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With every technological breakthrough we see in this day and age of ever-growing geeks and techies—and the shifting definitions of those terms—it is not surprising to see something new and life-changing advertised on television. We have been desensitized to pretty much everything else, so why not technology? But a developing, largely un-televised breakthrough in indoor lighting may just be something that could revolutionize homes, cut electric bills, and once again turn our heads to the sky and thankfully gesture at the sun.
Most people of developed nations (whatever that really means) spend most of their time indoors. Be it a 9 to 5 office job, a classroom, a kitchen or living room or bedroom, most important events of the day happen under at least something resembling a roof. In these cases indoor lighting is always an important if not subtle feature that most might overlook.
Spending our time under just indoor lighting at increasingly longer periods of time without stepping out for a breather or uncovering a window is actually detrimental to our health. Sunlight is important, the absorption vitamin D is important, and unfortunately as of yet there is no Firefox or Excel add-on that enables such a process to occur. But maybe instead of sitting slouched in the fluorescent heart of a corporate building, cut off from that brilliant orange beach ball while having to settle on a moderately entertaining desk lamp, we could bring the sunlight to us, with the help of fiber-optic cable technology utilized in indoor lighting.
As most things do not start, it started with a table. The "Sunlight Table" was developed by two RCA students and features rows of fibre-optic cables connected to a wall-mounted solar receiver, transforming the table into a decorative yet useful piece of indoor lighting. Light shines at the receiver, travels through the cables, and in fractions of a second the table is lit up with dots of sunshine. This way if you have to be inside you can at least, if not slowly, get your daily supply of Vitamin D.
A duo of crafty Italians took it even further, developing a line of indoor lighting solutions using the same technology. Although a bit more stylish and sleek, their growing line of indoor lighting could easily be applied to an office or home setting. Lights can be placed underneath stairs and can emit directly from panels in the ceiling. All of the lights really do look like a mystical beam of sunshine has suddenly appeared in the room. Their designs even allow for integration with fluorescent and halogen bulbs, allowing the user to enjoy the usual benefits on indoor lighting when the sun has set.
So, besides being "green" and "trendy" and whatever else those teenagers say nowadays, what is the big deal? No needed electricity means no electricity bills, obviously—but that's just the small picture. Imagine a city that did not need electricity for indoor lighting. Imagine how much money is wasted when people do not turn of their desk lamp when they go out for the day or when the ceiling fan keeps on shining without any couch potatoes underneath.