53 / 84
These LED advances have allowed
designers to tailor light to specific
needs in repeatable ways, never
seen before.
The Future
There is no doubt that future
research will continue to make more
advances in the field of lighting
psychology, and that research
will be translated into real-world
technology that will further advance
the safety and aesthetics of vehicles.
Future research will continue to
focus on how lighting color affects
our moods and perception and how
much ambient lighting can influence
ordinary driving tasks, such as
navigation. Advances in connectivity
and the Internet of Things will also
offer more automated adjustments
to ambient lighting, ensuring
it is constantly optimal for the
environment in which it is operating.
We know from research that
ambient lighting has a large effect
on human emotions, and we can
use that research to produce precise
and repeatable solutions that also
enhance safety. At the moment,
manufacturers assume that the
driver will make the decisions that
impact his or her concentration,
such as turning off distracting lights.
In the future, these adjustments will
be made automatically. Automatic
adjustment will also be used for
other tasks, such as maximizing
efficiency, or to adjust the ambient
lighting accounting for the driving
environment. For example, if an
airbag is deployed, the lighting may
adjust itself to full brightness in case
the occupants need to leave the
vehicle quickly. Automated ambient
lighting could also preserve battery
life by dimming lights if the vehicle
was running on battery power
alone.
Smartphones may be used to
store preferred pre-set profiles
for different drivers who may
use the vehicle, or to adjust the
lighting on instructions from the
phone’s GPS. We can only imagine
the improvements that could be
implemented further in the future
as devices get smarter and LED
technology advances. One thing
is sure, there is no sign of the
advancement of creative ambient
interior lighting for vehicles slowing
down.
Automotive
Special Edition
New-Tech Magazine Europe l 53