Table of Contents
Ever since the emergence of LED lights, lighting, in general, has taken a new path. As more and more things become “smart things,” LED lighting, too, is joining the trend. Below, we discuss the future of lighting in terms of smart lights, LEDs and what that means for you.
What Is Intelligent Lighting?
More commonly known as smart lighting, intelligent lighting is a type of light that utilizes a series of lights and controls that are connected. The colour temperature, brightness intensity and other aspects of each light bulb can be controlled by one single “network” that they are connected to.
Intelligent lighting is commonly found in smart homes or connected to other smart devices that allow you to control them remotely or with your voice. Smart lighting can also be set to behave in certain ways automatically. For instance, you can have the light slowly get brighter as night rolls around or set the lights on a timer to turn on and off on their own when you leave home and come back. It can also be used for security purposes.
There is really no true limit to what smart LED lights can do, and it is why they are growing increasingly popular as time goes on. Beyond that, their very nature makes them energy saving and power saving, which can reduce your carbon footprint.
Will LED Lighting Become Obsolete?
With constant advances in lighting, many people wonder if things like smart lights and low-energy light fittings like LEDs are just a passing trend. The reality is that it is unlikely that LED lights are going anywhere anytime soon. LED lights have been around for six decades, even though their surge in popularity is fairly recent.
With that sort of staying power and more and more people making the switch to LED lights decades into the future, it can be safely assumed that LED lights aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
This is especially because the benefits of LED lighting for the environment are becoming clearer and clearer every day. It has been shown that LED lights reduce the carbon footprint of those who use them, and if people continue to buy them as they have been, the world can eliminate a potential 160 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from escaping into the environment every year.
As most people are environmentally conscious, this is a big motivator for many to keep purchasing them and for manufacturers to keep incorporating them into their light fixtures.
That said, there have been recent discussions about lasers replacing LED lights. Laser diodes have perks like being smaller than LED diodes and capable of producing up to 1,000 times as much illumination at a fraction of the energy consumption. Some speculate that you may even be able to light your entire home with a single diode. Even so, more studies need to be done, and in the meantime, LED lighting is the way to go for the foreseeable future. The advantages of LED are too vast to consider otherwise.
How Are LEDs Manufactured?
For a better understanding of how LEDs function, let’s take a look at how LED lights are made.
What Is an LED Light?Â
Whenever electricity moves through an LED, or light emitting diode, it generates illumination. This occurs when the particles that carry the currents, holes and electrons all come together in the bulb’s semiconductor.
Basic LED ComponentsÂ
LED lights are made up of those semi-conducting layers and can have one or more of these layers, or chips, that sit on heat-conducting material. This is often referred to as the “heat sink” that is shrouded by a lens. The diodes are then attached to a circuit board that can be easily programmed.
The programming can do certain things like allow for preset timing, light dimming and light sensing capabilities. All of this is tucked away inside of a structure that becomes the light bulb.
How They Are MadeÂ
To start, the material for the semiconductors has to be made, something that is known as the semiconductor wafer. This material is created in a high-pressure, high-temperature environment and made up of elements like phosphor, arsenic and gallium. They become a liquid that in itself is a concentrated solution that is used in the light.
After these elements have been mixed up, there is a rod that is put into it and then pulled back out. On the end of the rod, the liquid crystallizes. Then, this material is sliced into the little wafers and smoothed out before being dunked into a solution of different kinds of solvents to clean it.
After that, more layers of this material are added to the little wafer. Following this, metal contacts are placed on the semiconductor before the diodes are finally mounted onto the structure and wires are attached to them.
What Is Lifi and How Can It Be Used?
LiFi is a type of wireless technology that takes advantage of light instead of radio frequencies to move data from place to place. LiFi stands for Light Fidelity and is a modern way to move information in real time. This is thought to be a process that is faster than typical WiFi and works similarly to WiFi itself.
The main difference is that the information is moved across the visible light spectrum instead of traditional means. Because it can run on the waves produced by standard household LED lights, it brings it more bandwidth for the information to work with.
LiFi has certain constraints, like the fact that it can’t move through walls, but these constraints won’t immediately mean it is useless. In fact, there are many ways that LiFi is used. One of the most common settings is using LiFi in hospitals to keep an eye on the vitals of patients using wireless sensors. The advantages of this come in the form of not disturbing any sensitive equipment in the hospital such as an MRI machine. They can also be used to store, transmit and analyze confidential data in the building in a way that is not as susceptible to being compromised.
Because lights are practically everywhere you go, lights in rooms of general buildings can also be used to power:
- HD video streaming
- Internet access
- wireless thermostats
- printers
- laptops
- clocks
- other similar functions
What Is an OLED Light?
OLED is an acronym that represents the term “organic light-emitting diode.” It is a type of LED light that uses organic molecules to produce the illumination with the same diode that normal LED lights use. OLED displays are considered to be among the best in the world.
