David Shiller

  Researchers from the University of St Andrews and the University of Cambridge have achieved a breakthrough in wireless optical communications by using OLEDs (organic light-emitting diodes)—commonly found in smartphone screens and televisions—as fast, long-distance transmitters for visible light communication (VLC), also known as Li-Fi. VLC uses light waves rather than radio frequencies to send [...]

  There is a rapidly escalating crisis in metal thefts across the United States, with a strong increase in copper theft driven by international trade policies and increasing industrial demand. Metal thefts, especially copper and aluminum, have surged this year. This spike is widely attributed to the adoption of significant new tariffs. For example, over [...]

On July 28th, the Design Lights Consortium (DLC) released the second draft of its SSL V6.0 & Luna V2.0 Technical Requirements for LED Lighting. A notable change from the first draft is the removal of some product categories traditionally covered by ENERGY STAR, that were proposed to be added to DLC in Draft 1. These [...]

I was impressed to read about the lengths to which display makers were going to improve eye comfort for users. Let’s look at the new TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus 11” tablet, as an example. First introduced in 2020, NXTPAPER is a hardware and software combination designed to manage blue light output from devices “while maintaining excellent visual [...]

The Trump administration has created sweeping changes and accelerated phase-outs to energy efficiency and clean energy tax credits through the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Key implications of the OBBBA are: Accelerated Sunset of Major Credits: The OBBBA rapidly ends or shortens the lifespan of most major tax credits related to residential and [...]

  One of the most interesting conversations that I had at LightFair, this year, was discussing lighting-HVAC integration with Chris Wolgamott, Principal Product Manager, Technology & Product Management, at the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA). Chris graciously agreed to do an interview about his pioneering LLLC-HVAC integration pilots. SHILLER: You and NEEA are approaching lighting-HVAC [...]

  Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program is bringing futuristic visions closer to reality by achieving record-setting results in long-distance, wirelessly beamed power. This initiative aims to revolutionize the delivery of electricity, particularly for military and humanitarian operations where the logistics of providing energy across challenging terrain are [...]

  I recently had the pleasure of appearing on the The Project Advantage video podcast with Neil Peterson, CEO of LED Lighting Supply. The episode is titled, Fluorescent Light Ban: Why LEDs Are The Smarter Choice. A wide range of topics were discussed including: mercury lamp bans in 10 states and Canada how utility LED [...]

Glamox, a leading global lighting company, has introduced a novel method of naval communication, drawing inspiration from Morse code but updating it for the twenty-first century. This breakthrough was officially announced in Oslo on June 24, 2025, signifying a major shift in how navies can achieve secure communication, even when satellite or radio channels might [...]