Attractive, efficient and economic lighting design needs multiple considerations, thus, earlier only experts from the field could offer feasible and reliable designs, however, with the advent and growth of the ‘augmented reality’ – a technology that can put digital items into reality – it has been easier to design a satisfying lighting scheme for almost every environment.
From a humble beginning with PC webcams, today the technology has reached our handheld devices, such as smartphones and tabs, and many apps (paid or free) are also available to easily experience a manipulatable virtual environment.
In modern era, every designer, whether a professional or an amateur, runs short of time to imagine, alter and add value to the lighting schemes. But the maturing technology has been a boon to them. The best advantage of augmented reality technology is – it shows the designer how the proposed lighting scheme will fit into the environment. So, the plan can be changed or modified as many times as needed without lapse of time or incurring any extra expenditure.
As the technology can present a vivid 3D preview of the conceived idea, from artistic angle creating the illusion through light and shade is very easy with this tool. At the same time, from the economic angle, choosing the most efficient combination of illumination at the least cost (installation as well as operating) is possible with this technology. Last but not the least is the advantage that it provides creating an opportunity to visualise the environment under different colour combinations.
Thus, the use of this marvellous technology is rapidly increasing among the lighting designers. I wish the tools become more user-friendly and help all the lighting enthusiasts showcase their talents.
Publisher & Editor-In-Chief
