Beths Blog

Power l.e.d tests: Luxeon Rebel Stars*

2010-02-26T05:56:00.000-08:00

I got rather excited this morning when the two power l.e.d's I ordered to test arrived. They are luxeon rebel stars and you can buy them from this site: L.e.d 1 (who are great! excellent customer service & super fast free delivery!) they were about £6.99 each, and you have to use a 650ma constant current source to step down the flow of electricity from the mains, they also have to be heatsinked really well (sticking them on a piece of metal) otherwise they will overheat and die!

This is the Cool white 6500k 130 lumen through 3mm opal acrylic

This is the warm white 2500k 122 lumen through 3mm opal acrylic

I am amazed at how bright they are....I don't think these were around last year when I was buying power l.e.ds for air pendant light. I bought the best ones I could at the time and the warm white was only 75 lumens for 1 watt power and these are 122 lumens for approx 1.2 watts (if my calculations are correct) just shows how quickly l.e.d's are developing.

beth *

Update*

2010-02-26T05:39:00.000-08:00

Hello*

I do seem like I am neglecting my blog, my initial intentions were to keep this updated with everything I am doing and the whole process however it turns out that I am not able to publish all my sketches models etc as i wont be able to get my range of products registered or apply for a patent (if thats appropriate) at the end of the year. As I need to protect my ideas before they are exhibited/publicised..... but there are a few things that I want to share with you.

beth *

I am still here!

2010-02-06T08:24:00.000-08:00

Apologies for not posting anything for a few weeks, I am stil here! But I have been mega busy with deadlines, the NEC and keeping my project going.

I exhibited my pendant light at the Interiors Birmingham show where it got lots of good feedback, which I am really pleased with. I also helped judge the lighting design awards 2010 with Lyndsey Hubbard, editor of Total Lighting Magazine, Martin Lupton of PLDA, Nic Mallinson of LIF and Peter Hunt from the Lighting Association. The winner was the 'Swan Series' by Illuminati.

I have also been hard at work reviewing all of my research again and making sure that my concept relates directly to my research, getting my brief right and producing my product design specification. I hope to get prototyping soon. I'll try and keep this updated more regularly.

B*

Arduino: It worked!!

2010-01-12T09:09:00.000-08:00

Got my Arduino working this afternoon woo! Granted so far I have only managed to get it to blink and get an RGB l.e.d to fade between different colour combinations. Yes it is a lot to get your head around, but hopefully I'l manage to something interesting with it further down the line! All the basic tutorials on the Arduino website are a bit confusing for those who don't have a clue, so I used 'Lady Adas' tutorials which explain everything in an understandable language, her cat analogy for explaining how code works was very amusing and it made perfect sense! Check out her tutorials @ www.ladyada.net/learn/arduino/index.html.

RGB colour changing circuit

Blinking L.e.d

BZC3HCJF9V7V

Birmingham Interiors 2010

2010-01-11T13:31:00.000-08:00

Just a little reminder that the Birmingham Interiors Show at the NEC starts on the 24th January and runs until the 27th, I will be exhibiting 'Air' the light that won me 'Student Lighting Designer of the year 2009'. Tickets are free if you pre book them on the shows website: http://www.interiorsbirmingham.com/ and I will be on the 'Lighting Association' Stand in the lighting hall along with the other finalists so feel free to come along and have a chat if your going!

I have also been asked to help judge the 'Lighting Design Awards 2010' which I am honoured to do so, if not a little nervous but I am sure it will be a great experience.

L.e.d bulbs: the best way forward?

2010-01-11T02:18:00.000-08:00

After coming across numerous l.e.d bulbs that you can get from the likes of philips, panasonic etc It has got me thinking whether we should be using the l.e.d's in what is essentially (aesthetically) an exact replacement for the incandescent bulb. Maybe we should be thinking up a new look for the 'old bulb' and utilise the benefits in size and application of l.e.d's? L.e.d technology is about to revolutionise the lighting industry, so why don't we create something totally different, rather than replicate products of the past. Of course everyone likes the shape of incandescents, (I admit they are a lot nicer than cfl) and yes we do have the problem of existing fittings etc, but as I said maybe it's time for change.

And also why have companies made these bulbs so pretty? when they are going to be stuck behind a shade the whole time. I wouldn't want to cover one of those up if I had one, especially if I had forked out £35/£40 for one to!

