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# Light Bulb Computer
- URL: https://www.protein.xyz/light-bulb-computer/
- Published: 2012-12-10T17:02:10.000Z
- Updated: 2025-05-28T11:01:53.000Z
- Description: An ingenious hack brings invoked computing to light fittings
- Author: Protein
- Tags: Seeds, Art & Design, Technology, #protein, #Import 2024-06-11 13:15, #author-change-2025-05-28

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/3636/ca7cb2af-9e1a-4e56-afc8-a2726477ce4f.jpg)

[Ubiquitous computing](http://prote.in/briefings/2011/06/nfc-internet-on-everything?ref=protein.xyz) is all about embedding computation into everyday objects. But why embed when you can just screw one in?

Nathan Linder, of the [MIT media lab](www.media.mit.edu/), has parcelled two important computing trends into a neat invention he calls the LuminAR. He's created a portable computer which you can screw into any light socket. The computer is coupled to a lumen projector and a camera, transforming any surface in the lamps vicinity into a touchscreen.

It's the low cost of user adoption that's crucial: how many light fittings within your line of sight are crying out for a touchscreen makeover? Lamps are clearly an element of our media ecologies whose time has come: check out the algorithmically sentient [Pinokio Lamp](http://prote.in/feed/2012/12/pinokio-lamp?ref=protein.xyz) for more.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/3636/49dbba87-ef3c-417c-9a2e-a214537803f3.jpg)