PROJECT BACKGROUND
Visual experience — the combination of light exposure, viewing distance, and spatial characteristics of the environment — plays an important role in ocular health and comfort. It is increasingly recognized as a key factor in the development and progression of myopia (short-sightedness), especially in children and young adults. Recent advances in wearable technology now allow researchers to measure visual experience in real-world settings with high precision, capturing both light exposure and viewing distance continuously. However, these novel devices need to be trialed in research settings, and methods for analyzing the resulting complex datasets are still emerging.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
This project aims to explore the use of new wearable devices for assessing visual experience and ocular health–related exposures. The goal is to gain initial insights into how people experience light and near-work in daily life and to develop analytical strategies that capture meaningful patterns. This work will contribute to advancing tools for studying visual comfort and myopia risk in naturalistic environments. This project focuses on validating newly developed wearable devices for measuring visual experience, including light exposure and viewing distance. This work will lay the foundation for larger studies on visual comfort and myopia development.
STUDENT TASKS
The student will work on a defined sub-project within this broader research program. Tasks may include:
– Reviewing the literature on visual experience, myopia risk factors, and wearable measurement tools
– Assisting with the setup and trialing of novel wearable devices for visual experience logging
– Collecting and organizing pilot data from a small cohort of participants
– Developing and applying analytical methods for visual experience data (e.g., integrating light exposure and viewing distance metrics)
– Exploring ways to visualize and communicate visual experience patterns
– Preparing a short presentation and/or report summarizing findings and methodological recommendations
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
By the end of the 8-week program, the student will:
– Gain hands-on experience with wearable sensing technologies for vision and health research
– Learn methods for analyzing complex, multidimensional exposure datasets
– Produce a structured report and presentation detailing their findings and proposed analytical approaches
– Contribute to the early development of techniques for assessing visual comfort and myopia-related exposures in real-world settings
– Strengthen their skills in interdisciplinary research at the interface of neuroscience, vision science, and data analysis
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Knowledge of the German language is not required.
ABOUT THE PROFESSORSHIP OF CHRONOBIOLOGY & HEALTH
The Professorship of Chronobiology & Health (Prof. Dr. Manuel Spitschan) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) investigates how biological rhythms, light exposure, and visual environments interact with human health and behavior. Our team combines methods from neuroscience, psychology, ophthalmology, and data science to study the role of light and visual experience across the lifespan. We are committed to advancing science-based interventions and public health strategies that support vision and circadian health.
