful to him. This meaningful energy is called “bio – electric nerve impulses”. Hence, one becomes aware of the outside world only through integration by the brain of sensory impulses from outside the body. The receptors specific to respective sense organs relay the information received through the sensory neurons. The neurons further take their role in relaying the information to the appropriate places within the nervous system

 

4.1.2. Types of receptors: There are different types of receptors, where some are special receptors.

 

  • Chemo  receptors,  the  chemical receptors  found  in the  mouth and  nose,  the  photo receptors or light receptors as the name suggests found in the eyes, and mechanoreceptors found in the ears, belong to the category of Special receptors
  •  Those found throughout the body, especially in the skin which perform various functions are called General receptors
  •  Subject variations in perception can occur and it is dependent both on the individual’s concept of and / or on perception and external factors. These two senses, specifically and the sensation of heat too are dependent on transmission (of information) by waves from the ambient environment. How do these waves get transmitted for giving information?
  •  Sound is usually defined in terms of its frequency in cycles per second.
  • Light is defined in terms of its wavelength using milli microns or Angstrom units.

4.1.3. The rationale

 

The inmates tend to respond to such sensations and may reflect as expressions of behavior. This phenomenon explains why children react abnormally or in an unusual way when exposed to new living environments. They are affected by the physical design parameters of the place. Two modes of physical design are found to affect a person’s behavior. Their behavioral patterns are expressive of their expectations. The design should include aspects which would fulfill the function of the room and also those that are not directly required to fulfill the function. People live in light of varied intensities and are exposed to a multitude of sound variations day in and day out. People are never without these two in some form. It is but natural that we provide entry for these two aspects in the most appropriate manner. As stated earlier, individuals live with these two aspects and have the capacity to control them. Any sort of control should be for common good – acceptable by all using the environment. In this case, the residence is the environment. These two waves and the information they deliver have to be capitalized to such an extent that one is able to provide an optimum level of entry for both in an interior. A wrong move may cause discomfort to those using the residence, the rooms to be specific. For a good understanding of these concepts in planning interiors, a little input on vision and light is necessary.

 

5. Vision and Light

 

All of us know that there can be no vision without light. So, how do we see?

 

5.1. Physiology of vision

 

Light rays from an object in the environment (here, the room), pass through the iris of the eye and fall on the retina. The retina contains the photo receptors, which readily detect light. Two types of sensors are present in the eye to detect light: the rods and the cones.

  • Rods are made to detect motion and to work harder even in low light.
  • Cones on the other hand function to detect fine detail and color. They work best in bright light. There are three types of cones: one that detects blue, one that detects red, and one that detects green, the primary colours of light. Absence of one type of cone causes color blindness in human beings.

Nerve impulses are generated whenever light strikes the rods and cones, by which process the light energy gets converted into the bio electric energy of a nerve stimulus. This stimulus further passes as a nervous impulse along the nerve fiber to the brain. Neurons of two types are the carriers of these travelling impulses, while the optic nerve in turn carries the impulse directly to the brain. The responsibility of combining the messages before the impulses is sent to the brain lie eventually on the individual’s eye. These factor s decide one’s visual field.

 

5.1.2. What is a visual field?

 

Definition: The visual field is defined as that part of one’s surroundings that is taken in by the eyes when both an individual and his head are held still.

 

Obviously, in an interior one has to decide on the zone of sharp vision to ensure good visibility and efficiency in all the activities carried out in a particular area.

In the first angle of vision (vertical angle 10) objects appear very clearly and the viewer experiences no discomfort. He or she need not make any adjustments for focusing on objects.

 

Vision in the Middle field: Objects in this area of vertical angle are not seen clearly; nevertheless movement and strong contrasts are noticed. Individuals become conscious and quickly try shifting their gaze from one object to another.

 

Vision in the outer field: This area is bounded by the viewer’s forehead, nose and cheeks and objects in this area are not at all noticed unless they move. They are obviously out of the viewer’s focus.

 

5.1.3. Self check exercises

 

Try this experiment. It will be seen that only those objects falling within a small cone of 10 apex get focused sharply. Outside or beyond this cone objects become progressively blurred and or indistinct.

Try this experiment too. If you keep your eyes still when reading, you can focus only on a few letters; but, in practice you generally move your eyes in jerks, taking in approximately 12 letters at a time.

 

6. Accommodation

 

The factors explained earlier evidently affect a person’s ‘accommodation‘.

 

6.1.What do you understand by accommodation?

 

It refers to the ability of a person’s eye to bring into sharp focus objects at varying distances, from the level of infinity to the nearest point of clear vision. Now you may wonder; in what way is it related to space designing? None of us will stay young throughout life. Aging is inevitable. Age has a profound effect on an individual’s powers of accommodation, because elasticity is lost gradually by the lens in the human eyes. Naturally the near point gradually recedes from view. What happens then? Will any of us wish for this condition? What is that condition called?

 

6.1.2. Presbyopia

 

The average distance of the near point at various ranges of age, goes thus: 8 cm at 16 years, 12.5 cm at 32 years, 25 cm at 44 years, 50 cm at 50 years and 100 cm a t 60 years. Once the near point has receded beyond 25 cm, human beings will be affected with a condition called Presbyopia, the inevitable long – sightedness associated with aging. Another effect of age is slowing down of the speed with which the eye acco mmodates itself.

 

The level of illumination available therefore becomes a critical factor in accommodation and hence, the need to study light and lighting in interiors. Especially when activities are carried out indoors, it is necessary to provide either natural lighting or some kind of artificial illumination. In circumstances where artificial illumination is used, it is of course possible to design the illumination system so that the lighting provided is satisfactory and adequate for the users of the environment and the activity they carry out.

