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Lagg writes:
"Philips put out a press release detailing their new retail lighting system, which is designed for the purpose of saving power by tracking subjects in a room, then increasing or decreasing light intensity as needed. Philips also advertises a secondary feature for providing location based sale adverts to the customer directly on their smartphone. This will require the user to install an app to actually receive the sale alerts, but it's unclear exactly how this tracking will be done otherwise.
Any home automation types in the comments have a theory as to how this will work on a technical level? My best guess is that there are infrared LEDs paired with the lighting fixtures themselves that can be picked up by phones with IR sensors in them. Further, what advantages does this sort of system have in terms of lighting efficiency that an electric eye setup wouldn't accomplish just as well?"
(Score: 4, Interesting) by mmcmonster on Wednesday February 19 2014, @12:07PM
Slightly off topic:
I wonder how many people would be interested in intelligent LED bulbs and such, vs. home automation systems. I recently had built my house and had home automation in mind. That being said, looking at the system I got, it's something that's relatively easy to retrofit once the walls are closed. The entire system works off it's own wireless network, with a bridge to my home network so I can control it with my smart phone.
If I want to add a light socket to the system, I just purchase one of their light switches (not cheap: I think they cost $100-200 a switch.) which replaces the wall switch and communicates wirelessly with the brain. The switch then controls whatever 'dumb' bulbs are already attached to it.
I suppose intelligent bulbs are a better solution when you want something (relatively) inexpensive and just involving a few bulbs (presumably you could control multiple bulbs simultaneously with software). Intelligent bulbs are also more useful when you want to do complex lighting without rewiring the walls (ie: the phillips smart LEDs can change colors).
Centralized home automation is when you have lots of bulbs (think chandelier or large family room) and other devices that you want to control with the same interface (ie: security system, thermostat, A/V system). In my current setup, for instance, I have the outdoor lights come on at dusk (earlier if the weather is inclement that day) and turn off between 10:30-11pm. When I go on vacation, the chandelier will turn on roughly half hour after outside lights and go off about 15 minutes before the outside lights, mirroring what we do in real life.
I would be interested in the Phillips smart bulbs once an interface exists with my home automation system. Just for colored mood lighting. Of course, the price can't be too much more than 'dumb' LED lights. I know I'm in the minority here. ;-)
What are other people's experience with home automation or smart LED bulbs?
(Score: 1) by demonlapin on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:48PM