User evaluation of the OpenAIS pilot installation

The Internet of Things is rapidly entering the lighting domain. An Internet of Lighting is expected to have significant benefits for its users, such as advanced automated lighting and personal lighting control. The OpenAIS project developed an IP-based lighting architecture and realized a large-scale pilot implementation of an IoT lighting system with advanced sensor-driven controls and user control in a real-life office. Two user control apps were developed and deployed in the open office, individual offices, and meeting rooms: a smartphone application for personal lighting control and an app for dedicated room control tablets. This article reports on an extensive study that evaluated peoples’ use and experiences with the lighting system. The results show that people appreciate personal lighting control and that they adjusted the lighting regularly using both the phone application and the control tablets. Furthermore, lighting control was experienced differently in different workplaces. In general, the level of lighting appraisal increased when more control was available. We argue that the flexibility will be a key success- factor for improving the lighting experience, that human-in-the- loop control strategies need balanced automated system behavior and user control, and interfaces should support shared lighting control by including the social context