node red
Node-RED is an interesting programming tool that was recently open-sourced from an IBM project. It aims to make complex “Internet of Things” solutions accessible to non-coders via a simple visual, flow-based interface. Node-RED is a programming tool for wiring together … Continue reading node red
usgbc LEED program gives big boost to dc power in commercial buildings
This week the USGBC just added a major point opportunity for commercial buildings that integrate substantial native-DC power infrastructure. As I discussed just recently (and even included 5 years ago in my predictions for the future of lighting), it increasingly … Continue reading usgbc LEED program gives big boost to dc power in commercial buildings
greenhouse lighting in the Netherlands
Check out this stunning nighttime aerial photography of the industrial greenhouses here in the Netherlands by Munich-based photographer Tom Hegen. A bit better than the images I shot from a plane 4 years ago! I certainly appreciate the need for … Continue reading greenhouse lighting in the Netherlands
smarteagle sensor solutions
SmartEagle is a Dutch-based spinoff of IoT-development company Evalan that uses camera-based sensor systems and AI to accurately detect and analyze desk usage in office environments. They never blatantly say they use cameras, but it is pretty obvious by the … Continue reading smarteagle sensor solutions
smart signage concept for retail shelving
Here’s a rather unusual strategy: Today I’m going to giveaway a startup pitch! Back in 2016, I sketched up a quick pitch deck for what I saw as the future of digital signage for big-box and grocery store applications. At … Continue reading smart signage concept for retail shelving
nowatt lighting
Nowatt Lighting is a French startup focusing on off-grid, solar-powered light fixtures. Nowatt has built intelligence into their products that seems to go beyond most “dumb” solar-powered lights, with multi-channel LED engines and app-based control including parametric-based scenarios that can … Continue reading nowatt lighting
lucept is 10 years old!
Wow! I missed a big anniversary. Oops! Back in July, Lucept turned 10 years old! A fun little hobby blog looking at the incredibly specific and nerdy topic of “future trends in architectural lighting” has nevertheless accumulated 903 posts, 128,356 … Continue reading lucept is 10 years old!
caspar
Caspar is a startup focusing on learning/artificial intelligence systems for residential smarthome applications, especially for multi-unit residential developments. I definitely believe that lighting and other building systems need to become more automated, and the concept of a learning/auto-adjusting system fits … Continue reading caspar
the efficiency advantage of DC electrical infrastructure
We are at the inflection point of a new revolution: DC-power infrastructure is set to replace AC-infrastructure in many, if not most, commercial buildings. The case is simple: Almost every device in a modern building uses direct-current (DC), including LED … Continue reading the efficiency advantage of DC electrical infrastructure
lightglass
Lightglass, a Philadelphia company started in 2012, produces interior faux-glazing systems with a integrated LED back-lighting to create pleasant sensations of brightness at an architectural scale. Even though the optical effect is opaque white, it tricks the brain into thinking … Continue reading lightglass
LED track lighting is rapidly adopting 48VDC as a new standard
Over the past few years, there has been a clear trend for track lighting and other innovative “system” style architectural lighting products to adopt 48VDC instead the usual mains voltage 120VAC or 220-240VAC. 48VDC delivers a host of benefits, most … Continue reading LED track lighting is rapidly adopting 48VDC as a new standard
wave illumination
Wave Illumination is a startup spun out of Ocean Optics that is launching a handheld wireless photo-spectrometer paired with a smartphone app. Costs $2000. If lighting companies want to push narrowly-defined quality of light metrics into the market to charge … Continue reading wave illumination
teamlab – megaliths in the bath house
Yet another stunning project from TeamLab, this time a cluster of “megaliths” placed in an abandoned bathhouse. If you look closely in the video, you can clearly see the fine pixelation of the direct-view LED panels. I’m guessing 2mm or … Continue reading teamlab – megaliths in the bath house
visible spectrum image
I found this nicely composed chart for the visible spectrum, with an emphasis on the varying effects of blue light. I can’t find the original source but within the image it is credited to “High Performance Optics”. Continue reading visible spectrum image
ambient communications: research by Yasaman Mavvaj of TU Delft
Editor’s preface, Brad Koerner: This spring and summer I had the privilege of mentoring Yasaman Mavvaj, a graduate thesis student at TU Delft’s Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering. For the past several years, I’ve guest lectured at Professor Sylvia Pont’s … Continue reading ambient communications: research by Yasaman Mavvaj of TU Delft
bentley exp 100 gt concept car
Luxury automaker Bentley just revealed a concept car called the EXP100GT targeted for the year 2035. The design includes some captivating lighting features. It is especially notable how so many of the lighting features are animated, creating a sumptuous feeling … Continue reading bentley exp 100 gt concept car
day and light poster
Via Core77: Design studio Order order has developed a poster that visualizes exactly when the sun rises and sets each day, throughout the year. The graph consists of two axes, the vertical shows hours and minutes, the horizontal displays days. … Continue reading day and light poster
jiva materials
Jiva Materials is a London-based startup and project spin-out from RCA that has developed a non-toxic, biodegradable, flax-based circuit board substrate branded Soluboard. The circuit board peels apart and sheds its electronic traces after being soaked in hot water. Continue reading jiva materials
commonplace studio
Commonplace Studio is an Amsterdam-based design studio consisting of designer Jon Stam and hard- and software engineer Simon de Bakker. Stam and de Bakker are creating some very interesting concepts that integrate micro digital projectors into ceiling- and wall-luminaires to … Continue reading commonplace studio
guangzhou lighting exhibition 2019
This past week I attended and presented at the Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition 2019, staged by the excellent Messe Frankfurt Hong Kong team. My presentation was titled “From Architectural Lighting to Architectural Media“, in which I covered the transition to … Continue reading guangzhou lighting exhibition 2019
Lucept 