 

6.1.3. Application

  • Ask your grandparents, if they are living with you at home or any elderly person, how they feel about their eye sight and how they adjust with it.
  • Identify some aspect in your living room, a problem related to inadequate lighting and try to rectify it. See how you will be appreciated. Have a personal experience

 

7.   Light

 

Light is a vital element of design. It affects not only our perception but also our response to the environment. Good lighting makes a house warm and friendly, lively or restful and is also essential for efficient vision. Lighting is an environment factor that affects every human being. Any surface that is struck by light rays reflects some of that light.

 

7.1. Importance of Lighting

 

Lighting in the interior of a house should be given due consideration because :

  •  Lighting is essential to see things properly and clearly. It enhances visibility
  • Sunlight kills germs which are present in the surroundings.
  • A house looks bright if illuminated adequately
  • Light helps to emphasize an area or an object in the interior and exterior of the house
  •  Production of work will be high when correct illumination is provided
  • Proper lighting prevents accidents in the interior
  • The choice and arrangement of lighting reflects the taste and character of the inmates
  •  Proper lighting only can highlight the colour scheme followed in the interiors

7.2.  Factors governing seeing process in the ambient environment

 

Four factors determine the ease and accuracy with which we see.

  • Size
  • Contrast
  • Time
  • Brightness

Hence while designing a house one must be concerned with two kinds of lighting

 

8. Kinds of lighting

 

Control of the luminous environment divides into two categories. Natural daylight and artificial illumination

 

8.1. Natural light: Natural light exists always by day and the designer’s role lies in controlling

 

its effects. The Sun is the primary source of natural light. Both energy costs and health concerns have led to renewed interest in natural lighting in designing the present day interiors. Natural lighting may be provided by skillfully locating windows and skylights in the home.

In bright sunshine, daylight provides a warm yellow glow. Sunlight is an asset. It’s vital qualities make it naturally welcome within the home. It should be used to the best advantage to create welcoming interiors and to ensure functionality.

 

8.1.2. Application

 

Provision should be made for adequate entry of natural light in the residential design by adding ample windows, ventilators, skylights, clerestory windows and the like. Handling natural lighting in the interior is a challenge to the designer who manipulates space. It requires a lot of calculation, precision, imagination and knowledge on Vastu Shastra too from the point of view of the designer. Once the space is designed and constructed the user cannot bring in any changes.

 

8.2. Artificial light: This kind of lighting must be created and positioned. Well planned, artificial illumination enables people to see without strain and help to prevent accidents. It can stimulate activity, creativity and relaxation, change the nature of space, direct human movement, provide appropriate atmosphere, dramatize and silhouette forms and enhance the richness of textures of interiors. It also makes a vital contribution to the attractiveness of a home. When it is planned in relation to architecture and furnishings, people can bring in interesting effects in the interior.

 

For untold ages people depended on flames of fireplaces, candles or oil lamps to illuminate their homes at night. Today our major source of energy for artific ial illumination is electricity. The rate of change is expressed as wattage.

 

Handling artificial lighting is a challenge to all users. They can practice any amount of imagination and bring in the right kind of aesthetic appeal they desire and set the mood for purposeful action. So, both the groups experimenting with two kinds of lighting require skillful handling, where practice of control is the mantra.

 

8.3. How to practice control?

 

Preference for lighting in an interior is exclusively dependent on the possibilities for control. Features which attract importance in a room invariably need to be emphasized by the use of gimmics involving light.

 

8.4. More to ponde r

 

Preference for aesthetics and acceptability of rooms are in a way supported by the prospects for controlling the light. Ushering adequate light into an interior is the sole liking of the user. Have you analyzed what your preferences have been? Collins (1975) had stated that people do not like rooms without windows. It is probably because they may arouse sensations of claustrophobia. The same concept is modified by the “function” allocated to rooms; for instance, bathrooms are acceptable and desirable without windows. A study by Ulrich in 1984 found patients in hospitals to feel better when they had pleasant views from the wards or hospital rooms, than in circumstances where they did not have one. It leads one to the conclusion that individual’s expectations about rooms are very important in residences and it could be achieved by control of the luminous environment. Have you felt that way in some environment or in your own residence?

 

An understanding and avoidance of glare and shadow becomes necessary to make the use of spaces more effective.

 

9.  Glare and shadow

 

Glare is produced by brightness within the field of vision that is sufficiently greater than the luminance to which the human eyes are adapted to. There are two types: disability glare and discomforting glare; yet another example for the man – environment – response triad. Eventually, this aspect of avoiding glare in the interior by prudent use of materials and control of light gets emphasized. Brightness (light energy reflected by a surface) of the light source and reflectance from surfaces or materials used, color, value and texture are important factors to be considered in designing lighting for interiors.

 

9.1.  Shadow

 

Shadows are formed when light is focused on a particular area leaving the surroundings dark. This is equally bad like glare because this can not only cause eye strain but also render the space unsafe for movement.

 

9.1.2. Self check exercise

 

Identify which of the following is true of glare?

  1. It is caused when there is minimum light
  2. It is caused when colours absorb light
  3. It is caused when light is directed straight into the eyes
  4. It is caused when lies if focused on particular leaving the surroundings dark  (Ans: c)
  1. Summary

Today’s class was meant to expose you to a different level of perceiving your living space. Now, all of you know that like all other elements, people not only react to environment, but can also practice control over light – a major factor influencing the desirability of an environment. The following session would involve control of another of the individual’s perception of the environment, namely hearing, which helps us to differentiate between sound and noise. It would also include comprehension of the significance of acoustics in modern interiors.

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  • https://discussions.apple.com/thread/39506…
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References

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  • Grandjean , E (1969), Fitting the task to the man; an ergonomic approach London, Taylor  &  Francis,161, ISBN: 0850660300
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