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White LEDs for a Brighter World

Posted by michael on from the daddy,-what's-a-light-bulb dept.

deepfry writes "CBC radio today featured an interview with Dr. Dave Irvine-Halliday, an engineering professor at the University of Calgary, who's developed a home lighting system for the developing world using a combination of white LEDs, pedal generators and rechargable batteries. This type of "pico-power" can make a huge difference in the lives of villagers in rural areas where being connected to a power grid is not an option and probably never will be. Read about the Light Up the World project and make a donation."

6 of 346 comments (clear)

  1. Great! by Decimal · · Score: 0, Troll

    I think people will see this as a real promising advance...

    ...Until patent laws get in the way. :(

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    Remember "Bring 'em on"? *sigh
  2. Better off? by dirvish · · Score: 1, Troll

    Some people might be better off without lights or connection to a power grid. People should think twice before trying to invade rural areas with technology.

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    1. Re:Better off? by FFFish · · Score: 1, Troll

      Fersure. Two points:

      a) Brighter cities equals higher crime. I don't have access to the stats, but the general gist is that most criminals aren't inclined to wander the streets if they're dark. IOW, yes, you want a yard light, but you don't want lit streets.

      b) Brighter cities equals greater disconnect with the world. If you ever have the opportunity to get a few hundred miles away from light pollution, you'll be humbled by the spectacular night sky. IMO, we'd have a better culture if people were more aware of how vast the universe is.

      Of course, the number of people that spend most of their non-work hours vegetating in front of a television may be the counterpoint to that argument. Stars or not, they'll never see 'em anyway...

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  3. too expensive. by rschwa · · Score: 2, Troll

    uh, ok. $1 a piece for a .1 watt bulb. sounds great. Exactly how many would I have to gang to be able to read my newspaper?

  4. Please! Please! by aengblom · · Score: 0, Troll

    Please! Can we have more articles about improved light bulbs today. Light bulbs are rad!

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  5. Re:brightness is as brightness does by jcsehak · · Score: 1, Troll

    Yeah, I'm sick of the yellow incandescant light. It'll be nice if we can get these bulbs installed everywhere.

    My cat's breath smells like cat food.

    The light bulb has been a chain onto Humanity, indeed. Much like the automobile, penicillin, the computer, and now that I think of it, fire.

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