New technology might let you implant LED tattoos which would turn your skin into a screen.
posted by twoleftfeet on Nov 21, 2009 - 42 comments

Fans of U2 have probably already seen concert footage from their current tour of the giant elliptical LED screen that morphs into a 7-story high cone-shaped structure, enveloping the band as it extends. But what you may not know is that it was designed (in collaboration with Barco) by Chuck Hoberman, inventor of the Hoberman Sphere. [more inside]
posted by albrecht on Oct 14, 2009 - 47 comments

Extreme Shepherding! X-Treme Art!! YEAAAAH!!1! (SLYT )
posted by maryh on Mar 17, 2009 - 20 comments

Unscrew America!! Flash 9 Activism designed to promote interest/activity in replacing regular old incandescent lightbulbs with energy-efficient CFL and LED bulbs.
posted by psmealey on Apr 22, 2008 - 69 comments

You down with LED? Yeah, you know me! [more inside]
posted by gummi on Oct 21, 2007 - 23 comments

Interactive coffee table.
posted by fandango_matt on Oct 4, 2007 - 28 comments

Alex Beim's Zygote is a lightweight inflated ball that responds to pressure: Tap it or squeeze it and the internal LEDs react. The balls can act as input or output devices by being linked to a central computer, as Daniel van Tijn did here to make crowd-generated music. (See also: Dorkbot.)
posted by GrammarMoses on Sep 21, 2007 - 14 comments

The LED Museum has long been the Internet's premier source of absolutely obsessive LED and Laser analysis. Going strong since 1999, Craig Johnson's amassed quite a range of test equipment. Recently, he acquired a Playstation 3 Blu-Ray Laser Module. Did he mod it? Oh yes he did. (Warning: NSFC64)
posted by effugas on Jun 15, 2007 - 20 comments

Orson Whales, book/video/audio mash of the novel Moby Dick, Orson Welles from an Italian movie, Led Zeppelin and original artwork by Alex Itn. See also Ulysees.
posted by stbalbach on May 4, 2007 - 27 comments

RONJA is an optical networking device that can be built by nearly everyone, using readily available components and using only free software.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane on Feb 7, 2007 - 23 comments

If you have a lot of time on your hands and a deep love for animation and LEDs, you might put together something like this. [via]
posted by absalom on Aug 4, 2006 - 17 comments

LED Throwies (QT) A simple combination of lithium battery, diffused LED, strong magnet and a little tape. Developed by the Graffiti Research Lab division of the Eyebeam R&D OpenLab, full instructions are posted and take only a few minutes to follow.
posted by cali on Feb 16, 2006 - 53 comments

Interactive lighting design from James Clar. Play 3-D Pong with an LED cube, or turn the cube into an audio-synced 3-D screensaver (color upgrade here). Other favorites include the Audio interactive light meters and Square Eclipses 1 and 2k5. [Warning: Individual design links may include Flash movies, techno music]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson on Jan 30, 2006 - 12 comments

Scrolling LED Belt Buckles. My mind runs away with me about what to use those 256 characters to say.
posted by 13twelve on Apr 5, 2005 - 47 comments

"Time: elusive and immediate...limited yet infinite. Because time is important to you, Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP-01, a new dimension in time management and personal computation." Truly, such an important model number could only be bestowed upon the king of all early calculator watches. No less than three batteries were required (two for the LED display alone), and even HP's impressive engineering was unable to save the HP-01 from the curse of bulkiness; it did not sell well at the $650 price point. The HP-01 was discontinued in 1980, as inexpensive LCD calculator watches began flooding the market (don't lie, you know you had one).
posted by Galvatron on Mar 27, 2005 - 17 comments

Flexgrid. A flexible LED display developed to be imbedded on a dress for the Milan Triennial 2005.
posted by Hands of Manos on Dec 22, 2004 - 27 comments

The end of the light bulb? E. Fred Schubert, a professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute "claims to have invented a 99-percent efficient reflector that promises to speed the replacement of light bulbs with LEDs." According to researchers, this could happen within the next five years. The current prototype is bankrolled by the ARPA and The National Science Foundation "recently award Schubert's team a $210,000 grant to create in three years a commercial version of his patented omnidirectional reflector."

"Schubert claimed that lighting accounts for 25 percent of U.S. electrical energy consumption. Since white LEDs emit more light per dollar and generate less unwanted heat, they are potentially a major energy saver." (see EE Times link)

Meanwhile, some of the oldtimers seem to be pretty refractory.
posted by tcp on Jul 24, 2004 - 10 comments

The Vos Pas is an apartment that it's owner has lit entirely with LEDs. More here.
posted by ukamikanasi on Jan 10, 2004 - 18 comments

This Webcam features a live feed to a LED sign. You get to input the text it shows and then you can see it in real time via the webcam. This is one of the coolest things I have seen in a long time.
posted by thebwit on Aug 6, 2003 - 26 comments

Early Light Emitting Diode watches. From photos to advertisements. Commodore to Tiffany to Ragen Synchronar.
posted by four panels on Apr 16, 2003 - 14 comments

John Bonham lives! Crank up your tiny labtec speakers and rock out in the manner to which you are accustomed.
posted by KettleBlack on Dec 16, 2002 - 10 comments

The Color of Cool, a Business 2.0 article about why so many new products use blue LEDs. Pantone even declared Cerulean Blue (Pantone 15-4020 TC), the colour of the sky on a serene, crystal clear day, as the official colour of the millennium.
posted by riffola on Nov 10, 2002 - 42 comments

"Arrr, matey, insecure transaction off the port bow!" Data can be stolen as it is transferred by recording and interpreting the flashing of LED lights on your equipment. Theoretically, then, your data isn't safe within viewing distance of a telescope, unless some engineer comes up with an ingenious workaround.
posted by Hildago on Mar 7, 2002 - 20 comments

The end of Edison's greatest invention. All good things must come to an end, I suppose. This one lasted longer than most of the 19th century's great inventions -- like the steam locomotive.
posted by Steven Den Beste on Dec 12, 2000 - 10 comments