LEDs to manipulate mood, health, productivity
In theory, solid-state devices (such as LEDs) with "perfect materials and designs" will dramatically reduce (11 percent by some estimates) overall electricity consumption. But it's the ability to control basic light properties (spectral content, emission pattern, polarization, color temperature, and intensity) that has the scientists at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute all a-twitter. Not content with merely preventing Soylent Green prophecies, they hope to one day manipulate our internal clocks via "smart" solid-state light sources. These lights would fleece the ganglion cells in our eyes which are most receptive to high temperature color (sunny blue skies) — so lighting that offers the ability to adjust color temperature could benefit (or impede for that matter) human health, mood, and productivity.
