Support for vision is one of the key benefits of pro-cognitive lighting – and at the Zrak Elementary and Nursery School in Prague’s Vinohrady district, they are well aware of it. This school is attended by children with various visual and psychological difficulties, so a healthy environment is very important for them. In 2021, a pilot installation of Spectrasol pro-cognitive LED lighting, which mimics natural daylight, was carried out here. Based on positive experiences, the school and its founder decided in 2025 to expand the lighting throughout the entire building.
In the first phase, the lights were installed in two classrooms to help children with various visual impairments. It didn’t take long for the school to notice that full-spectrum lights are not just ordinary lighting but active aids in learning.
Watch a short excerpt from an interview with the principal, PhDr. Martina Malotová HERE
Research with CTU with the support of the Central Bohemian Innovation Center (SIC)
In 2022, with a grant from the Central Bohemian Innovation Center, CTU conducted research at the school focused on the effects of full-spectrum lighting compared to standard LEDs and fluorescent lights on visual functions. The results confirmed the following positive effects:
- Improved color perception – children distinguished colors significantly better than under standard LEDs or fluorescent lights. “Under pro-cognitive lighting, the children saw colors absolutely amazingly,” says PhDr. Martina Malotová, MBA, principal of the school.
- Higher contrast sensitivity – finer details were perceived more sharply and with less visual strain.
- Even light distribution – eliminating harsh transitions between light and shadow provides more stable visual conditions, less fatigue, and better concentration.
As a result, children’s ability to process visual information improved, as they perceived colors and details more accurately and without unnecessary eye strain. Fatigue appeared less often, and children were able to maintain attention longer, work more calmly, and concentrate on tasks for extended periods.
Technology that makes sense
Based on these findings, the school decided to expand the lighting to additional classrooms, primarily using IBP PRO-SCHOOL 600×600 DALI fixtures. During this year, the school added 70 more fixtures in May and another 20 in July – all IBP PRO-SCHOOL 600×600 models.
“The ability to control the pro-cognitive lighting in rows or above a specific child, dimming and turning on with the intensity controller, is also great,” praises the principal.
The Zrak Elementary and Nursery School has thus taken an important step to make children feel more comfortable in classrooms, have better conditions for learning, and make daily tasks easier and less tiring.
Watch the full interview with principal Martina Malotová:
View photos of the installation at ZŠ a MŠ Zrak:
Translated using AI
