Products + Technology

  Stanford researchers are designing domestic robots to help older adults age in place with more safety, mobility, and independence. These robots are support tools rather than replacements for human caregivers. The robots could reduce the strain on families and care systems as the U.S. population grows older. The article highlights several use cases: helping [...]

  A recent New York Magazine article describes a noticeable shift in New York City apartments toward orange, amber, and red-tinted lighting, driven by a mix of aesthetics, mood, and the flexibility of smart LED lamps. The trend is more than a passing design quirk: residents, designers, and lighting consultants are intentionally choosing ultra-warm light [...]

  Another interesting find at LEDucation, last month, was Tivoli’s VAST EX Grazer, a high‑output exterior linear system with articulated beam control. The newly launched outdoor solution delivers precision aiming, design flexibility, and durability for demanding architectural applications. VAST EX Grazer is designed for façade grazing, wall washing, and large-scale exterior illumination, and is available [...]

  Another innovative find at LEDucation, earlier this month, was Genlyte Solutions’ new Lumec Ancestra Color Changing Post Top luminaire. The product incorporates Color Kinetics sources to provide a splash of changeable color to streetscapes, campuses, and other post top applications. Adding color changing capabilities to Lumec post tops creates a visually distinctive and inviting [...]

  Another interesting trend at LEDucation was the growing sophistication of RGBTW light sources. These are color changing, tunable white, and everything in-between! 5-channel RGB-WW-CW has been around for a while, but American Lighting just introduced its Trulux 6-channel, RGBWWW tape light. It is a DMX-controlled tape light combining RGB color mixing with wide range [...]

  One of the trends that was still evident at LEDucation, earlier this month, was continued miniaturization of luminiaires. A good example that I saw was the new release of Velino.0 by Optique Lighting. They claim that it is the slimmest, low UGR, architectural luminaires on the market, and I believe them. The family features [...]

  The IES is now accepting submissions for the 2026 IES Industry Progress Report. The IES is seeking significant new advancements in lighting products, research, publications, and design tools from the past year. The mission of the Progress Committee is to keep in touch with developments in the art and science of lighting throughout the [...]

  InSinkErator, one of the leading manufacturers of garbage disposals, has released its LEDefense line, with antimicrobial light technology added to garbage disposals to fight the odor-causing bacteria that builds up with food waste. Instead of waiting until a disposal smells bad and then using citrus peels or cleaning pods, the product uses always-on light [...]

  By Brad Koerner, Creative Director, Koerner Designs There is plenty of latent opportunity in launching application-level innovations in specification-grade, interior architectural lighting categories. But the problem is that no one is looking. The architectural lighting industry has become so stagnant that for the past decade, no one is even considering it as a possible [...]