Philips debuts smart, Wi-Fi enabled LED bulbs

The world's smartest LED home lighting system has been touted by consumer electronics giant Philips.

The technology, dubbed Philips hue, consists of Wi-Fi-enabled LED bulbs which screw into existing sockets and connect to a home network via a bridge that plugs into the Wi-Fi router. Each bridge supports up to 50 individual hue bulbs. This wireless connectivity allows each bulb's colour and brightness to be controlled via an app on a smartphone or tablet. The app also features expert LightRecipes: four pre-programmed lighting settings based on Philips' research around the biological effects that lighting has on the body. These scenarios adjust bulbs to the optimum shade and brightness of white light to help the user relax, read, concentrate or energise. "Philips hue is a game changer in lighting - a completely new way to experience and interact with light," commented Jeroen de Waal, head of marketing and strategy at Philips Lighting. "In the way phones, media and entertainment have been revolutionised by digital technology, now we can also personalise light and enjoy limitless applications."