Over the years, household lighting has been rather generic and conventional – the standard 60W lamp bulb, recessed lighting, and motion lights. Many lighting options literally depend on the use of mobility and dexterity. As you look around your home or office, would the lighting controls be readily accessible for a person in a wheelchair, a child, or someone who may have limited gross or fine motor skills? Thankfully the ever-changing world of smart technology is allowing for lighting to be more accessible. Bluetooth light bulbs are giving people the power to control the lighting in their respective environments without requiring direct contact. With the use of an iPad or smartphone, the possibilities of lighting are endless! Although there are many types and brands of Bluetooth light bulbs, the following video will give you a sense of how they work.
ilumi Bluetooth Light Bulb
Here are a few ideas on how this technology can be applied to assist various users. In the words of the developers of the ilumi Smartbulb ~ “Live your light!”.
Alarms / Signaling
The alarm clock of a smartphone can be connected to the light bulbs. Example: when the morning alarm goes off, the lights will also turn on. Also, similar to the function of a Sonic Alert telephone signaler, the lights have the ability to change colors with an incoming telephone call. Adding light to an auditory signal is helpful for a person with any type of hearing loss.
Security
In certain situations, creating the false sense of a presence in the home is necessary. Whether it be someone on vacation or a person with limited mobility in the home, Bluetooth light bulbs have the ability to turn on/off at specific scheduled times. For instance, if someone is in their bed for the evening beginning at 7:00 pm, they may want their living room light to turn on at 8:45 pm and off again at 9:00 pm.
Location
Some of these smart bulbs have the ability to know the proximity of someone in their own home. As the video showed, a person can be walking down a hallway, and the lights will automatically turn on and off. This is a powerful feature for a person that may be in a wheelchair or someone in need of more safety as they walk throughout their house.