On the anniversary of GE founder Thomas Alva Edison’s successful test of the first practical commercial light bulb (1879), GE will observe October 21 as Lighting Appreciation Day. In tribute to this day, GE will announce a significant breakthrough in LED technology at a Lighting Redefined Symposium, being held at GE’s research labs in Niskayuna, N.Y.

“Try to imagine a world without electric lighting,” said Mark Little,
senior vice-president and director of GE Global Research. “Lighting is
everywhere and impacts virtually everything we do. We thought it only
fitting to dedicate a day just for lighting in tribute to everything
lighting gives back to us.”

To commemorate the day, people around the world are encouraged to Tweet
thoughts on what lighting has meant to them and what it might look like
in the future (use the hashtag “#weheartlighting”). They are also
encouraged to tweet pictures or videos featuring:

• A favourite lamp, light fixture or holiday lighting display
• Their city’s night skyline
• Their kids studying at night
• Hospitals or manufacturing plants operating at night
• Display or museum lighting on a favourite painting, portrait or artifact

CLICK HERE for more about GE’s lighting technologies.

PHOTO: A shot of Edison’s first commercial incandescent bulb (produced November 1879 to May 1880). Photo courtesy Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium.