White LEDs for a Brighter World

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."

Comments

Better off?

[dirvish]

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.

Re:Better off?

[FFFish]

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...

too expensive.

[rschwa]

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?

Re:brightness is as brightness does

[jcsehak]

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.