Bridging Human-Centric Lighting and Visible Light Communications: A Review of Principles, Technologies and Applications in Tourism and Related Fields

This paper provides an analysis of Human-Centric Lighting (HCL), emphasizing that this concept represents a natural evolution of traditional lighting systems. HCL proposes dynamic illumination adapted to the moment of day, user activities and, most importantly user preferences, having an important role not only in comfort but also in health. In tourism and hospitality, HCL has applications in hotels, workspaces and public areas, contributing to the well-being of both tourists and employees. This paper also explores the integration of HCL with Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology. As both concepts rely on LED-based lighting infrastructure, their integration is straightforward and enables new opportunities. Therefore, the bridging of HCL and VLC represents a major paradigm shift that integrates biological, technological, and experiential aspects, having strong potential for the development of intelligent environments. In this context, this paper also discusses some of the aspects associated with HCL–VLC integration, highlighting that this integration can be achieved in a relatively straightforward manner, although certain design challenges remain.