Arduino....BBC*

2009-12-25T03:59:00.000-08:00

Nice Cakes!! :)

b*

Post-it Note Explosion*

2009-12-22T15:07:00.000-08:00

I have written over on 100 post it notes today, trying to analyse my cultural probes. Aah! (which have now exploded onto my bedroom wall where the sticky on the supposedly 'sticky' post-it-notes failed me and I had to resort to blue tac!!: flickr pictures to be uploaded soon) Some really interesting stuff coming out of them. Seems a lot of people are concerned with the colour temperature (warm/cold) of existing energy saving bulbs/fluro tubes, mostly that it is rubbish! People want the ability to be able to change the colour temp to suit their mood, the task they are doing, the time of day etc. Whats your opinion? Are there any existing products that you know of that do this already?

I have a lot more analasis to do but I will post as much as I can when I have condensed it down to something we both understand :)

I would also like to add that this blog is connected to the bloggpspot website, so if you have a blog you can follow me there (might be easier). You can also see my blog roll and flickr pictures etc: www.bethjacksondesign.blogspot.com But you can carry on following me here if you wish!

b*

Website Re-decoration

2009-12-20T15:53:00.000-08:00

I have changed the background of my website and the headers as I wasn't really feeling the old style anymore. I think I like it, but I may change my mind (as I said back when I first uploaded the website, I'm sure I will change the site around until I am happy with it). All the content is the same. Apart from the homepage which I have updated with a few of the images from my research, and bit of blurb about what I am going to e doing in the next few weeks. I don't think I will be getting much of a christmas break, as I have my assessment on the first day back at college: Nice!!

Keep an eye out for the ideas that I will be posting (when I have done them :p) Remember you can add my blog to your rss feed, like google reader or net news wire, blogged etc. Just click the little orange rss feed button, or click follow on the new menus that blogged have provided.

b*

oooo Ideas* and a little update.

2009-12-14T14:00:00.000-08:00

heloo, well it's been a while since I actually said anything to do with my work. But the cultural probes are coming back, so thats great news looking forward to coming up with some marvelous ideas from them. I have set up a flickr account which is where I will be putting any images, inspiration etc to do with my stuff. (by all means add me add me on flickr if there is such a thing, the link is........flic kr.

I will also be be uploading all my initial designs,models etc that I will be producing over Christmas (no holiday time for me!) and I am doing this because I really would love as much feed back on them, because at the end of the day I am designing products for you, and you gotta like it! so feel free to leave whatever comment you would like.

But with regards to my ideas, the first lot are probably going to be a bit random. But I am thinking that an area I would like to focus on is how we can be more efficient with the energy we use, by focusing on the different ways we control our lighting; switches, dimmers etc. Soo I'm thinking light, movement sensors etc. Because we all leave too many lights on when we don't actually need them!!

t'ra a bit!!!

b*

Little Bits

2009-12-07T04:35:00.000-08:00

Found this today, 'Little bits'

"littleBits is an opensource library of discrete electronic components pre-assembled in tiny circuit boards. Just as Legos allow you to create complex structures with very little engineering knowledge, littleBits are simple, intuitive, space-sensitive blocks that make prototyping with sophisticated electronics a matter of snapping small magnets together."

They havn't got any sets on sale at the moment, but I'd be interested in trying it out when they are. As I have no knowledge of electronics at all!!

b*

littleBits intro from ayah bdeir on Vimeo.

Fly Art??

2009-11-24T08:03:00.000-08:00

I can't find who did this (some Sweedish guy appartly), although slightly disturbing i thought I would share it with you as it did humour me for the best part of a minute. :)

b*

Ultimate Factories: National Geographic

2009-11-20T07:24:00.000-08:00

This just found this through my core77 rss feed, have a sift through the videos if you havn't already seen it.

b*

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/ultimate-factories/all/Videos/07455_00#tab-Videos/07455_00

Video

2009-11-20T07:22:00.000-08:00

Thankyou!

2009-11-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

I just want to say a big thankyou to everyone who took part in our interactive tea partie(s)!! We had one on the top of Arthurs Seat and one yesterday at Ephemeris Tea Rooms on Marchmont Cresecent. They were really successful and I got a load of great information to put towards my research. I have (well I am right this second) setting up a flickr account so that I can upload all the pictures relevant to my work, for you to see. You can also add that to your rss feed, or add me as a friend if you have an account.

