We have seen the future, and it is warm and inviting
Posted 07.12.2011 at 5:30 pm
7 Comments
Philips' Luminous Room of the Future
via Philips
The future of wallpaper is: glowing? That’s Philips’ vision for the future it seems, as the company is teaming with Kvadrat Soft Cells to create a kind of luminous textile for the consumer market that will essentially embed adjustable LEDs in an acoustic panel that can be hung on the wall to provide ambient lighting like an active piece of artwork, or even be used as a wallpaper to bathe entire rooms in soft tones of the user’s choosing.
The acoustic panels will do a lot to muffle sound and reduce echo in large spaces, but ostensibly they could also respond visually to sounds--that is, the ambient color of the room might be programmed to respond to the music playing at any given time or integrated into other entertainment experiences (kind of like those televisions that framed their screens in ambient color, but on a larger scale).
They could also be used for a room’s primary lighting, reducing reliance on overhead fixtures and windows. That could go a long way toward creating a less sterile feel than fluorescent bulbs in the windowless interior spaces of large buildings. Currently Philips isn’t saying when its ambient panels might hit the market or at what cost, but for now the company is aiming its creation at businesses and hotel chains. Make your own price-per-square-foot determination of what this technology might eventually retail for accordingly.
[PhysOrg]
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The price of this thing couldn't be more than the average big screen tv, with the price varied by size. People wouldn't buy it, or couldn't afford it if they wanted to.
Otherwise, I'd just as much rather turn on my TV for some light in the room. I see that it is LED, but is it going to be energy efficient? I wouldn't want to spend a few grand on something like this only to have it spike my electric bill a few hundred each month. Doesn't seem like the best idea I've seen in a while. I'd be suprised if anyone other than corporates would purchase this.
This product seems like a great wall hanging, wallpaper, thingy. It is interesting. I suppose if I could afford it, I buy it. It will be interesting to find out the size and prices of these things and their full capability.
LEDs applied to thin films and textiles have the potential to revolutionize lighting, but the key word is "potential". It's very exciting to see the research coming from Philips, GE and other companies. I'm anxious to see real products hit store shelves besides hot, bulky and expensive LED light bulbs. LEDs aren't very good at simulating the bright point-source light of incandescent bulbs, so why not produce new kinds of fixtures like light panels that DIY handymen can easily install in place of current ceiling sockets? Or wrap a sheet of OLED into a cylinder with a circular OLED panel at either end to fit into current sockets for lamps and such?
This is cheap to manufacture technology. Low voltage. If Phillips prices it right, it could do very well. Don't expect to see Phillips sitting on top of this technology for long. Microsoft has the components to build something like this that responds to touch. The key is that the technology has a function other than aesthetics. Their primary audience is going to be corporate developers. I can see big niche in hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. I'd love to see them selling these panels at Lowes and Home Depot one day at $80.00 USD/SQFT.
honey, don't forget to turn off the wallpaper
Robert1234 $80.00/square foot? Not a chance it's would sell much at that price! It would sell lots at $0.80 per square foot, or even $8.00 per square foot...but $80.00/square foot...not a prayer that would be successful!
Function? YES! Adaptability YES! Interactive YES! Limitations? Unknown! Imagine this product already on the market, especially as a wall paper. Don't have to pull copper wire through a wall, install a light fixture, and no need for a manual switch to activate it. Consider the mere sake of never needing to change a light bulb! Room lighting everywhere and it is reactionary to my mood and/or activity. Such small minds! We sit here glued to our little devices, pay hundreds to thousands of dollars to stare at light changing screens. For most of us, we spend our day interacting with a 12 inch by 18 inch screen. Now my home and work place has the ability to interact with me? It can help calm my mood, inspire my thoughts, and make me feel connected to my environment. You seriously think people will not want this or buy this? Get Out & Explore!