PROTECT THE SKY

BY USING DARK-SKY FRIENDLY LIGHTS

Creating an experience to change people's daily light using behavior.

Background of city light pollution

Currently, people have not notice that light pollution is an environmental problem as serious as air pollution or water pollution. The street light issue mentioned in my VR project is only a tip of the iceberg about city light pollution. The fully shielded lights should not only be used in public areas, but also inside the house. If we do not take action from now, both the natural environment and the human body will be impacted by the harmful blue-lights in the light bulb.

Who's IDA?

"The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is a United States-based non-profit organization incorporated in 1988 by founders David Crawford, a professional astronomer, and Tim Hunter, a physician/amateur astronomer. The mission of the IDA is "to preserve and protect the night time environment and our heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting." Light pollution is the result of outdoor lighting that is not properly shielded, allowing light to be directed into the eyes and the night sky. Light that shines into the eyes is called glare and light shining into the night sky above the horizon causes skyglow. Lighting can also cause light trespass when it is directed into areas that it is not wanted, e.g., a neighbor's yard and windows. IDA was the first organization in the dark-sky movement, and is currently the largest." ——From Wikipedia

OUR MESSAGE

Using VR to change people's daily experience

Creating the user experience

The user will begin on a city street, where the sky is bright and full of stars. The user can explore the sky, and walk on the street to see the peaceful city night. There are some green plants on the side of the street, a street light can be seen at a distance. Then the user chooses to use an unshielded light through interaction. After this, stars will all disappear, all the street lights and building lights are glaring. While walking through the street, the user finds the plants turned yellow, and his eye vision is slowly decreasing. The user will have the opportunity to make another choice, to use a shielded under canopy induction fixture. After this, the beautiful night city view comes back, the user can even find the Milky Way in the sky.

What decision user need to make in this experience

The user has to make a decision of which kinds of light they want to use in their daily life, a normal unshielded light or a shielded induction fixture. The former can cause light pollution, while the latter can mitigate the harm caused by light scattering.

MEDIA CENTER

Experience, Feel, and Action

Video Sketch for this VR experience

This video contains a VR experience of city light pollution. It aims to help an NGO named "the International Dark-Sky Association" (IDA) to let people know about light pollution in our cities. And changes people's behavior for using dark-sky friendly lights.