(When we have put the video of the tea party on Arthurs Seat together I will upload it)

b*

Interactive Teaparty Dates and Times

2009-11-13T03:55:00.000-08:00

Our interactive teaparty will be taking place this coming Sunday (15th November) at the top of Arthurs Seat from 11.00 am onwards. We will be giving out free tea and biscuits to everyone who takes part!

We will also be doing the same thing next Wednesday (18th November) at Ephemeris Tea Room in Marhmont, 3.00pm onwards. If you take part you will also be able to get 10% of speciality teas and snacks sold by the Tea Rooms. 24 Marchmont Crescent, EH9 1HG Edinburgh.

Look forward to seeing you there!!

b*

Video Fixed

2009-10-29T12:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks for pointing out that the video wasn't working, I didnt realise my account was set to private (new to youtube) Anyhoo I think it should be fine now, let me know if it isn't and I will have another look!

b*

Interactive Tea party

2009-10-24T05:59:00.000-07:00

Apart from the research I am conducting for my own personal project, I am working with a group of people so we can work together to generate a wider range of research. We are focusing on domestic interaction within the home, and we have come up with a fun way to gather information about how people live, this could relate to their habits, values, hobbies, routines anything! The video is a light hearted way of showing you how the 'Interactive Tea Party' will work, it's hopefully going to take place around Edinburgh in the next few weeks so keep your eyes peeled!

b*

Philips interactive O.L.E.D light

2009-10-24T05:41:00.000-07:00

Pretty cool if it's true

2009-10-24T05:29:00.000-07:00

Probe Update

2009-10-24T05:13:00.000-07:00

Hi

I have just sent out a number of probe packs today, so hopefully they will be with you shortly. I have still got a few spaces left if any one wants to take part!! Keep up the good work the online probe as well, the results I'm getting back are great, but if you have time to attach any kind of photograph that would be even better.

b*

Web Probe

2009-10-20T02:59:00.000-07:00

Hi!

hope my followers are all good? (although theres probably not many of you right now!)

I have added a web probe section to my website, this means for those of you who aren't completing one of my cultural probe packs you can now do a 5 minute version online!! I have had quite a few back and it would be great to get loads more. So if you are browsing the internet aimlessly, looking for something to do, fill in a probe!

:)

b*

Cultural Probe Update

2009-10-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

Hi

I'm just putting up a little post to let my volunteers know where I'm at with my probe packs. The first one will be ready to go out tomorrow, and my lovely friend Robbie and his parents are going to test it out for me, as soon as I get the feedback from that, they will be sent out hopefully in the next week and a half. I am hoping that the postal strikes (if they are still going on) won't disrupt the delivery of the packets too much.

I still have a few places left, if any one else wishes to come forth and volunteer, it would be great to have you on board!

b*

Ideas Update

2009-10-10T02:31:00.000-07:00

Hello.

Firstly I've had some really good feedback about the website so thank you to those of you who like it! thats a bit of a relief.

I've had a few more thoughts about what direction my project could go in and I have been thinking about the problems people have told me they don't like about energy saving bulbs in terms of the quality of light they give off. Maybe an aspect of product could be to try and match the light qualities: lumens and colour to an incandescent. (Even though I am not technically minded at all) I want to do something with the technologies available to me that is new and interesting but I would also like to solve as many of these problems that people have with current energy savers, and prove to people that they can be good!

I am also interested in how people interact (or don't interact at the moment) with the luminaries in their homes. The most positive feedback I got from the lighting association and it's members was how you had to actually interact with air physically to use it, their comments were that they hadn't really seen anything like this before and it was a really nice idea. I think it would be quite interesting to explore the ways luminaries could communicate with each other, and learn peoples habits/routines so as to know when to provide light and when not to and how much, this could perhaps link to energy consumption.

Any way I think that is enough of a ramble, hope it makes sense, there really only initial thoughts at the moment, and haven't been developed yet in any way.

b*

Cultural Probe, Design Research

2009-10-07T00:46:00.000-07:00

Hi

As you may have noticed from my home page, I am conducting some design research for my fourth year project and I need volunteers! I want to know how you interact with the people and products in your home (with a particular focus on lighting). I sending out a set of research packs otherwise known as 'cultural probes'. They include a set of fun tasks for you to complete over the space of a week or two, this might be taking pictures, playing a game, answering questions. The results I get back will really help me generate new ideas and confirm/conflict any of the research I have already done. Theres no cost involved for the volunteer.

Sooo if you want to get involved or just to get any more information about what you would have to do feel free to contact me

b*