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Our (used to) lighting division is selling a product where we use our LED-lights to track phones indoor. Always thought it one of the coolest applications of ou

Our (used to) lighting division is selling a product where we use our LED-lights to track phones indoor. Always thought it one of the coolest applications of our tech. Using the fact that we can control LED frequencies invisible to the human eye but visible to a phones camera to pinpoint devices and provide indoor navigation [0]. Accuracy was tested to be 30cm (when combined with a few other factors). [0] http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/systems/lighting-systems/indoor-positioning# http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/systems/lighting-system...

arianvanp 9y ago
Roosendaal by any chance? I remember visiting the lighting r&d department with school when I was young. Was one of the things that inspired me to go into tech! They demolished the entire factory now ...
- bastijn 9y ago
  Not exactly sure where it was developed (I am working in the heathcare division). Today most of it is in Eindhoven. I would guess the R&D divisions in Eindhoven developed it but that is pure speculation.
  - bradknowles 9y ago
    ASML is in Eindhoven. I worked there for about a year, and they used to be a part of the Philips R&D group. So, that makes total sense.
alanning 9y ago
That is a very interesting approach to indoor positioning. The idea of just installing a light bulb seems very cost-effective. When you say, “used to” did you mean that the product was discontinued and/or isn’t available for purchase anymore? Or perhaps Philips sold the technology? I’d like to learn more, will use the Contact Us form on the page you linked but if there’s someone you could recommend that would be much appreciated.
- bastijn 9y ago
  I jokingly said “used to” as Philips split off the lighting division. It is now rebranded to Signify. Technology will still be sold under the Philips brand. The indoor positioning is also still being sold as a product. As far as I know we are doing some mega stores and expanding. If the contact form doesn’t work DM me and I can see if I can get a direct contact for you. (Added email to bio)
  - WildGreenLeave 9y ago
    This is kinda unrelated, but could you tell a bit more about the R&D departement inside Philips? The reason for asking is that there are a few companies in The Netherlands that I'd love to work for, and Philips is one of them. (Other companies would include the NS or Thales) Furthermore R&D does sounds like something that I would love. However being mainly a software engineer with a touch of mechanical engineering I'm not sure if I'd be a good fit. I know that Philips is only hiring interns at the moment, but I assume that most departments won't differ much from other 'big' Dutch companies.
    - bastijn 9y ago
      Sure. I’d be happy to help though let’s not go off-topic in this thread. Feel free to drop me an email, see my bio for the address.
      - alanning 9y ago
        Hi bastijn, just following up. I don't see your email in your HN profile but I would like to take you up on your offer to get in touch with the appropriate lighting folk at Philips. I haven't heard anything back from my attempts via their online form. My email is in my HN profile if you don't mind getting in touch. Thank you.
        bastijn 9y ago
        Hi. Sorry removed it recently again as I thought we had it all covered :). Your email is not in your bio either so I added mine again. Feel free to contact!
qrv3w 9y ago
That sounds really cool! This requires the phone being out of the pocket though, right? This would be great for way-finding, but maybe harder for home-automation.
- bastijn 9y ago
  Yes I believe it does, at least to stay accurate. The idea is it is used as navigation and to show location aware services indoor which anyway requires you to have your phone out. Any moment you pull it out it will sync your position. In addition we use the system to make smarter offices [0]. The lighting grid is used to track where employees are, and will be using ML. All to reduce the CO2 footprint by smartly heating only the right areas of a building at the right times, and do the same with airconditioning, lights, etc. see link below. [0] http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/cases/cases/office/edge http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/cases/cases/office/edge
EGreg 9y ago
I wonder how many animals are exposed to intense lights and sounds and radio signals that humans don't detect. Perhaps this is the reason for butterflies and bees to decline.
- dwyerm 9y ago
  I have often wondered the same. It must be torture for animals with a higher flicker fusion threshold. The Wikipedia page seems to suggest that your threshold is related to your metabolic rate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flicker_fusion_threshold https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flicker_fusion_threshold

arianvanp 9y ago

Roosendaal by any chance? I remember visiting the lighting r&d department with school when I was young. Was one of the things that inspired me to go into tech! They demolished the entire factory now ...

bastijn 9y ago
Not exactly sure where it was developed (I am working in the heathcare division). Today most of it is in Eindhoven. I would guess the R&D divisions in Eindhoven developed it but that is pure speculation.
- bradknowles 9y ago
  ASML is in Eindhoven. I worked there for about a year, and they used to be a part of the Philips R&D group. So, that makes total sense.

alanning 9y ago

That is a very interesting approach to indoor positioning. The idea of just installing a light bulb seems very cost-effective. When you say, “used to” did you mean that the product was discontinued and/or isn’t available for purchase anymore? Or perhaps Philips sold the technology? I’d like to learn more, will use the Contact Us form on the page you linked but if there’s someone you could recommend that would be much appreciated.

bastijn 9y ago
I jokingly said “used to” as Philips split off the lighting division. It is now rebranded to Signify. Technology will still be sold under the Philips brand. The indoor positioning is also still being sold as a product. As far as I know we are doing some mega stores and expanding. If the contact form doesn’t work DM me and I can see if I can get a direct contact for you. (Added email to bio)
- WildGreenLeave 9y ago
  This is kinda unrelated, but could you tell a bit more about the R&D departement inside Philips? The reason for asking is that there are a few companies in The Netherlands that I'd love to work for, and Philips is one of them. (Other companies would include the NS or Thales) Furthermore R&D does sounds like something that I would love. However being mainly a software engineer with a touch of mechanical engineering I'm not sure if I'd be a good fit. I know that Philips is only hiring interns at the moment, but I assume that most departments won't differ much from other 'big' Dutch companies.
  - bastijn 9y ago
    Sure. I’d be happy to help though let’s not go off-topic in this thread. Feel free to drop me an email, see my bio for the address.
    - alanning 9y ago
      Hi bastijn, just following up. I don't see your email in your HN profile but I would like to take you up on your offer to get in touch with the appropriate lighting folk at Philips. I haven't heard anything back from my attempts via their online form. My email is in my HN profile if you don't mind getting in touch. Thank you.
      - bastijn 9y ago
        Hi. Sorry removed it recently again as I thought we had it all covered :). Your email is not in your bio either so I added mine again. Feel free to contact!

qrv3w 9y ago

That sounds really cool! This requires the phone being out of the pocket though, right? This would be great for way-finding, but maybe harder for home-automation.

bastijn 9y ago
Yes I believe it does, at least to stay accurate. The idea is it is used as navigation and to show location aware services indoor which anyway requires you to have your phone out. Any moment you pull it out it will sync your position. In addition we use the system to make smarter offices [0]. The lighting grid is used to track where employees are, and will be using ML. All to reduce the CO2 footprint by smartly heating only the right areas of a building at the right times, and do the same with airconditioning, lights, etc. see link below. [0] http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/cases/cases/office/edge http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/cases/cases/office/edge

EGreg 9y ago

I wonder how many animals are exposed to intense lights and sounds and radio signals that humans don't detect. Perhaps this is the reason for butterflies and bees to decline.

dwyerm 9y ago
I have often wondered the same. It must be torture for animals with a higher flicker fusion threshold. The Wikipedia page seems to suggest that your threshold is related to your metabolic rate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flicker_fusion_threshold https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flicker_fusion_threshold