Evaluation of Visual Environment Essay Example

Evaluation of Visual Environment

Evaluation of Visual Environment

Introduction

Light plays significant role to the humans both during the day and night especially in the 24-hour economy. Initially, most important activities were carried out during the day before the discovery of fire, manufacturing of the candles, and the invention of electricity. Inventions made it easy to generate light during the night based on individual’s convenience. In the modern environment, electricity plays important role in light generation through various appliances including cameras, televisions, and bulbs; however, it is important to note that articial light enables people to work even in absence of sunlight. Moreover, artificial lighting offers people absolute freedom from darkness at a flip of switch. In this assignement important feature of light are discussed with focus on the electric lighting within the modern architectural environments (Sumper & Baggini, 2013). It is important to note that architectural environment and designs need to use light with an aim of maximizing the effects in both the exteriors and interior designs. The assignment will also look at the functionality and aesthetics associated with the interaction between the surfaces and light which concentrating on the human vision systems such as the camera-type eyes and associated reaction with light.

Vision Systems

Within the animal world, there are different vision systems, including those associated with the eyes of the insects and others are like the eyes of the cat family. The vision of humans has the ability to detect the light on the rod while coning the cells within the retina to enable conscious perceptions associated with both the depth and distance. Moreover, human vision also detects colour differentiation due to the presence of photopigments. Based on the scientific studies on the properties of light and vision, it is evident that it enables interplay of various surface types enabling several practical applications including architectural lighting that aims to improve the experience of the living humans. This paper highlights the application of such knowledge in the modern environment to improve the conditions of living. This is achievable through focusing on various concepts of light: absorption, reflection, and refraction. The derived knowledge is not only applicable within the modern architectural sites, but also in improving efficiency in the lighting energy.

Detailed Analysis of the Architectural Space

The space described in this case pertains to reflection and refraction of light that takes place at the lake. In this case, there is a log in the water with exhibition of both reflection and refraction of light making the log to appear bend into two directions. The image was taken during the day when there is availability of natural light, sunlight, to enable the formation of the required interface for the evaluation: light-water interface.

Reflection

The water surface provides the reflected light during daytime. In reflection, the light waves meet the boundary between the water and the log, a part of the light wave returns back towards the medium from which it originated. In the picture, the wave approaches from the sunlight through the incident ray. Based on the law of reflection, the incidence angle is equal to the reflection angle. Water surface act as the mirror that reflects the light that falls on it. There is sufficient sunglight during the day; therefore, there is no need for the electric light. Reflection of the light waves occur when the frequencies of the light waves fails to match the natural frequencies of the water interface. Except for the water surface, there are no other materials or surfaces responsible for the reflection of light within the ocean.

Refraction

Refraction is a phenomenon that occur when the waves goes from one medium to another. In this case, the ray is considered to bend as it passes from one medium to another due to differences in the refractive index. Light and water have different refractive indices which is a medium number describing how much the light ray bends as it comes from the vacuum and enters the medium. Refraction makes the object seem as bent when put into water and making the submerged part of the log appear closer to the surface than it actually is.

Absorption

The surface of the log absorbs both the light and heat; as a result, it prevents any reflected light from causing glare to the eyes. However, water has a surface that allows reflection of light. Therefore, while taking the photographs, there is need to face away from the water and concentrate towards the log which in turn reduces the luminance from the water surface. In most cases, the architects use the luminaire with the aim of maximizing the luminous efficiency while using the least electrical energy which offers the required green technologies such as those used in the LEDs.

Reference

Sumper, A., & Baggini, A. (2013). Electrical energy efficiency: Technologies and applications.Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.