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Dim those lights! Each has an IP address.
What’s the IP address for that lightbulb? NXP, a Netherlands-based semiconductor company has invented Greenchip technology that will be in many Wi-Fi connected lightbulbs on sale by early 2012. What? WiFi lightbulbs? Well, crazy as it sounds, it will let you “talk” to the lightbulb – for example from a smartphone or iPad or laptop. Not home? No bother. Bring up the IP Manager for your house and turn on all the lights, or dim the front room and boost the upstairs.
Thanks to microchips and the new ‘limitless’ range of IP addresses under the IPv6 protocol, it won’t be long before the fridge really does talk to Tesco’s. This is a world emerging faster than Bill Gates millions. And he’s the man who turned his house into an experimental electronic abode. How that plays out in the everyday world remains to be seen. But we can expect some dazzling light show examples in the next couple of years.
It may be too much fiddly technology for the average person, but the ability to micro-control all the lights in your place opens up all sorts of creative potential. Lighting designers are going to have a fantastic new toolkit. At home WiFi lightbulbs could save you money too, because you don’t need to waste it if you’re not around to enjoy it… just open your smart device and turn ’em down!
For the whole-r story, go to FastCompany’s website here. Ten years ago FastCompany was the fattest internet/interactive magazine in the world. It still publishes interesting and breaking tech, social and marketing news. Enjoy!
