philips reveals connected lighting for the internet of things

philips reveals connected lighting for the internet of things
image courtesy of philips

welcome to the future of lighting. philips, ever a pioneer in the development of lighting technology, has firmly established itself at the forefront of the next of innovation. their range of lighting products combine microprocessors and advanced software, giving each light limitless potential.

casual observers worldwide have unknowingly witnessed the dynamic capabilities of philip’s connected systems. their smart LED arrangements illuminate skyscrapers, bridges and other iconic structures across the globe. the LEDs employed by philips are capable of creating any color tone while internet connectivity allows for each installation to be managed in real time from anywhere in the world. furthermore, the lights can be programmed individually to create a range of change effects.

the government of kazakhstan has partnered with philips lighting to illuminate their bridges 
image courtesy of philips

LED lights reduce energy costs and produce higher quality light while the cloud based system decreases operating expenses by enabling offsite control.

the baiterek monument in kazakhstan
image courtesy of philips

while illuminating landmarks may present the most impressive application for connected LED lighting, its ability to transform the humble streetlight reveals its revolutionary capabilities. municipalities across the world, including los angeles, have discovered the efficiencies of LEDs and their ability to change how residents interact with their surroundings. 

the floralis genérica by eduardo catalono illuminated from within by philips lighting technology
image courtesy of philips

in contrast to the sodium and mercury vapor lights, LED bulbs offer a higher degree of control which decreases light pollution. residents can now enjoy stars previously that previously were only visible from the countryside.

citta santa angelo at night — notice how the lights project a warm glow while revealing the night sky
image courtesy of philips

the new lighting foments interaction and has become a part of the community’s fabric
image courtesy of philips

within a commercial context, philips lighting systems offers similarly transformational capabilities. deliotte’s amsterdam headquarter’s, ‘the edge’ showcases connected lighting’s potential.  the edge incorporates technology with the goal, as stated by jeff casis, philips’ SVP of global lighting systems: to create a new system that can significantly improve worker productivity and enhance the experience. (to create a) new system based on customer insights and use cases, along this journey we develop new technology that unlocks the value and customer experience. philips re-imagined the ubiquitous overhead lighting unit to incorporate the most cutting edge technology.

each ceiling panel replaces fluorescent tube lighting with 16 LED cells. while the panels themselves do not appear overly complex at first glance, it is the hardware behind them which offers their incredible capabilities. each panel is powered by a single ethernet capable, the same cable found going into household routers that consumes at maximum 30 watts.

image courtesy of philips

the bidirectional capabilities of ethernet cables enables the panels to both send and receive data in real time. due to recent developments in miniaturization and price reductions, each overhead unit features four embedded sensors that provide a constant stream of information regarding temperature, humidity and occupancy. from these informational inputs the system continuously making adjusts inputs to optimize the building’s performanc. the sensory units can be swapped out to fulfill different objectives or to accommodate technological developments.

notice the 4 sensors embedded to the right of the lighting unit
image © designboom

each overhead lighting unit can be individually controlled by users via smartphone due to their unique light signatures. the signature is achieved by flickering the light at rates which is imperceptible to the human eye. by giving each unit an IP address their location can be established within the building and managed individually. occupants can  manage brightness and temperature settings from the comfort of theirs desks. 

each light emits a unique light signature which is linked to an IP address 
image courtesy of philips

it is important to note philips leaves app development to 3rd parties, creating the potential for constant innovation and customization. the mapping tech has been employed by carrefour to help shoppers navigate stores in the most efficient manner throughout the store while identifying the precise location of every good on their uploaded shopping list.

image courtesy of philips

the HUE at home lighting system takes the same groundbreaking technology described above and packages it into a suite of home products. hue lights combine multiple LEDs to create the potential for 16 million different colors. what truly makes hue special is the ability to incorporate smart bulb technology into existing fixtures.

the hue system of lights can be adjusted to create warm tones
image courtesy of philips

currently there are over three-hundred apps that have been developed by third parties for HUE which range from simply adjusting color to matching light tones with the sun in order to promote a healthy cycadian rhythm.

philips has partnered with apple to create an integrated experience that can be controlled from the new iwatch

while the 16 million different color options is exciting… HUE can be integrated with both visual and acoustic media platforms for an all encompassing experience. directors now have the ability to compose custom ‘light tracks’ for a movie or TV show. the ‘light tracks’ illuminate the surrounding space, creating an all encompassing experience, a visual surround sound. 

the integration of software with LED lighting has the potential to revolution every sphere of day to day life; the internet of things has arrived.