Light Experienced with Eyes Closed | Hardware Prototyping and Research

Overview:
This project explored the experience of viewing colored lights through closed eyelids, focusing on how users perceive colors and their emotional impact. It aimed to design and test interactive prototypes to uncover insights about color perception and emotional responses, culminating in recommendations for future applications and open-source tools.

Project Goals:

• Understand user experiences with colored lights on closed eyelids.
• Develop hardware and software prototypes to test various variables.
• Collect and analyze user data to provide insights for future explorations.

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Process:

• Secondary Research: Reviewed academic papers and related projects to establish foundational knowledge.

• Prototyping: Designed and developed two LED ring prototypes and a 3x3 LED matrix prototype using Arduino boards and memory foam eye masks.

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• User Testing: Conducted two phases of user testing:
  • Phase I: Full-spectrum color testing with 16 participants.
  • Phase II: Focused A/B testing with 20 participants, exploring warm-to-cool and cool-to-warm color sequences.
  • Collected data through think-aloud protocols, PANAS (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule), and sentiment analysis.

• Data Analysis: Quantitative and qualitative analysis to identify trends in emotional and perceptual responses.

Key Findings:

• Color Perception:
  • Red, orange, and grey were associated with higher arousal and alertness.
  • Blue and yellow evoked calmness, peace, and happiness.
  • Users favored subtle color transitions and lower brightness settings (2-3 out of 255).
• Emotional Impact:
  • Users reported feeling more energized and focused, with reduced anxiety.
  • Emotional associations with colors varied by personal experiences and preferences.
• Hardware Insights:
  • Prototypes required iterative improvement for stability and consistency.
  • GUI development allowed users to interact with and control LED colors creatively.

Deliverables:

• Open-source repository of hardware/software tools and user-testing protocols.
• Recommendations for improving hardware design, color sequencing, and testing methodologies.
• Insights into how different colors affect mood and perception, paving the way for future applications in relaxation tools, therapeutic devices, and creative installations.

Impact:
This project demonstrates my ability to integrate engineering and design with user-centered research methodologies. By combining prototyping, user testing, and data analysis, we uncovered valuable insights into the interplay of light, emotion, and perception. These findings contribute to the growing field of embodied interaction and creative technology.

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