You will commonly see them on mobile devices and TVs for this reason. They are made by putting thin organic films between two conductors, with a bright light being emitted upon electrical currents being supplied.
What Is the Internet of Things and How Is LED Lighting Important?
At its most basic, the Internet of Things, often discussed with its acronym, IoT, is the idea of connecting items to the internet and other networks of interconnected devices. It is a large network of both things and people that collect information about how things are used that is then shared to improve it. This comes in a broad range of items, from smart microwaves to self-driving cars, from wearable fitness devices to even “smart” footballs.
It works by having a sensor that is built into an object and connected to one of the compatible platforms of the Internet of Things. The information is automatically filtered out by importance, and the good information left over can be used to make recommendations, connect patterns and figure out any issues before they arise.
IoT lighting plays a big part in this. Using LiFi and other methods, information can be transmitted to the Internet of Things instantly. There are many benefits in terms of smart LED lighting and the Internet of Things when they work together. These include:
- Faster deployment of information by providing better lighting at various locations to move data more swiftly
- Reduction in the cost of maintenance, as LED lights last longer and can have their status checked remotely through the IoT
- Public safety enhancement is possible with LED lights as they can reach the requirements of CCTV programs
- Conservation of energy from the power-saving nature of LED lighting
- Improved motion detection with the addition of IoT sensors that collect information about when they are used, including how many people are in a room when they come on
How Smart Lighting Works and Why We Are Using ItÂ
Smart lighting is like any other type of home automation. It allows people to manage their lights remotely through an internet-based hub that all of the lights connect to. This gives you control over the lights in a central location.
This hub is something of a gateway that allows for wireless communication between the various smart bulbs and smart switches in the home and in the tablet or phone you use. The smart lights and smart switches are at the base of these operations; without them, there is nothing to connect to this hub and nothing to control. The switches usually come in the form of external plugs that you insert into any standard light outlet, making them easy to add.
People are taking advantage of his technology for a few main reasons, including:
- the convenience that smart lighting affords as it limits having to walk around the house to turn the lights off and on
- the ability to get creative with the lighting to set the mood with dimming, changing colours and more
- the ability to automate lighting, so you can set it to turn on and off at designated times
Why Is LED Lighting Currently the Best Option?
There are many advantages to using LED lights compared to traditional bulbs. Below are a few of the main draws.
- A LONG LIFESPAN. The typical LED light will last for a minimum of 20,000 hours. Compare that to the 1,000-hour lifespan of a halogen bulb.
- ENERGY EFFICIENCY. LED lights use considerably less energy than traditional bulbs, turning less power into more light. Other bulbs tend to use most of their energy as heat, whereas LED lights use most of their energy as illumination.
- IMPROVED SAFETY. Since LED lights do not output a lot of heat, they are safe to touch while on with your bare hands. Their limited heat output also means they are at virtually no risk of being a fire hazard like many bulbs of the past can be.
- ABILITY TO DIM. Some LED lights come with the ability to be dimmed and brightened according to your preferences.
- COLOUR TEMPERATURES. LED lights come in a wide spectrum of colour temperatures, from warm to cool whites, so you can choose the one that best suits your home or office.
- ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE. Since they use less energy, have no harmful chemicals such as mercury, are recyclable and output practically no UV emissions, they are better for the environment.
Unique LED Lighting Ideas for Your Space
The LSP194 9 Watt Black And Gold LED Track Light is perfect for placement in shops and areas of the home where you want to highlight certain items. It features a moveable head that you adjust to shine its 800 lumens of light anywhere you choose. It comes in both warm and cool colour temperatures, so it is well suited for any kind of space. The black finish and gold trim make it look sleek and elegant.
With the Male 4 Watt Round Illuminated LED Toilet Sign, you can use LED lights to lead your customers or guests to the right bathroom. This sign is round in shape and features the standard cut-out of a male figure standing in the center. The light shines from behind to illuminate the symbol and artistically washes the light back onto the wall behind it.
Using the LWA372 6 Watt Brass Finish Up And Down Outdoor LED Wall Light, you can light up your hotel, business or home’s exterior in a sophisticated way. This outdoor wall light features a sleek golden tube shape with diffusers on the top and bottom. Light shines behind it and reflects off the wall to offer a soft glow and a decorative appeal.
Lovers of modern lighting who do not have the right ceilings for recessed lights will love the LBL253B 15 Watt Hexagonal Surface Mounted LED Downlight. This three-light downlight attaches directly to the surface of a ceiling and shines downwards as traditional recessed lights do. Their hexagonal, honeycomb shape gives them an artistic and ultra-contemporary look.
For a light that is as decorative as it is practical, try the LWA427 3 Watt Wall Washer Interior Wall Light. This light reflects onto itself and shines back on the wall, washing it with warm illumination. It comes in black and white finishes to suit the colour scheme of any space.
It is no surprise that LED lights continue to dominate the lighting industry, even as it continues to evolve. With intelligent lighting growing in popularity, the future of LED lights looks brighter than ever.
