More than 200 solutions for home lighting challenges.

Four years ago The Blue Light Syndrome was published as the Proceed ings of the 1 st International Conference on the Effect of Blue Light in Plants and Microorganisms. Subsequently the interest in this fascinating and growing field of re search has further increased, as is reflected by numerous publications. Blue light effects cover such a wide spectrum of organisms, responses and methods that communication among scientists with backgrounds in biology, biochemistry, and biophysics is particularly necessary. These facts not only justified, but demanded calling the "Blue Light Family" together again. In spite of many fmancial problems, the second confer ence attracted 113 active members from 19 countries. The 2nd International Conference on The Effect of Blue Light in Plants and Microorganisms was held in July 1984, like the first at the University of Marburg. The organizer could again rely on the help of the International Advisory Committee (W. Briggs, Stanford; M. Furuya, Tokyo; J. Gressel, Rehovot; S. Miyachi, Tokyo; W. Rau, Miinchen; J. Schiff, Waltham; P .-S. Song, Lubbock). The very generous financial as sistance from the DFG and the support of the Philipps-Universitat Mar burg and its Sonderforschungsbereich "Zellenergetik and Zelldifferen zierung" were the prerequisites to organizing the conference. The present book consists of 56 original papers. The partitioning into eight chapters is always a problem. The grouping of different aspects of the papers into these chapters has not always been obvious, so that one or the other contribution could possibly fit in another chapter.

The introduction of artificial lighting extends the time of wakefulness after dark and enables work at night, thus disturbing the human circadian rhythm. The understanding of the physiological mechanisms of visual and non-visual systems may be important for the development and use of proper light infrastructure and light interventions for different workplace settings, especially for shift work conditions. Visual and Non-Visual Effects of Light: Working Environment and Well-Being presents the impact of lighting in the working environment on human health, well-being and visual performance. The physiological explanation of the visual and non-visual effects of light on humans which discusses the biological bases of image and non-image forming vision at the cellular level may be of particular interest to any professional in the field of medicine, physiology, and biology. It is one of the intentions of this book to put forward some recommendations and examples of lighting design which take into account both the visual and non-visual effects of light on humans. These may be of particular interest to any professional in the field of lighting, occupational safety and health, and interior design. "What effects on health can a light ‘overdose’ or light deficiency have? What is bad light? The authors of the monograph provide answers to these questions. Just as for a physicist, the dual nature of light comprises an electromagnetic wave and a photon, the duality of light for a physician comprises visual and non-visual effects." --------------------------------------------------------Prof Jacek Przybylski, Medical University of Warsaw "This is a unique publication in the field of lighting technology. The authors have skillfully combined both the technical and biomedical aspects involved, which is unprecedented in the literature available. As a result, an important study has been created for many professional groups, with a significant impact on the assessment of risks associated with LED sources." --------------------------------------------Prof Andrzej Zając, Military University of Technology, Warsaw