You may be dating yourself if your idea of a remote control light is clapping your hands to turn one on and off. Like so many things, leave it to technology to take a concept and turn it into something complex in a good way. Our latest example is LIFX, a company trying to bring smart lightbulbs to market. LIFX appears to have hit a nerve as their Kickstarter project, originally set up with a goal of $100,000, just hit the $1.3 million mark on the strength of over 9,100 backers who bought up all available pledges.
The LIFX bulbs go far beyond the capabilities of the Clapper. LIFX is starting with LED bulbs which are both more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs and lack the annoying light and harmful elements found in CFL bulbs. LIFX is creating the bulbs using color LEDs, so a full rainbow of colors is possible along with a range of “special effects” like flashing or dimming the bulbs.
Backing the actual bulb technology, LIFX is incorporating a computer board to enable each bulb to be connected via WiFi with each other and the controller. According to LIFX, a master bulb must be present which connects to a WiFi router. The other bulbs then create a mesh network to connect to each other and the master bulb. The end result is that the bulbs are all capable of being remotely controlled.
Achieving control will be done using an app for smartphones, including the Android platform. The app will include features like a dimmer switch or options to change the colors. LIFX indicates they will make their SDK available for other app developers to use, so bulbs could be set to do things like flash a different color when one receives a message on their smartphone. Other options like the venerable timer used to turn lights on and off when away on vacation will be available as well.
If you did not get in on the Kickstarter project and grab a pledge spot, you can still head over to the project and sign up to be notified when the LIFX bulbs are ready for retail purchase. Brace yourself though, as they are expensive.
Smart lightbulbs – a bright idea?
source: Kickstarter
