Dutch company Philips is reporting success in an ongoing project to hook up a range of replaceable light bulbs so they respond to the flood of data online. Dubbed Hue, the new light bulbs were released seven months ago. By virtue of their internet link, they can do such tricks as changing colours when specific emails arrive or react to stock-market news.
Hue could open up a lot of new markets and become a key product for the company, says Philips. Reactions have so far exceeded expectations, manager Filip Jan Depauw told dpa. Depauw didn't cite numbers, but said that production was ramping up.
A recently released app allows home owners to programme the intensity and colour of the lights from a smartphone which connects by wi-fi to the home network. "When the stock market is rising, the light turns green. And when an email from your mother arrives, it turns yellow," says Depauw, citing examples of ways that internet data can be programmed to change your interior illumination.
Hue lights can also be linked with a person's calendar, changing colour to remind them of upcoming appointments. They could also react to goals in an ongoing football game or to the weather report.
Hue could recognise the owner's arrival by checking the location of a tablet or smartphone via satellite navigation systems, turning lights on or off automatically, based on when the person is home.
Philips released the details of Hue's software in March, along with a software development kit. Since then, 37 mobile apps have been developed, says Depauw.
The system is made up of multiple LED lights. They are connected wirelessly via a device called the Bridge to the home's router. A starter kit costs 200 to 300 dollars.
Depauw says the company sees potential for advances as homes get more networked and LED technology advances. It also expects other manufacturers to soon develop competing systems.
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