Supermarket LED lights talk to smartphone app

Carrefour is using the location data to trigger aisle-specific special offers

French shoppers have become the first to experience a new LED lighting system that sends special offers and location data to their smartphones.

The technology was designed by Philips and has been installed at a Carrefour supermarket in Lille.

It transmits codes via light waves, which are undetectable to the eye but can be picked up by a phone camera.

The innovation offers an alternative to Bluetooth-based "beacons", which are being installed by many retailers.

"We are always on the lookout for innovations to facilitate customers' navigation," explained Carrefour executive Celine Martin.

"Thanks to this new application, which uses Philips technology, we are now able to provide our customers at the EuraLille Carrefour with a new service, enabling them to quickly search and locate their preferred promotions or detect all the promotions around them."

Philips said that an added benefit was that its system required 50% less electricity than the old lights it had replaced.

Philips is not the only organisation to have researched ways to transmit data via specialised LED bulbs.

Engineers at the University of Edinburgh are working on a "li-fi" system capable of transmitting data at up to 10 gigabits per second, which they suggest could offer an alternative to radio waves.

The Philips scheme is more limited in its scope, but has the benefit of being ready for market.

It works by making each of the fitted LEDs transmit a distinct location code.

If users open a compatible app and let their smartphone camera look upwards, this can be used to determine their location - accurate to up to 1m - and the direction they are facing.

It functions in a similar way to GPS-based maps used outdoors, and compares favourably to wi-fi based location systems, which are typically accurate to only 3-5m.

Many retailers, however, are investing instead in beacons - small Bluetooth 4 transmitters that allow compatible apps to work out how far away a user is standing, but not their precise position.

Beacons have the benefit of being cheaper and potentially easier to try out than replacing a store's complete lighting system.

However, one expert saw the merits of Philips's alternative.

"You have to look at this as a long-term investment, but this is potentially an easier spend to swallow as you're not just betting on one thing - you still have a good lighting system," commented Chris Green, principal technology analyst at the Davies Murphy Group consultancy.

"It also goes far beyond what is achievable with the beacons.

"To try and get a similar effect you'd need so many of them that they would be awkward to deploy, plus you'd need to rely on users having a phone that not only supports the newer Bluetooth standard but also has it switched on.

"By contrast, this is up in the air, so easier to roll out."

Article from: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32848763

Bionic LED Contact Lenses

Your current contact lenses may help with your vision but do they let you read your emails right on your retinas? Developed by Aalto University in Finland, this amazing “bionic” contact lens is a prototype that, in the future, could enable us to view an augmented reality. The lens works by transmitting information to a transparent sapphire chip that contains a single micro-LED, which allows the wearer to “see” what they might on their computer screen without the need for anything but their eyes and these contacts.

Read more: 7 Weird and Wonderful Uses For LED Lighting Technology | Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

Article from: http://www.columbialighting.com/blog/?p=4116

Hubbell Lighting's Kick™ Receives Prestigous 2015 LIGHTFAIR International Award

Both KicK™ and Viper with Beaconnect are Recognized in 2015 Next Generation Luminaires™ Competition

Hubbell Lighting, a world leader in lighting innovation, yesterday accepted a LIGHTFAIR International 2015 Innovation Award® forArchitectural Area Lighting’s (AAL) KicK™. The product and Beacon Product’s Viper with Beaconnect were also recognized in the outdoor category in the seventh annual 2015 Next Generation Luminaires™ Solid-State Lighting Design Competition.

“The KicK™ and Viper with Beaconnect are truly innovative products and Hubbell Lighting is proud to be the recipient of the LIGHTFAIR Innovation Award® for Design Excellence and receive recognition in the Next Generation Luminaires Competition for these two products,” said Kevin Poyck, Group President at Hubbell Lighting.

The clean and sleek minimalist design of Architectural Area Lighting’s KicK™ makes a true statement and seamlessly integrates with square pole designs. Fusing a contemporary urban design with advanced LED technology, the KicK™ combines form and function where it matters most—on the pedestrian scale. The pole and luminaire are stylishly integrated into one bold angular design that delivers a truly elegant low glare solution for walkways, paths and building entrances.

