Consumer LED Lighting in Japan
As Lighting Designers we cannot escape looking at lighting everywhere. Instinctively we look at the ceilings and critique lighting in any place we go to (just ask my wife). We also appreciate when lighting is done well, and welcome thoughtful lighting design as it raises the bar for all of us.
The same applies to products. While in a train in Tokyo recently (JR Yamanote Line in case you are familiar with Tokyo and are interested)—I came across an ad panel for a consumer grade color temperature changing LED surface mounted fixture.
The accompanying video showed a young occupant waking up in energizing cooler temperature light, doing homework in a neutral color temperature and having dinner in warmer light and then going to bed in a cozy warm light. Perfect use of LED technology.
It was interesting to know that while in the US we have about two manufacturers with luminaires that turn warm when dimmed, in Japan they have already expanded the technology from cool white to very warm white and taken it to the mass market. This essentially covers the entire light spectrum that has ever been used in lighting design. Apparently this technology is available in a whole host of luminaires from Panasonic. I’ll wait with baited breath for this to eventually migrate to the US market.
Luminaire information from Panasonic Everleds.
