Background Research

The Biology behind light and the body

         It is estimated that at any time of your sunrise and dawn last from 4 am to 5 am, while sunset and dusk occur from 6p.m to 7p.m. Circadian Rhythm is the schedule by which our babies operate throughout different periods of time. Changes to this circadian rhythm occur during adolescence when most teens experience a sleep phase delay. This shift in teens' circadian rhythm causes them to naturally feel alert later at night, making it difficult for them to fall asleep before 11:00 pm. Since most teens have early school start times along with other commitments, this sleep phase delay can make it difficult to get the sleep teens need -- an average of 9 1/4 hours, but at least 8 hours. This sleep deprivation can influence the circadian rhythm for teens.

       It should be noted that food, temperature and light affect the SCN more that other stimuli. In terms of light, wavelength of 460-500 nm( blue and green light) regulate circadian responses in humans. Because the sun is rays in the morning reach Earth's surface within this range of the wavelength, the blue light begins mammal's circadian rhythms for the day, for example, by walking them up and energizing them.

      Within the light particles chromophase is part of the molecule responsible for light's characteristic. Within body, melanopsin is a photosensitive retinal Ganglion cells, more specifically. In generally, the passage of lights occur in process: Circadian lights => retinal =>SCN =>Hormones

Due to blue light's effects on the body, it is crucial that blue light is not present in the evening, so that diurnal  mammals do not wake up more before they should be preparing to sleep. A major reason for this is because blue light is crucial to the oscillation in number of human( or other mammals) hormones.

Effect of Discruptions to the Circadian Cycle

        Circadian Rhythm Disruption (CRD) any time that our normal 25-hour circadian rhythm is altered or interrupted, it will have physiological and behavioral impacts. This is better known as circadian rhythm disruption, or CRD. 

         Normal circadian rhythms are naturally altered as one ages including changes in sleep pattern with respect to earlier onset of sleepiness, early-morning awakenings, and increased need for daytime napping. Sleep Disorders and CRD Several chronic sleep disorders can lead or contribute to circadian rhythm disruptions, including:  Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. This disorder causes a delay in the normal sleep onset time by two or more hours. People affected by this disorder complain of late-evening insomnia and/or excessive early-morning sleepiness, have difficulties falling asleep before 2:00 a.m., have short sleep periods during weekdays, and prolonged (9-12 hours) sleep periods during the weekends. 

        These individuals tend to experience depression and other psychiatric disorders. Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome. This is a disorder where sleepiness occurs well before the desired sleep schedule. The resulting symptoms include evening sleepiness, an early sleep onset, and an morning awakening that is earlier than desired. A person feels the urge to go to sleep between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. and wakes up between 1:00 and 3:00 a.m. the following morning. This disorder can have a negative impact on an individual’s personal or social life because of the need to leave early-evening social activities to sleep. Evening sleepiness may also represent a driving hazard. Non 24-Hour SleepWake Disorder. 

      This disorder is the result of an inadvertent delay of the sleep onset time, followed by unsuccessful attempts to sleep at the desired sleep schedule. People affected by this disorder constantly delay sleep onset times that interfere with circadian rhythms. They have a normal sleep duration pattern but live in a free running “biological clock” of 25 hours instead of the community-accepted 24-hour clock. The sleep cycle is affected by inconsistent insomnia that occurs at different times. Those affected will sometimes fall asleep at a later time and wake up later; or fall asleep at an earlier time and wake up earlier. Even if you do not have a chronic sleep disorder, there are several measures that can help you get a good night’s sleep. Among these are:  Mental or physical relaxation techniques (reading, meditation, yoga). If you don’t fall asleep within 30 minutes of going to bed, get out of bed and try an activity that helps induce sleep such as reading, listening to relaxing music, watching something boring on TV, etc.  Ensure you are in an environment conducive to sleeping (dark, quiet, comfortable temperature and mattress). Exercise regularly, but not too near bedtime. •A nutritious, balanced diet.

Treatment of Circadian-Related Conditions

      Treatment of SAD in individuals was attempted with fluorescent. Treatment of SAD takes 4-5 days. it's so long as treatment is continuous through. Also, treatment is continuous after the condition remedied to maintain emotional and physical stability. Besides, Circadian rhythm disturbances respond very well when using blue LED because a higher intensity of light (wavelength between range 460-500 mm) is often necessary to accomplish acute phase shifts.

Here are the technical details of LED strips that we will use for the project:

• 16.5mm (0.65") wide, 4mm (0.16") thick with casing on, 62.5mm (2.45") long per segment
• 32 LEDs per meter
• Removable IP65 weatherproof casing
• Maximum 5V @ 120mA draw per 2.5" strip segment (all LEDs on full brightness)
• 5VDC power requirement (do not exceed 6VDC) - no polarity protection
• 2 common-anode RGB LEDs per segment, individually controllable
• LED wavelengths: 630nm/530nm/475nm
• Connector: 4-pin JST SM

Technical specs (older HL1606 type):

• 19mm (0.75") wide, 4.5mm (0.18") thick with casing on, 62.5mm (2.45") long per segment
• 32 LEDs per meter
• Removable IP65 weatherproof casing
• Maximum 5V @ 120mA draw per 2.5" strip segment (all LEDs on full brightness)
• 5VDC power requirement (do not exceed 6VDC) - no polarity protection
• 2 common-anode RGB LEDs per segment, individually controllable
• LED wavelengths: 630nm/530nm/475nm
• HL1606 LED controller chip with 'SPI'-like protocol (Chinese Datasheet) We also have a link to the english datasheet but since the pinout is incorrect we don't know how trustworthy it is. YMMV

How the LED strip can connect with the power and Raspberry Pi. Here is the diagram of that:

Here is the matrix of power assessment:

% Weight	25%	10%	20%	5%	15%	10%	15%
Qualifications	Energy Cost	Cost of Installation	Dynamic Color Match	Ease of Use	Health Benefits	Universal Use	Home Renovations Needed
1.Solar Set Window	9/10	8/10	10/10	9/10	10/10	10/10	10/10
2.Philips Wake Up Light	8/10	6/10	5/10	7/10	6/10	2/10	10/10
3.Light Therapy	6/10	10/10	0/10	3/10	8/10	0/10	10/10
4.Compact Fluorescent (CFL)	8/10	6/10	0/10	10/10	2/10	8/10	10/10
5.Incandescent Light Bulb	3/10	8/10	0/10	10/10	2/10	10/10	10/10
6.f.lux (computer program)	10/10	10/10	6/10	10/10	5/10	10/10	10/10
7.Install Large Windows	10/10	3/10	0/10	10/10	7/10	3/10	2/10
8.Hang Strategic Mirrors	10/10	6/10	0/10	10/10	7/10	5/10	10/10
9.Installing Skylights	10/10	2/10	0/10	10/10	7/10	2/10	0/10

After analyzing all the solutions, we derived a following result for each of them:

1. 95%
2. 65%
3. 53.5%
4. 57%
5. 48.5%
6. 84.5%
7. 49.5%
8. 53%

Works Cited

      

        DrisColl, S. (2013,January 1).  LED Strips and RGB Software. Retrieved from

 https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-spectrum-analyzer-display-on-rgb-led-strip/led-strip-and-rgb-

led-software.

       Circadian Rhythms Fact Sheet.National Institute of General Medical Sciences.  Retrieved 

from http://www.nigms.nih.gov/education/pages/factsheet_circadianrhythms.aspx.

       Miranda, H. How light Therapy Works in the Body. Retrieved 

from http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20051108/how-light-therapy-works-in-body.