The smart bulb that gave light a new purpose
Popular Mechanics South Africa|May/June 2022
YIANNI AND HIS TEAM REALISED THEY WERE ON TO SOMETHING WHEN MANY TESTERS REFUSED TO GIVE THE BULBS BACK. ONE HAD SET THE HUE TO BLINK PINK WHENEVER SHE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM FACEBOOK.
BRENT ROSE
The smart bulb that gave light a new purpose

BEING ABLE TO CHANGE THE ENTIRE LOOK and feel of a room with the press of a button or a quick voice command is one of those rare things that makes you feel like you're living in the future. Colour-changing lights have existed for years, but never in a form that was useful. They were typically big, clunky fixtures that you had to plug into a wall, took up valuable shelf space, and required a remote to control. They certainly weren't elegant - mere novelty items at best.

Plain white LED bulbs had an equally rocky start. By the end of the 2000s, you could replace a standard incandescent bulb with one, but they were still generally ugly, with bizarre fins around the bases, and they often cast an unpleasant shade of light. That left room for the development of LED bulbs that weren't eyesores and produced light that was more pleasing and useful. In 2011, a team at Philips had the idea of a bulb that could address several of those issues while providing some health benefits. But they ended up with something far more versatile, creating color-changing lighting that didn't require a specialised gadget.

'When we started the design of Philips Hue, we were going for tunable whites,' says George Yianni, head of tech for Philips Hue and the person who originally conceived the project. We were aiming for something that could go from warm whites to cold whites.' The benefits they were after ranged from boosting concentration and making reading more comfortable to helping you wind down for sleep.

This story is from the May/June 2022 edition of Popular Mechanics South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May/June 2022 edition of Popular Mechanics South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM POPULAR MECHANICS SOUTH AFRICAView All
Can a retired rocket engine take us to Mars?
Popular Mechanics South Africa

Can a retired rocket engine take us to Mars?

The space shuttle's main engine was mothballed with the programme in 2011. Now NASA believes it's the future of interplanetary travel.

time-read
9 mins  |
January/February 2023
6 metre waves. All engines on fire. 1 500 Km from land.
Popular Mechanics South Africa

6 metre waves. All engines on fire. 1 500 Km from land.

How Flying Tiger 923 and its 'miracle pilot' made an impossible ocean landing.

time-read
10 mins  |
January/February 2023
Land Rover Discovery D300
Popular Mechanics South Africa

Land Rover Discovery D300

A FEW MONTHS ago a $2 billion lottery jackpot was won in the United States. It’s fun to sometimes ponder outrageous winnings like that, and how I’d spend it, even if it’s completely detached from reality.

time-read
3 mins  |
January/February 2023
Volkswagen Taigo R-Line 1.0 TSI
Popular Mechanics South Africa

Volkswagen Taigo R-Line 1.0 TSI

The compact proportions make this a delightful daily commuter.

time-read
2 mins  |
January/February 2023
Mazda CX-5 2.2 L De Akera AWD
Popular Mechanics South Africa

Mazda CX-5 2.2 L De Akera AWD

Floor the pedal and overtaking is achieved easily and safely.

time-read
1 min  |
January/February 2023
Making the most out of your grinder
Popular Mechanics South Africa

Making the most out of your grinder

THE HUMBLE BENCH GRINDER IS A STAPLE of the handyworker's home shop, largely due to its versatility. But, while you can employ one to remove metal from just about anything, the traditional kind may not provide the precision you need for every grinding operation. Here, we shed light on the best ways to use the different types of grinders, gleaned from our testing.

time-read
4 mins  |
January/February 2023
Unlock your devices' full potential with a USB-C hub
Popular Mechanics South Africa

Unlock your devices' full potential with a USB-C hub

AS NEW TECH SHRINKS EACH YEAR, essential ports such as USB-A, HDMI, and ethernet are being replaced by the slimmer USB-C.

time-read
5 mins  |
January/February 2023
WE BUILT THE WORLD'S FIRST V-8 TESLA
Popular Mechanics South Africa

WE BUILT THE WORLD'S FIRST V-8 TESLA

THE RICH REBUILDS TEAM HAD A DEAD MODEL S. THEY FIXED IT WITH A CAMARO ENGINE.

time-read
9 mins  |
January/February 2023
I bought a GHOST TOWN
Popular Mechanics South Africa

I bought a GHOST TOWN

This abandoned California mining village once had 400 buildings. Now I'm restoring the 20 that remain.

time-read
8 mins  |
January/February 2023
F1 taught me that speed starts with comfort
Popular Mechanics South Africa

F1 taught me that speed starts with comfort

AS A FAN OF MOTORSPORT, I'M ALWAYS fascinated with the finer details that go into Formula One racing. Piloting the fastest racing cars on the planet subjects drivers to savage forces - up to 6 G's under braking which has led to an almost endless pursuit of comfort.

time-read
2 mins  |
January/February 2023