How the concept of RAY came about
A lightbulb moment
Lighting is our passion. Truly. It must be beautiful. But beyond that it should acknowledge that we respond to light not just visually, but also psychologically (light creates very specific emotional responses) and biologically (an aspect the scientific world is increasingly aware of). Above all, it should not do us harm. It must be as gentle on our systems as sunlight, while bringing the wonder of colour and texture to our indoor environments.
There’s just one problem; the effects of the past decade of LED light are only now being truly seen and understood. By now, most people will be aware that too much blue light is bad for you, but it’s not just in our phones or tablets. It’s at the source of 99% of LEDs we currently see.
On top of that, the little-known ‘flicker factor’ is a major issue. Every LED flickers. It maybe so fast that your eyes don’t even perceive it but our brain records that flicker, and – simply put – as a result is hyper alert. In other words, it makes it hard for people to switch off. Learn more about the flicker factor in this journal.
Adding innovations
The latest chapter
Developing a lightbulb that emits beautiful light reliably and safely was never going to be easy. Far bigger companies than ours, with larger resources, had previously tried.
The technology to build an LED light that is bright enough for us to live by, without relying on blue light as its root source, was in its infancy when we began our journey. And to combine it with a driver that addresses the flicker issue, not just in the larger fittings but also in the tiny globe of a retrofit lightbulb, has been a pioneering development.
The process took more than two years from conception, to research, development, testing and – finally – manufacturing. And it took us far beyond the original technologies we had identified. But working with the original manufacturers of the technology we were able to innovate around the new chips, adding a unique Full Spectrum phosphor blend, building in a completely new heat syncing approach and even looking at issues such as dimming, not to mention the incredible Flicker Bridging Technology.
With the SunRAY ranges it is our hope that we can change the light in which we live and positively impact everyone who uses our creations.
The co – founders
With 30 years of experience in the world of lighting, from installations and designs to creating their own fittings and units, RAY’s co-founders Jason Wilkin and Simon McCune have always believed in the powerful influence of light to set mood, highlight features and promote specific brain activity. But now, as the worlds of neuroscience and psychology begin to reveal new insights into how artificial light impacts humans, the critical nature of this element is coming to the fore. RAY is leading the new dawn.
