Blog posts of '2012' 'May'

A recent study has shown that LED lights can be used as therapy for chronic pain. According to Technorati.com, the idea to use LED lights for therapy purposes was first discovered by NASA when they used red LED lights in plant growth experiments. Plants require wavelengths from the red end of the light spectrum. Enough of it can speed plant development, and they realized it worked the same way on injuries in outer space. The study was done using a combination of red LED lights and infrared LED lights in what they call a DPL (deep penetrating light) system. The light soaks into the skin and can reach through tissue and muscle all the way to bone. The wavelengths of the light stimulate and quicken the healing process.

 This process can be used as therapy because it will improve the development of vessels, which distributes more oxygen throughout the body and ultimately leads to better circulation. It also relieves pain in a drug-free manner by blocking the pain-spreading elements. The combination of light also relieves pain by providing endorphins. It reduces swelling and encourages RNA and DNA synthesis to replace damaged cells more quickly. Therefore, this form of therapy can be used for a number of purposes, from arthritis to broken bones to migraines. It works to relieve pain, reduce swelling, and prevent infections from forming. For those that do not enjoy taking pain killers, or want the healing process to go by quickly and painlessly, then this particular therapy is ideal.

For the past 12 months, individuals have been working hard to brighten up the city of Sydney, Australia. Finally, on May 18^th, the project was officially completed and unveiled. 557 LED lights were used in a display, called Luminous at Darling Quarter, to enhance the role of Darling Quarter as the new face of digital arts in Australia. According to Nine to Five newspaper, Bruce Ramus, creator of the display, stated “the digital façade will add radiance and playfulness to the precinct and bring people together in the spirit of creating light and art for others to enjoy.”

 Energy efficient LED lights, provided by Klik Systems, are used to ensure that the presentation is environmentally sound. The entire display uses the same amount of energy as five household vacuum cleaners! When lit, workers inside of the building will be unaware, as not to distract them from their usual duties. The display stands four stories high and stretches to reach a total of 150 meters in length, making it the largest visual interactive display in the world. The artwork is interactive because it will feature content generated by various groups within the community, as well as artists both local and international. The display will also incorporate public interaction through games and artwork. Several games guests can compete in include Big Snake, Pong, Finger Paint, Kangaroo Crossing, Gyro Dance, and Plasma. People can also use their smartphones as means of interacting with the exhibition. If one’s design is chosen to be displayed, friends and family may visit the website to view the display in real-time.

 The purpose of the display was to associate art with community involvement as well as commercial liveliness. A member of the Darling Quarter explains in more detail: “the interactive component of Darling Quarter is like no other in the world. The digital façade allows guests to engage with the precinct. This type of social interaction gives Darling Quarter a new dimension of engagement.” Members of the community can experience the green and innovative display six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday, once the sun sets.

Medical centers and offices are beginning to make the transformation from halogen or incandescent bulbs to LED inserted in their medical tools. A medical equipment distributor, DRE Medical Equipment has come out with an improved line of its most popular product, the DRE Vista Exam Light. The new addition to the old product is the LED lighting that has replaced the traditional halogen lighting. This conversion is more energy efficient as well as cost efficient. LED light bulbs last a great deal longer than halogen bulbs, and will not need to be replaced as often.

 Not only are the LED bulbs extremely efficient, but they also provide a more productive working area. The LEDs emit a brighter light which enables surgeons, and other types of doctors, to see clearer. The bulbs also give off a larger flood beam allowing a greater work space. The wider beam will also improve shadow control since the LED bulbs are designed to overlap, meaning it will not matter how many bulbs are blocked, the spotlight will remain the same; therefore moving shadows will not distract doctors from their work.

 The product features a 28 inch arm with a 23 inch extension arm that can rotate 40 degrees up and down. The lamp head and arm are able to rotate 540 degrees. The product is also available in numerous formations such as single wall or ceiling mount, dual ceiling mount, as well as in a transportable structure.

A Japanese festival took place earlier this May along the Sumida River in Tokyo. The Tokyo Hotaru Festival was held in honor of improving the city’s beauty. The event offered the usual festival activities such as food tents, games, live music and fireworks. However, this year there was something more. To mimic an old tradition of watching fireflies along the water, blue LED light bulbs were placed in the river. Over 100,000 blue “fireflies” floated magnificently down the Sumida River as thousands and thousands of people gathered around to witness the lovely scene. They floated alongside the Tokyo Sky Tree tower, which was clad in matching blue and white lights. The bulbs were tiny, just three inches long in length, and were charged with solar-produced electricity. The firefly bulbs were later caught downstream.

Light Bohrd, a small company in Austin, Texas, has recently offered a new type of product to the sports world: skateboards. But what makes their skateboards, more specifically longboards, outshine any other brand is the LED lights enclosed in the board. The LEDs are embedded inside, and use patent-pending technology to store energy and activate the LED light.  

