Spectrum Environmental Lighting Filter

The patented Spectrum Environmental Lighting Filter™ has been designed to be an effective and economical solution to the problems generated by the pervasive use of fluorescent lighting in today's workplace. The design of the Spectrum Filter recognizes that fluorescent lighting in its basic form is energy and thermally efficient as well as cost effective, but that its light output is inherently low in its recognition of human factors.

Application of the Spectrum Environmental Lighting Filter

The patented 1 Spectrum Environmental Lighting Filter™ has been designed to be an effective and economical solution to the problems generated by the pervasive use of fluorescent lighting in today's workplace. The design of the Spectrum Filter recognizes that fluorescent lighting in its basic form is energy and thermally efficient as well as cost affective, but that its light output is inherently low in its recognition of human factors contributing to the increase in Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). CVS negatively impacts 88% of all employees working at computer monitors. Spectracom Environmental Lighting Filters address the problem at the overhead source. The Spectrum Filter is designed to increase provide that increased human factor benefit to the users of fluorescent lighting, without compromising the efficiencies, at an affordable price point. Spectrum users have unanimously indicated that they have been made more comfortable and more productive, have more energy, feel better about themselves and their work, and about being at work, once the Spectrum Environmental Lighting Filters have been installed, as documented in hundreds of unsolicited testimonial letters received from around the globe. The Spectrum Environmental Lighting Filter is presented to users as a cost-effective method of dramatically improving workplace lighting by modifying the output of conventional, inexpensive fluorescent light sources. 1. Spectrum Filter patents granted in the USA, Canada and the PCT. What Can Spectrum Filters Accomplish The Glare Problem The single most serious health-related issue in the workplace of the 1990's is the eyestrain developing from working on computer monitors and much of that eyestrain is attributable to the incidence of glare. There are more vision-related problems reported (CVS) than there are cases of Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) or Carpal Tunnel Distress (CTD) in the office workplace. In the vast majority of offices, display screens were added to the workplace with little or no adjustment to the ambient light, even though working on a CRT is a completely different task than working on the paper/desktop environment. According to the Illumination Engineering Society (IES) required light levels are lower for computer or combined computer/paper tasks than for general office work. And consideration of reflection and glare becomes of primary importance. When these factors are not dealt with, the result is fatigue and physical stress that develops as the eyes work to separate glare from information. In the usual office environment, glare may be categorized as either direct, the reflections of objects in the monitor screen, or indirect or veiling reflections, caused by scattered light rays inducing reduction of contrast in the monitor face plate. Direct Glare can be reduced by altering the position of the monitor in relation to lights and windows, and by employing glare reduction screens on monitors. But indirect Glare, the veiling reflections, are more problematic and are best treated at their most common source - the fluorescent lamp itself. The Color Problem The light from fluorescent tubes is created by the phosphor coating on the inside of the tubes being made to glow by exposure to UV generated by the gases contained in the tube. While this is a cost effective and energy efficient way to create light, the light it Spectrum Technical Overview Report Page 4 of 31.creates is not one to which the eye adjusts easily. Fluorescent lamps generate a very high component of green, giving an unbalanced, harsh cast to all objects and persons illuminated by it. The eye is most comfortable dealing with light that is created in nature, either daylight or light generated by a glowing solid object. These natural sources have in common that their light is evenly, if not equally, distributed among the sectors of the color spectrum. Spectrum Environmental Lighting Filters will balance the spectral output of a standard fluorescent lamp.

The UV Problem

There is general awareness that overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun is damaging to human tissue. UV is also responsible for fading of fabrics and materials, and for the accelerated spoiling of foodstuffs. Spectrum Filters provide full absorption of UV below 380 nm.

Spectracom Technologies Corporation, 14700 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Tel: 480-443-1400; Fax: 480-443-1488.