Iserlohn, 24. October 2016: The LUCTRA® range of LED lamps from DURABLE has once more won a prize. The German Design Council awarded Gold in a new category: human-machine interface.
The interface between humans and machines was the main criterion of assessment in this special category. The limits of technological design in technical appliances are being pushed back further and further. The enormous technological progress in all areas continues to set new, complex tasks for engineers, product developers and designers. The major challenge facing them consists increasingly in making technological developments fit for practical use. Here, the prerequisite is a clearly presented interface between complex technology and untrained users, which is easy to understand and easy to operate.
According to the jury, this has been realised in an excellent way with the LUCTRA® lamp range. LUCTRA® is the professional biologically effective LED lamp system for the workplace that puts the latest scientific findings from chronobiology and sleep medicine to practical use for individuals.
The basic idea is the discovery that everyone has their own individual circadian rhythm, controlled and stabilised largely by the changes in natural light in the course of the day (human centric lighting). Biologically effective artificial light replaces the missing sunlight for people who work mainly in closed rooms. Here, LUCTRA® lamps offer users the opportunity to adapt their working light precisely to their personal needs and their daily routine. Only variable light intensity combined with colours of light changing according to the individual biorhythm and the time of day during working hours have a positive effect on well-being and performance.
To this end, all LUCTRA® models come with VITACORE® electronics, which can be operated via a self-explanatory touch panel in minimalist design. In this way, both the intensity and the colour of light ranging from cold white to warm white (6,500 to 2,700 kelvin) can be varied in a simple way. An even easier method to set the lighting is via the intelligent VITACORE® app. This app not only calculates an individual’s daylight sequence based on the answers to five simple questions about daily habits, but also transmits it automatically to the working lamp via Bluetooth.
This enables intuitive use of the complex technology behind the functions. The clear, attractive design of VITACORE® electronics and the VITACORE® app does not overtax users, but encourages their use.
“I was very pleasantly surprised by the way the complexity inside the Luctra lamps was reduced in a sophisticated but clearly understandable way. Even for people without any background knowledge in physics or engineering. That makes it easy for users to adjust the light settings to their personal preferences and environmental conditions”, is how Professor Cees de Bont, School of Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University (a member of the jury), explains the reasons for granting the award.
“We are very pleased about this award. GOLD is only awarded once in every category and is therefore extremely valuable. We have to thank our entire development team, whose joint effort has been honoured by this award in a very fitting way”, says Jonathan Brune, LUCTRA® Project Leader.
The biological effect of the light from LUCTRA® LED office lamps has been proven in a clinical study led by PD Dr. Dieter Kunz. LUCTRA® is the first workplace lamp for which such systematic evidence has been established. As of this year, the LUCTRA® range includes several different models of portable lamps as well as table and floor lamps.
LUCTRA® – PERFECT DAY LIGHT.
LUCTRA® wins German Design Award 2017 in the category of human-machine interface
