New and Exciting Advancements in LED Technology Could Lead to Better Sleep!
You might like them for their long-lasting productivity and low energy cost. Or you may detest them because they cost too much and they give off a harsh light. Or you could believe that LEDs are a government conspiracy.
LED Lights have been in use for a number of years, but they have become more prevalent in recent times. Originally they were found mostly in electronics. Lately they have found use as Christmas lights, flashlights and a number of household uses.
Now there may be a new, unexpected application of LED lights - they may possibly assist you to improve your sleep! How will that happen?
Humans were made to exist in natural light. Once upon a time, if the sun shone, we had daylight and perform work. Once the sun set it became dark and work ceased. Eventually fire was harnessed to provide useful light in the night. Finally, artificial light was ushered in by Edison's light bulb and a new world dawned.
Our physical selves are found to operate at their best when we sleep following a 24 hour timetable, governed with a circadian rhythm synchronized by natural daylight. Artificial light interrupts this daily cycle and makes it more difficult for us to sleep at night. Sleep disorders, for example insomnia, anxiety and chronic tiredness were infrequent before the widespread use of artificial lighting to lengthen each day.
It is well known that artificial lighting impairs our ability to get to sleep at night. The most common offenders are TVs, computers and back-lit electronic devices. Unfortunately, these sources of light prevent our brains from producing melatonin in the evening before bedtime. Some researchers have discovered our eyes don't only see. They also have receptors that affect lower level brain functions such as the ones that contribute to regulating our sleep cycle.
An LED, or light-emitting diode, is a digital device that is highly configurable. Color, frequency and brightness can each be precisely fine-tuned to produce any kind of light wanted.
For about twenty years now research has been undertaken to determine if LEDs could be utilized to modify sleep in some way. Recent results have been definitely promising. Specific frequencies and colors can be used to control the production of melatonin, causing the effect of making people alert and awake. Other settings can have the opposite effect, enhancing melatonin production and making a person sleepy.
Many possible applications for this technology could be coming soon. Think of a laptop that is back-lit with LEDs and which automatically adjusts lighting during the day to promote alertness when you need to be productive, but which gets you ready to sleep at night. Those in the know believe in a couple years we will have the first "biological specific lights" entering the market.
Keep your eyes opened for a growing variety of emerging technologies!
LED Lights have been in use for a number of years, but they have become more prevalent in recent times. Originally they were found mostly in electronics. Lately they have found use as Christmas lights, flashlights and a number of household uses.
Now there may be a new, unexpected application of LED lights - they may possibly assist you to improve your sleep! How will that happen?
Artificial Lighting and Sleep
Humans were made to exist in natural light. Once upon a time, if the sun shone, we had daylight and perform work. Once the sun set it became dark and work ceased. Eventually fire was harnessed to provide useful light in the night. Finally, artificial light was ushered in by Edison's light bulb and a new world dawned.
Our physical selves are found to operate at their best when we sleep following a 24 hour timetable, governed with a circadian rhythm synchronized by natural daylight. Artificial light interrupts this daily cycle and makes it more difficult for us to sleep at night. Sleep disorders, for example insomnia, anxiety and chronic tiredness were infrequent before the widespread use of artificial lighting to lengthen each day.
It is well known that artificial lighting impairs our ability to get to sleep at night. The most common offenders are TVs, computers and back-lit electronic devices. Unfortunately, these sources of light prevent our brains from producing melatonin in the evening before bedtime. Some researchers have discovered our eyes don't only see. They also have receptors that affect lower level brain functions such as the ones that contribute to regulating our sleep cycle.
Enter LEDs
An LED, or light-emitting diode, is a digital device that is highly configurable. Color, frequency and brightness can each be precisely fine-tuned to produce any kind of light wanted.
For about twenty years now research has been undertaken to determine if LEDs could be utilized to modify sleep in some way. Recent results have been definitely promising. Specific frequencies and colors can be used to control the production of melatonin, causing the effect of making people alert and awake. Other settings can have the opposite effect, enhancing melatonin production and making a person sleepy.
Many possible applications for this technology could be coming soon. Think of a laptop that is back-lit with LEDs and which automatically adjusts lighting during the day to promote alertness when you need to be productive, but which gets you ready to sleep at night. Those in the know believe in a couple years we will have the first "biological specific lights" entering the market.
Keep your eyes opened for a growing variety of emerging technologies!
Source...