karmicdragonfly

Here's an article on a lighting source that could replace the light bulb. You wouldn't need a lamp since an OLED (organic light emitting diode) could be built into or attached to almost anything -- the article mentions wallpaper and window blinds.

I hate really bright centers of light in a room, so diffuse lighting sounds great!

The only problem I can see is that sometimes you DO need a bright source of light -- like when you are reading -- that is especially true I find as I get older!

I would miss traditional lamps though -- I use them as decoration -- like Arts and Crafts mica shade lamps, etc.

The invention of the incandescent bulb created the pattern for home lighting: Our light sources are small and bright. Maybe there are a few in the center of the ceiling, and a few in the corners of the room. Because they're too bright to look at, they need to be reflected and diffused with lamp shades and frosted glass.

OLEDs could overturn all that, with broad, diffuse light sources bathing rooms in a gentle glow. Photographers go to great lengths to diffuse the illumination they use when shooting portraits, because they know we look our best in soft light.

The big glowing sheets could also make light sources out of everyday things. GE imagines putting OLEDs on the inside of window blinds — pull them down, light them up, and you have light streaming from the window, even at night. You could even make OLED wallpaper, since the material is flexible.

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20081011/ap_on_hi_te/tec_sheets_of_light_4</blockquote