Search giant Google has announced that they are working with Lighting Science Group to develop an LED light bulb that can be controlled by any Android device.
The omni-directional 60-watt equivalent bulb will use the company’s new open source wireless networking protocol. Dimming or brightening the bulb can be done with an Android-equipped smart phone, laptop or tablet. This smart bulb is said to be the ideal test bed for Google’s new protocol, which is also believed to have the potential to stimulate a new kind of energy efficiency for the domestic environment.
The new LED bulb is based on Lighting Science Group’s A19 LED light. The bulb has a built-in radio that interfaces with Googles’s new open source wireless protocol. The protocol can also be used to control appliances and thermostats.
Some 11% of household energy use is attributed to artificial lighting, thus an energy-efficient alternative is sure to reduce the carbon footprint in homes.