This week I would like to introduce you to a smart device that is relatively new, but I am certain it will become a standard in any home or classroom. The device is the smart light bulb.... that is right I said light bulb. The item that has gone almost unchanged since its invention in 1879 by Edison or depending on who you ask, Alessandro Volta in 1800. Either way, it was a simple design and did not see much change until fluorescent lights came on the scene in 1927. Invited by Edmund Germer or Peter Hewitt in the early 1900s (noticing a theme here). Again, while there is controversy around the date and inventor the fact remains this was the only improvement to the light bulb in 70 years, give or take a year. Then again it would be another 50 years before the next big jump. The LED light bulb: yes, you guessed it, there is a lot of debate about who and when it was invented too. So, side note if you are inventing the next big thing in the light bulb world, you had better record everything because you may be challenged. But, back to the LED light bulb, which is the focus of this discussion. With previous designs, the bulbs got too hot to add additional components. Since LED's are much cooler, you can now add sensors and computer chips to the light bulb. Now that I have given the full back story, let us talk about smart bulbs. 

     Smart bulbs are light bulbs that you install and can be connected to your home or building network, run off sensors, and display every color in the spectrum. Now you might be asking "ok so what, why does that matter?" Well, its applications have only started, but light bulbs may be able to improve learning and help people with medical conditions, and just improve quality of life. First, let us talk about how it can help with education. Several studies have determined that lighting can enhance different learning scenarios. Like blue is ideal for learners to retain information, while an orange color will energize learners, and green can help students focus (link on the study is listed below). Now with that in mind, imagine being able to change the color of the room to facilitate your instructional needs, that would be amazing right. Before something like that would have been too expensive to even consider. Now one $19 bulb can do that with the simple push of a button. Then, there are its uses in the home. It's low-cost use in security, giving people peace of mind to focus on more important things. It can be used to emit several color temperatures, intended to help boost natural melatonin production in the body. This means better and longer night's sleep. Well-rested students or employees perform better. With all that information I am certain you plan to run out and get some for your home, but make sure you do your research because not all smart bulbs are created equal. Make sure you get one that can perform the tasks you bought it for.

 

https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/how-do-colors-influence-learning#:~:text=Blue%20is%20best%20used%20for%20learning%20situations%20which,while%20darker%20ones%20seem%20a%20little%20more%20somber. 

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/why-your-next-light-bulb-should-be-a-smart-bulb/#:~:text=Smart%20bulbs%20can%20even%20help%20you%20sleep%20better.,and%20increase%20melatonin%20as%20you%20get%20near%20bedtime.