The stores in the nearby mall are already setting up for Christmas. My favorite part of this season is the coloured lights. Years ago we put a string of coloured LED bulbs around an outside building for Christmas, and we've never taken them down.
So it is no surprise that I am enchanted by the spinning LED lights of the fan in my new desktop. (I mentioned a few weeks ago that we were spec'ing new machines.) The chassis has one glass side, and I'll have to re-arrange my desk so that I can see the lights. I'm torn between my new and old keyboard. My current keyboard is clackety and has red LED lights. I love the clack. But my new silent keyboard has multi-coloured lights...
We didn't spec the machines based on the LED lights. But it seems to be a common feature of a lot of new hardware. Which made me wonder why.
LED trivia
LEDs were developed in the 1950s and 1960s. The first lights were red, then green, then orange/yellow. Blue LEDs were only developed in the 1990s, and it was an important breakthrough. In 2014, three scientists won the Nobel Prize in Physics for developing blue LEDs.
Blame the gamers
Gamers seem to be the reason for multi-coloured computer accessories. As a gamer, you can customise LED lights to match your mood or make the gaming experience more immersive. Perhaps the lights can flicker and fade when your character is fatally shot.
An article on PCWorld looked into why gamers like RGB lights, but didn't find an answer. Yes, we like to customise the look of our possessions. Yes, it increases our enjoyment of the experience. Or maybe we just like bright shiny things.
A deeper meaning?
Colour and lighting can affect our mood. Some people claim colour X is always good for effect Y. I think it's more individual. I have a friend whose bedroom is more neutral than I have ever seen. She says it calms her. It make me feel blah. On the other hand, I enjoy the purple walls in my kitchen. (Yes, I really do have purple walls. Please don't let that stop you reading.)
More trivia
Fashion plays a big role in colour choices. Traditional Western wedding dresses are white - but only since 1840. In 1840 Queen Victoria wore a white dress for her wedding. Before that, it was usual for a bride to wear red, pink, blue, brown, or even black. That's according to the Victoria and
Albert Museum in London, and they should know.
Coloured Christmas lights are also a fashion trend. Edward Johnson was an investor in the Edison Lamp Company. In the late 1880s, he hand-wired bulbs for his Christmas tree. Then he called a reporter to make sure it became known. In 1894 the US president put electric lights on the White House tree. And after that, of course, everyone followed suit.
Health disclaimer
According to Healthline between 2% and 14% of people with epilepsy in the US experience photosensitive epilepsy. Photosensitive epilepsy is when flickering or flashing lights trigger seizures. So if you plan an LED extravaganza, check your guests before you dazzle.
The past two weeks have been very difficult, so I've welcomed the simple distraction of coloured LED lights. I'd love to hear your thoughts on adding lights and bling to your computer.