Improving vision

Training and advisory centre for blind and visually impaired professionals

In addition to apprenticeships, the Berufsbildungswerk also offers diagnostic and pre-training assistance. This includes determining potential for development and individual measures for professional qualifications. Together with the LWL-Integrationsamt Münster, the Berufsbildungswerk also operates the training and advisory centre for blind and visually impaired professionals, where it investigates the possibilities for improving the conditions of its clients' actual working environments as required.

Those responsible had to find suitable technical solutions to optimise the setup of the associated testing room. "We try to make as many resources available as possible, from across different industries and regardless of manufacturer, in order to judge which solution is right for the workstation", says Kai Lammert, specialist consultant for blind and visually impaired people. The simulated workstations have been outfitted with monitors and screen readers for this purpose. "We also work with screen magnification software and software for the blind", Lammert adds.

Plug-and-play lighting system with energy efficient HCL

For the ceiling lighting in the testing room, they opted for lighting systems with ESYLUX Light Control, consisting of recessed lights, presence detectors and control units. With the exception of the 230 V connection of the control units, these can be installed by unskilled employees using plug and play in the safety extra-low voltage range, thereby offering a design concept for times when there is a shortage of trained personnel. The variant installed here also has ESYLUX SymbiLogic technology with energy-efficient Human Centric Lighting and Tunable White luminaires.

Customisable light colour and illuminance settings

This customisation is particularly important for people with visual impairments. "There is no single lighting setup for a certain eye condition", explains master optician Detlef Menke, who is responsible for individual diagnosis at the advisory centre. "So you can't just look at the note and say, OK, this person has this and that, so the lighting needs to be about 4000 kelvin". When it comes to lighting intensity, that is not possible at all – there is no uniform light pattern. A study conducted in collaboration with Soest University of Applied Sciences confirmed this across all age groups.

Translating results onto the actual workstation

The light colour and illuminance are easily adjusted using a special wall-mounted switch for the lighting systems. One additional aspect that is particularly important is glare. "A major issue", Lammert stresses. Glare is, of course, never good. But for people with visual impairments, glare sensitivity can play a completely different role. The room's blackout system also helps to achieve the most neutral results possible: "We're able to switch off absolutely everything so that we have no light coming in from outside", says Lammert.

After a test is completed, the settings for all light values are documented – a spectrometer helps to precisely determine the current light colour. Everything is then compiled in the optical report and serves as the basis for setting up the actual workstation at the client's place of work. "This task is performed by the integration specialists", Kai Lammert explains. They go directly to the workstations in a private enterprise or public service, where the recommended measures are usually then implemented.

They might also propose certain assemblies or devices at this point. According to Lammert, however, it is up to the client or employer to decide which offers are accepted. In addition to light quality, the issue of energy efficiency also plays an important role today. That was also a factor in choosing the ESYLUX lighting system for the centre's own testing space, explains Stefan Koerdt. In addition to the LED illuminant, the accompanying presence detector also contributed to that decision. "We are currently carrying out conversions in many areas, converting passageways to LED lighting and incorporating presence and motion detectors. That all helps us to save energy".