Beacon Product’s Viper with Beaconnect is the first area/roadway LED luminaire family with a fully embedded semi-autonomous wireless control system (also mesh-enabled) with built-in astronomic time clock and battery backup, designed into the Light Engine. The luminaires can be factory programmed or commissioned wirelessly via a factory-supplied wireless USB commissioning tool using any standard laptop or tablet.

The LFI Innovation Awards® highlight the industry’s most innovative products and designs introduced during the last 12 months. Each submission judged by an independent panel of lighting professionals and the winners were awarded for product entries that exemplify the best in innovative design and thinking.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Next Generation Luminaires™ Solid-State Lighting Design Competition encourages manufacturers to develop innovative luminaires that are energy-efficient and provide high lighting quality and consistency needed to meet specification lighting requirements. The Program seeks to be inclusive rather than exclusive, providing specifiers a broad range of state-of-the-art SSL products deemed worthy of consideration by the judging panel. Entrants were evaluated on criteria ranting from color quality and light distribution to energy efficiency and lumen maintenance.

For more information on Hubbell Lighting’s innovative lighting solutions, visit www.hubbelllighting.com and follow Hubbell Lighting on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Article from: http://www.hubbelllighting.com/company/news-releases/hubbell-lightings-kick-receives-presitgous-2105-lightfair-international-award/

GE Unveils LED-enabled Intelligent Environments, a Glimpse into The Connected Future

LED technology enables Intelligent Environments for cities, buildings and homes, going beyond illumination and changing the way we live

GE gathered industry thought leaders and influencers from Qualcomm, City of San Diego, City of Jacksonville to share insights on how intelligent LED lighting is transforming cities, buildings and homes. The marriage of lighting and big data provides new ways to drive unprecedented efficiency, utility and experiences that will change the way we navigate our hometown, the way we shop at the grocery store and the way we live everyday life.

“LED lighting is the gateway for connectivity. And, with this connectivity we’re creating Intelligent Environments for cities, buildings and homes,” said Beth Comstock, President & CEO, GE Business Innovations. “Using existing lighting infrastructure, from streetlights to the light bulb socket in your home, GE is putting the Internet of Things to work in big, exciting ways with the Industrial Internet. This means connecting LED solutions with sensors and state-of-the-art software, like GE’s Predix platform, to unleash new potential for what light can bring to the world.”

To hear more from Comstock and The Connected Future media panel discussion, please click the link below. 

The cities of San Diego and Jacksonville are working with GE Lighting on trials of software-enabled LED lighting solution. David Graham, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, City of San Diego, and Jim Robinson, Director of Public Works, City of Jacksonville, shared how their cities plan to use this pilot program to analyze data trends to help citizens and visitors find parking in their cities.

In collaboration with Qualcomm, this same technology concept is being applied to buildings – specifically looking to transform the retail experience. Using visible light communication (VLC), this high accuracy solution can locate a shopper up to 5 cm and provide a shopper’s orientation and elevation date, allowing retailers to give shoppers relevant product promotions or educational content. For example, this technology could help someone find gluten-free products at the grocery.

And in the home, lighting remains the primary way consumers experiment with smart home tech. To further adoption, GE announced plans to engineer a color-changing LED compatible with Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem. Embedded with GE Align™ technology, GE’s HomeKit-enabled LED bulb takes smart home technology a step further, giving consumers the ability to automate lighting according to the body’s natural sleep circadian rhythm. 

For more on the event or to learn more about GE’s connected lighting solutions, please visit www.gelighting.com.

Article from: http://pressroom.gelighting.com/news/ge-unveils-led-enabled-intelligent-environments-a-glimpse-into-the-connected-future#.VVNLUo5VhBd

Prescolite Introduces New LED Cylinder and More Dimming Options for D2LED

Gross Sales Ltd. Checks out Hubbell Lighting's Outdoor Solutions at LIGHTFAIR

Hubbell Lighting, a world leader in lighting innovation, has a wide range of outdoor lighting fixtures and luminaires on display at LIGHTFAIR International in Booth #721. From contemporary urban LED luminaires and LED fixtures with integrated surveillance, communication and control; to customizable light distribution outdoor LED luminaires, wireless high performance area/roadway solutions and LED flood lights, Hubbell Lighting offers reliable and efficient solutions designed to increase safety and security.

