Philips wants to bring copy-and-paste to interior lighting

We'll be straight with you -- we've never actually waltzed through the rooms at Engadget HQ and had the urge to reproduce the exact output from light A with light B. Evidently, we're the exception and not the rule. According to a lingering patent application from Philips, it's seeking to create a system in which sensors could be used to detect "light attributes" from one location and paste them over to another location in order to produce perfectly uniform scenarios throughout the home / office / etc. Heck, it even details a memory bank in order to easily set the mood of the entire building when necessary. Can't say this is where we envisioned the future of copy-and-paste going, but we suppose it'll do.

[Via NewScientist, image courtesy of Fusion Lighting]

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 3rd 2008 7:00PM]

hey you know what's rad? skylights. try em out ;p

tho, s'pose it'll be cool to some day yell out: "House! Control C, Control V! Um.. house? Open the pod bay doors, house!"

[ethana2 Posted Mar 3rd 2008 8:09PM]

I'm sorry, phanbouy; I can't do that.

[Frank A Posted Mar 3rd 2008 7:04PM]

Hm, Engadget HQ. Didn't realize until now there was such a thing.
I demand a gallery! :)

[ByronGman Posted Mar 3rd 2008 7:26PM]

Me too.

Of course, I'm guessing that the reason Engadget doesn't see the prospect in this type of technology is that their offices consist of a basement with one of those old school hanging light bulbs.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 3rd 2008 7:12PM]

This would be used for video conferencing I assume? And as such could probably be pretty cool...

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 3rd 2008 7:23PM]

This is perfect!!!!!I have diminished vision and what really bothers me is changes in light. So when I walk into a dimly lit room after being in normal light for a while, I am temporarily blinded. I LOVE this idea.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 3rd 2008 7:25PM]

oooooooo...you said THE naughty word....
anyone else think LOL is bad?

[fernando Posted Mar 3rd 2008 7:57PM]

Wow, an iPhone reference in a interior lighting post.

[Solipsism Posted Mar 3rd 2008 10:23PM]

The reference being, we're going to have copy and paste lighting before we have freaking text copy and paste on an iPhone.

[gtangjr Posted Mar 3rd 2008 8:00PM]

I absolutely adore this idea.

[ethana2 Posted Mar 3rd 2008 8:11PM]

Hey, using tri-color LED's for lighting just /might/ be cheaper than repainting your walls every time your color preferences change.

'bout frigging time.

[gtangjr Posted Mar 3rd 2008 8:26PM]

It's genius. And it makes so much sense for art lovers, photographers, and people who are more sensitive (or even privy) to certain temperatures of light than others.

[MRPysnik Posted Mar 3rd 2008 8:25PM]

im no artist, but this might be good in a gallery for a large installation that needs to be lit the same over its whole length. just a thought.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 3rd 2008 8:25PM]

This makes sense for high end retail, where designers would know exactly how their goods would look in 1,000 different showrooms. I am thinking of fashion in particular.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 4th 2008 1:12AM]

I personally prefer each room in my house having different lighting and a different feel. This would probably be more suitable for office/retail places.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 4th 2008 9:08AM]

...and in a related announcement GE has now introduced DRM light bulbs so Phillips can't "copy and paste" their "light attributes".