Philips Lighting Research Work Issues Issues "Power over Ethernet" to Launch in Second Half of Year

　　Philips announced today that, in response to the increasing length of working years and the arrival of an aging society, it will introduce Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) technology for offices to Taiwan in the second half of the year.

　　Philips stated that 30-50% of the working population is over 45 years old, and in European offices, when writing, typing, and reading, it is recommended to use at least 500 lux of illumination; Taiwan has no mandatory regulations regarding office environment lighting. However, Philips collected relevant research data and found that current lighting conditions are insufficient for nearly one-third of workers worldwide. Especially as age increases, eye physiology also changes; after age 45, near vision gradually deteriorates. Research shows that a 60-year-old person needs 2 to 5 times more illumination than a 20-year-old to see the same level of detail, not to mention the differences in concentration.

　　Dr. Bianca van der Zande, Chief Scientist at Philips Lighting, said, "People often take sick leave because of headaches and fatigue, and these symptoms may be caused by many underlying factors, one of which is likely the poor lighting in the work environment, leading to long-term eye fatigue. Insufficient lighting may cause visual discomfort, neck pain, headaches, fatigue, and ultimately may even require sick leave." It is not only concentration and work performance that need to be considered; under the same lighting, one employee may experience a significant increase in concentration, while another employee's creativity may be affected. A 2011 laboratory study confirmed that work concentration requires illumination of 1,000 lux, but enhancing creative thinking requires consideration of dimmable lighting.

Philips conducted a survey in 2013, using adjustable desk lamps to test how people adjust brightness and color temperature based on personal preference. Approximately 90% of respondents reported clearer vision, greater eye comfort, the ability to see finer details, and improved visual contrast. The ability to adjust lighting conditions in one's own workspace according to personal preference was also positively correlated with workplace happiness, improved lighting quality ratings, and environmental satisfaction. Since personal preferences vary greatly, individual control is actually the only effective method to give everyone the opportunity to obtain the lighting that suits them best.

Bianca van der Zande pointed out, "Regulations should take these research findings into consideration to seek better health, wellbeing, and productivity for today's workers. We spend 80 to 90% of our time indoors, of which about 20% is at work. The indoor environment significantly affects office employees' comfort and wellbeing, which in turn affects their work performance. Importantly, human-centric lighting should be incorporated into regulatory standards, allowing architects and building designers to propose optimal solutions for offices and even the overall building environment."

Philips noted that employers in today's society are under pressure to improve productivity and take care of employee wellbeing, while also needing to cut costs and reduce carbon footprints. Some may consider investing in personalized lighting a luxury. If desk lamps were provided only to employees over 45, it would not only be discriminatory but also very expensive.

Philips' Power-over-Ethernet connected office lighting provides personalized lighting without increasing employer costs and carbon footprint. The connected lighting system uses the same cables as computers, making lighting a device on the network. Office employees can use their smartphones to control and set lighting preferences for their personal space. With a simple swipe on a smartphone app, the overhead lighting can be adjusted. Philips' connected office lighting system allows users to change lighting settings according to their personal preferences, choosing high brightness to boost energy or low brightness to promote creative thinking. Additionally, the system can remember users' personal preferences.

The communication between smartphones and ceiling lighting utilizes patented technology developed by Philips, with a wireless communication access point built into each luminaire, and each lighting point having its own IP address.

Jeff Cassis, Head of Global Systems at Philips Lighting, stated: 'This is an extended application of IoT in the office. As a global lighting leader, we have developed software-based tool consoles for intuitive setup and operating systems, creating highly energy-efficient personalized lighting for employees and providing building managers with useful real-time data. Therefore, we can become an important partner for connected lighting systems, delivering value-added services to customers both in lighting and beyond.'

Peng Xiaolan, Marketing Manager of the Philips Lighting Business Unit in Taiwan, noted that Philips' office Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) technology is expected to be introduced to the Taiwan market in the second half of 2015, opening the PoE era in the country and positioning Philips as a leader in innovative PoE lighting solutions.