“Hubbell Lighting’s solutions leverage the latest advances in technology and design to create products that meet the needs of a variety of customers. We are thrilled to showcase our outdoor lighting solutions at this year’s LIGHTFAIR,” said Kevin Poyck, Vice President and General Manager of Commercial and Industrial at Hubbell Lighting. “Our goal is to make lighting environments more efficient without sacrificing performance, safety or control through each of our cutting-edge solutions.”

Hubbell Lighting is showcasing an entirely new class of LED luminaire, Architectural Area Lighting’s KicK™, which is the industry’s first product to angle upwards and yet provide full light cutoff. Fusing a contemporary urban design with advanced LED technology, the KicK™ combines form and function where it matters most—on the pedestrian scale. The pole and luminaire are stylishly integrated into one bold angular design that delivers a truly elegant low glare solution for walkways, paths and building entrances.

Spaulding Lighting’s award-winning Cimarron LED luminaire, now available with integrated surveillance, communication and control. Critical security concerns are addressed coupled with energy-saving LED lighting, sensor technology and IP video surveillance. This revolutionary system can perform a myriad of surveillance and analytic functions based on your specific needs. The Active Deterrence™ transforms the solution from passive to active, with the ability to flash lights and broadcast audible messages or alerts when occupancy is detected. Available as a stand-alone solution or as part of an existing surveillance infrastructure, there are no other comparable all-in-one solutions available on the market today.

Kim Lighting’s breakthrough ArcheType X™ series, the first fully customizable light distribution outdoor LED luminaires, will also be on display. Available in a flood, wall or site/area luminaires, the ArcheType X™ has independently adjustable LED emitters—providing limitless lighting distributions and possibilities from one product family. The ArcheType X™ includes the brand’s new LEAR™ (Light Engine Adjustable Ready) module, which brings unparalleled flexibility to the lighting industry.

Employing the latest in wireless technology, Beacon Product’s Beaconnect system is a high performance control system that is fully integrated into the fixture. The wireless Beaconnect system requires no “access points” and issues commands to the fixture in real time. Each fixture operates autonomously once programmed and has a real time clock with battery backup to facilitate independent operation, but also functions as a mesh system when needed. Beaconnect fixtures are shipped pre-commissioned to the job site, and the only ancillary equipment required is a provided USB radio stick and a laptop with a USB port. Beaconnect will be on display in Beacon’s Viper and new Orbeon garage luminaire at Lightfair.

Spaulding Lighting’s Arceos high performance, architectural styled, energy-efficient LED floodlights are the energy efficient choice to uniformly illuminate office buildings, monuments, facades, columns, flag poles, bridges, commercial, mixed retail, apartments, schools, and college campuses. The recent expansion of the Arceos flood family now delivers two larger lumen options: size 3 (ARF3) up to 9.535 lumens and size 4 (ARF4) up to 19,368 lumens.

Article from: http://www.hubbelllighting.com/company/news-releases/hubbell-lightings-outdoor-solutions-in-the-spotlight-at-lightfair/

Fast and Luminous: These Lights are So Bright, They Could Show You the Quickest Way Around Town

By Ki Mae Heussner

For every showing of “A Streetcar Named Desire” in a big city, there’s a street packed with traffic on the way to the theater. Let’s face it, large urban centers may have culture and opportunity on their side, but they come with irksome baggage like congestion, air pollution and the lack of parking.

That baggage is getting heavier. Although half of the world’s population already lives in cities, the U.N. estimates that the number will spill over the 50 percent mark and hit 5 billion by 2030. The solutions to their growing pains will be complex. But one easy fix is already standing on every corner: the lamppost.

New “intelligent” LED streetlights combined with sensors generating oodles of data and cloud analytics could soon start delivering genuine street smarts and savings.

Read more...