 The board contains no external switches or wires that are required to be plugged into an outlet. The LED light charges wirelessly through means of a magnetic device called the PowerMat. The PowerMat glides over the PowerMat sticker and remains there for several hours until the light is fully charged. In order to activate the light, a separate magnet is swept over the sticker in the same manner as the PowerMat. Once the board is in motion, the light will illuminate in the form of the graphic located on the bottom of the board, a little monster cartoon character. The board contains three separate modes, off, on, and photo. The on and off mode are just as they sound, but the photo mode offers a dimmer light, better suited for taking photos or shooting videos.

 The President of the company, Chris Forgey, received the idea from his skateboarding son and the increasing trend of riding at night. “There is style in the clothing, the look, the tricks, and the ride,” he states. “The board is an extension of the art form. It’s our opinion Light Bohrd establishes a new creative benchmark that will allow skaters and snowboarders alike to get noticed and get known.” They also plan to provide other types of skateboards along with snowboards later this year, and are currently involved in a project to manufacture and sell helmets with the same LED technology embedded inside. 

With plans, designs, and disputes of rebuilding the World Trade Center to be the tallest building in the U.S., it will tower over the Empire State Building and takeover reign as the tallest building in New York City. Although no longer the tallest building in New York, the Empire State Building has some tricks up its sleeve that will keep it in the spotlight. Literally.  

 The owners of the Empire State Building have a plot to replace about 400 regular bulbs with 68,000 smaller LED bulbs. Not only does this allow the building to “Go Green” and conserve energy, but the change will deliver special effects with an array of colorful lights. The technology will support rainbows, ripples, and other colored designs across the New York skyline. The President of the company that owns the building states that this project was not intended to try and “one-up” the World Trade Center, but to remind everyone that the Empire State Building is the focal point of the Manhattan skyline.  

 A project like this cost millions to carry out, but the expenses will be covered, and more, in energy savings due to the energy efficient technology in LED light bulbs. The task is predicted to be concluded by September this year.

LED light bulbs have been around for quite some time, but have become increasingly popular within the last decade or so. Replacing old incandescent or halogen bulbs with LED bulbs in your home can cut down significantly on electric bills, but in a corporate or commercial setting, that amount turns into thousands of dollars saved! Here are ten reasons why businesses, big or small, should switch to LEDs:

 1.) Consume Less Energy

It requires far less energy to light a LED bulb than any other type of bulb. The energy is converted into light instead of heat as in regular bulbs. For example, a 50 watt incandescent bulb is equivalent to a 4 watt LED bulb. Think of how much energy a company can conserve by switching all of their bulbs to LEDs and what an impact that would make on the environment!

 2.) Longer Lamp Life

LED bulbs last longer than any other type of bulb, so frequent maintenance is not necessary. The average lifespan of a LED light bulb is 50,000 hours, which is ideal for long days at the office.

 3.) Emit Less Heat

As previously stated, LED bulbs convert their energy into light rather than heat. Therefore, they emit far less heat, making for a comfortable work environment. By not emitting heat this allows for companies to also save energy by not turning on cooling systems due to the excess heat in the atmosphere. This feature also makes them safe for work environments where heat is dangerous, such as a laboratory or factory.

 4.) No Toxic Materials

LED light bulbs do not contain any mercury unlike CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) making them a safe choice.

 5.) Durability

LED bulbs tend to be smaller but sturdier than most other types of light bulbs. The material they are made with is thicker than that of the glass of the incandescent bulbs.

 6.) Provide Better Lighting

LED lights are brighter than other lights, which could possibly increase productivity in the workplace. Grocery stores use this specific type of lighting to spotlight their produce and make them look more appealing to customers.

 7.) Easy Exchange

LED bulbs are designed to retrofit any existing incandescent or halogen lighting fixtures. Therefore, all you need to purchase is the bulbs!

 8.) Won’t Burn Out

These bulbs will never completely burn out. When they need to be replaced, they will provide a dimmer light than usual. Even when dimmed, these bulbs can still last for quite some time.

 9.) Incentives

Depending on the state you live in, your company can receive certain incentives, such as tax credits or loans, for switching to energy efficient LED light bulbs.

 10.) Saves Money

The most important reason of all why LEDs are perfect for businesses is the amount of money that will be saved. LED bulbs may be more expensive than other bulbs on initial purchase, but will save you a lot of money in the long run. According to previous case studies, companies have saved up to 70 – 90% on energy costs! Not only will you save money on that, but since these bulbs do not have to be replaced as often as other bulbs, money will be saved on maintenance fees.

We’ve all seen city skylines at night filled with light from buildings and streets. Have you ever wondered if there was a reason the lights were on in an office building late at night? Or why commercial locations are lit with fantastically blinding lights? One group has wondered and is taking steps to raise awareness for “bad lighting” in an attempt to get officials to conserve energy. They call themselves Guerilla Lighting.

The goals of Guerilla Lighting are to create strategic, yet beautiful, light displays that create “ephemeral and magical moments of quality lighting that are recorded and sent to the media and politicians to instigate action against bad lighting.” They hope that every city will come to adopt a strategic lighting plan that will use light more efficiently. They also want a standard of quality to be enforced when designing and installing lights and measures to be taken to prevent the wasting of light.

Their website features a large gallery of their light protests. Beautiful displays from all over the world demonstrate the power and beauty of light when used strategically, rather than wastefully.