Build a Better Bulb for a $10 Million Prize

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/25/technology/25bulb.html?_r=1&hp

by edw519 • 17 years ago

27 9 17 years ago

nytimes.com

andyf• 17 years ago

Another case of "government intervention" that will benefit us in the long run.

fishercs2• 17 years ago

imo this is how government should work, not do the work for us, but promote and reward for the work that is done.

physcab• 17 years ago

I was somewhat surprised by the cost. They mention current LED bulb prices around $100 and are driving it towards $20-$25. Which ones are they talking about? I found some on Amazon for $5-$10.

Maybe it's not the right kind of white light. I know that LEDs have pretty low spread (they only cover 10's of nm in wavelength) and in order to assemble a good white light you have to have the right number and intensity of LEDs to produce the consumer-friendly color.

fishercs2• 17 years ago

I believe the actual problem with LED's is the fact that lowering voltage output to an LED doesn't make the light dim.

I remember reading an article about this somewhere, it was a little over my head but a pretty interesting read if someone has the link available.

MaysonL• 17 years ago

The $5-10 bulbs on Amazon are by no means replacements for 60W incandescents - they seem to be 1-3W LEDs, which would only be 10-20W replacements at best.

_ck_• 17 years ago

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=842723

icey• 17 years ago

I've scrolled past this headline 5 times now, and every time I've thought it said "Build a better BLUB for a $10 million prize".

This place has ruined my ability to read 4 letter words.

jcapote• 17 years ago

Glad I wasn't the only one!

zck• 17 years ago

I'm glad they're responding to people's reactions to compact florescent bulbs. A lot of people could be saving money with them, but aren't. My father, for instance, refuses to switch. I asked him, and he said he doesn't know why. Even after I made sure he knew they weren't that expensive, and would save him money over the medium-term, he won't consider them. Maybe if LED bulbs have more bugs ironed out when they're introduced, they'll be more accepted.

Build a Better Bulb for a $10 Million Prize

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