Super-bright LEDs in public places?

[Chris]

On a recent trip back to the UK I noticed - whilst travelling mostly by rail - that at the landings of flights of steps at very many stations now there are overhead panels of super-bright blue LEDs tilted downwards towards passengers approaching the stairs. These panels are *extremely* bright and quite painful to look directly at, even in daylight. They appear to be left on day and night. Does any knowledgeable person know what function they're supposed to perform?

[Graham.]

To discourage intravenous drug use.

[Huge]

They're not uncommon in public lavatories, for the same reason.

[mcp]

That tends to be a fairly dim blue light rather than super-bright blue LEDs.

[Cursitor Doom]

Yes, and they're somewhat UV to make white powder glow. Super-bright blue, though? No idea.

[Brian Gaff]

Who knows but they annoy the heck out of people with poor vision making people dazzled and making the effects of cataracts far worse by creating blooming effects. My guess is that when coming down they help with seeing the edges of steps in 3D so to speak but at the expense of making going the other way far more annoying. A classic case of helpful ideas that have not been completely thought through. Brian

[Adrian Caspersz]

Preventing Suicides?

Seems the Blue LED Floodlights are meant to have a calming effect.

[tabbypurr]

I suspect their only real purpose is to extract money from the companies that buy them. To claim they stop drug use & prevent suicides seems ridiculous.

NT

[DerbyBorn]

/

Designers increasingly shine lights at the observer. Even theatre often has light sources too visible. The basics of needing the light to hit the subject so that the observer can see the reflected image seems to have got lost somewhere. And don't get me started on peoples. exterior PIR Floodlights. A new development near me seems to have them all neatly pointing straight outwards such that 50% of the light is wasted into the sky.

[Chris]

You're right! Can't see how the heck it's supposed to work, though. :-/

"Minimise Energy, a company specialising in the production of blue LED floodlights for public spaces, describe the effect in a press release: "Research has shown that blue light can induce calm, and as a colour often associated with authority, particularly the police, blue light in public places is different enough from the norm to encourage people to rethink before committing unwanted behaviour.

"The company distributed their blue lights to Network Rail and have been following the trials intently. According to head of UK sales at Minimise Energy Sam Stageman, "the initial trial has given satisfactory results to promote further opportunities so I think it is very client-dependent on how far they want to roll it out to a major premise or areas of particular concern. Following the success of that, further product is being provided for additional stations."

Sounds like a load of old bollocks.

[Bob Minchin]

How is that meant to work please. No personal experience in such matters....

[Scott M]

If the area's flooded with blue light it's meant to stop you seeing the veins to stab 'em, IIRC. Don't see it being useful in more public areas where there's other light sources tho.

[Tim+]

Blue light makes it much harder to seen veins beneath the skin.

Tim

[Brian Gaff]

Yes I don't see the connection with either activity. I wonder if there was a job lot sculking around in a warehouse and somebody creatively sold them to the station folks. I had myself wondered about them as any bright blue or uv lights make my visual field flash and spin, which if anything would make me more likely to fall down the stairs.

There are some also in a nearby leisure centre as well, over the main in door. Many get so dazzled they then come a cropper over a very badly placed A board outside proclaming how good their cafe is I gather. Brian

[Brian Gaff]

Utter crap. Sorry but I've not found anyone with a good word to say about them. They are too bright. If they were no so bright I might believe it. Brian

[Brian Gaff]

Yes I suspect people are so busy trying to see through the dazzle they have no time to get annoyed or commit suicide, instead every fall is an unfortunate accident instead.

I was always told that warm colours induced calm. Brian

[Bob Minchin]

OK thanks

[alan_m]

Only by those who only sold light bulbs of that colour temperature :)

[Chris]

I agree. They cannot possibly by any stretch of the imagination be described as "calming." There's something else going on here.

[Richard]

Facial recognition closely coupled with ANPR and a multitude of other intelligence gathering devices which are keeping you and your loved ones safe and sound. Happy now?