How was light actually created? The history of its creation

What is the origin story of light?

Since the dawn of humanity, sunlight has played an important role in people's lives. It gives us warmth, light, and energy that we can use.

But it was only with the invention of electricity that new possibilities for using light were created.

Since then, technology has continued to evolve, and today we have LED lights that are superior in many ways.

The history of sunlight

Sunlight is the source of all light on Earth. It is a mixture of different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum emitted by the sun. Sunlight has always been important to us humans.

It gave us the warmth we need to survive and the light that shows us the way and enables us to see things. The first attempts to use sunlight date back to the 7th century BC. The Babylonians and Assyrians used glass lenses to focus sunlight and make fire.

In ancient Greece, scientists Archimedes and Pythagoras used mirrors to reflect sunlight and start fires. For a long time, the sun was the only source of light.

Over time, humans have also adapted to the changing times of day, which has led to the development of the calming or energizing effects of light using color temperature and brightness.

What does HCL mean?

The term Human Centric Lighting refers to the use of such findings primarily to continuously improve lighting technology. Light changes its temperature and intensity in parallel with daylight.

It is said that people are most active between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., as the light appears bluish during this period. Blue light activates the mind and thus promotes motivation and concentration.

Orange light, which occurs between 7 p.m. and midnight and is very low in intensity, tends to make people tired and encourages the brain to enter deep sleep.

Misuse of fire

While fire was once used only for cooking, as a source of heat, for slash-and-burn agriculture, or for protection against dangerous animals in caves and rooms, over time, fire was used in the form of torches, oil lamps, or candles to illuminate special processes, such as the development of agriculture or the invention of the steam engine and the reflecting telescope.

In the Middle Ages, stained glass windows were developed to capture sunlight in churches and buildings and direct it into the interior. In the 19th century, gas lighting was invented, turning night into day and improving the quality of life.

The discovery of electricity was a milestone in the history of lighting.

In 1800, Alessandro Volta discovered electricity by constructing a battery from a copper and a zinc plate. A few years later, Michael Faraday invented the generator, which could produce electricity in larger quantities.

The development of the fluorescent lamp

In the 1930s, the Fluorescent lamp invented. It is much more efficient than the incandescent lamp and has a longer service life. Fluorescent lamps work by discharging electrons in a gas, which produces ultraviolet radiation that is converted into visible light.

In summary, it can be said that the American inventor made inventions and discoveries competitive. Even today, the E in the thread and socket designations (E27 and E14) stands for "Edison thread."

The LED revolution

In addition to radiant heaters and discharge lamps, LED lights also emerged over time. LED(light-emitting diode) technology was developed in the 1960s.

However, the first LED lights were only available in red, green, and yellow and had low luminosity. It was not until the 1990s that white LED lights were developed that offered high luminosity and efficiency.

Today, LED lights have become indispensable in many areas of lighting technology. One of the most important advantages of LED lights is their energy efficiency. Compared to incandescent bulbs, LED lights consume only a fraction of the energy and have a much longer service life. Another important advantage of LED lights is their durability.

Unlike incandescent bulbs, which can break easily due to their hot filaments, LED lights are very robust and can be used without any problems even when subjected to shocks or vibrations.

This makes them ideal for use in the automotive and aviation industries, as well as in many other areas where durability and reliability are crucial.

LED lights are also very versatile. They can be manufactured in a wide range of colors and brightness levels, making them suitable for a variety of applications. From lighting streets, buildings, and parks to signal and warning lights in vehicles or machines, LED lights can be found everywhere.

Another advantage of LED lights is their environmental friendliness. Compared to conventional lights, LED lights do not contain any toxic or harmful substances such as mercury or lead and have a much lower carbon footprint.

This makes them an environmentally friendly alternative that can help reduce CO2 emissions and protect the environment. Another advantage of LED lights is that the LEDs are particularly flat, allowing them to be perfectly integrated into LED strips, ceiling lights, wall lights, and many other types of lighting.

LED lighting is here to stay, both today and in the future.

OLED technology has so far only been used in electrical appliances such as TVs.

The future of lighting

The development of LED lights has fundamentally changed the way we use light. But technology is not standing still, and there are already new developments that will further change the future of lighting. One promising technology is OLED (organic light-emitting diode) lighting.

These lights are made of organic materials (carbon) that emit light when electricity is applied. Compared to LED lights, OLEDs are even more efficient and flexible, as they can be customized to different shapes and sizes.

Another interesting Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) lights are currently under development. These use light as a medium for data transmission, enabling faster and more secure data transmission than conventional Wi-Fi networks.

Conclusion on the development process of light

The history of sunlight and lighting has undergone a long evolution, ranging from the discovery of electricity to the revolution in LED technology.

LED lights have proven to be one of the most important and versatile forms of lighting technology, offering a variety of benefits, including energy efficiency, durability, environmental friendliness, and versatility.

But technology does not stand still, and there are already new developments that will continue to change the future of lighting.