Blue Lights To Reset Internal Clocks

holy_calamity writes "Researchers at RPI are testing the effects of putting blue LEDs inside cars to keep drivers alert. People driving through the night are much more likely to cause accidents because our circadian rhythms just want to sleep — blue light at around 450nm wavelength can fool them into thinking it's morning and keep them awake."

Does this mean that ...

[Mirzabah]

.. there really is justification for people pimpin' their rides????

For morning people, maybe..

[threephaseboy]

"blue light at around 450nm wavelength can fool them into thinking its morning and keep us awake."

I'm rarely awake before 2pm, you insensitive clod!

Assumes you have a normal sleep cycle

[vsage3]

For me, when I start to see the blue light is when I normally GO to sleep.

Oh yes

[katterjohn]

"blue light at around 450nm wavelength can fool them into thinking its morning and keep us awake"

I need to install one of these on top of my monitor!

Jokes??

[AmigaHeretic]

Q: How many New Yorkers does it take to screw in a "blue" light bulb?

A: None 'o yo' fuckin' business!

Q: How many software people does it take to screw in a "blue" light bulb?

A: None. That's a hardware problem.

Q: How many televangelists does it take to screw in a "blue" light bulb?

A: None. Televangelists screw in motels.

Q: How many straight San Franciscans does it take to screw in a "blue" light bulb?

A: Both of them.

Another idea:

[ChePibe]

How soon until they can put this in textbooks? Now that would be handy...

Red+Blue

[forgotten_my_nick]

I find a flashing blue light in the rear view mirror certainly wakes me up.

Seriously though, it would be better to just not drive when tired. Also wouldn't screwing around with your internal body clock mess you up more?

Re:Please place all * light jokes in this thread.

[Nymz]

How many Slashdotters does it take to change a light bulb? [slashdot.org]

Re:Please place all * light jokes in this thread.

[nebaz]

Blue lights are more likely to wake you up not because you think it's morning, but because you think the police are chasing you. One time I was driving, and for some reason was paranoid that there was a cop around the corner and I came across a house covered with blue Christmas lights. That woke me up.

Re:Soft red...

[Gromius]

Same here, red lights dont keep me awake, neither do blue lights on their own. However I've always found that turning on a flashing red and blue light behind me will instantly make me awake and fully alert,no matter what. The effect is amazing :)

Re:Please place all * light jokes in this thread.

[nebaz]

Speaking of sleeping and car jokes, this old chestnut comes to mind.

When I die, I want to go peacefully, in my sleep, like my grandfather.

Not screaming in terror like his passengers.

Hmmmm.

[WindBourne]

Perhaps a good way to force product turnover. Of course, it is probably limit your drivers.

Re:Is this really the answer?

[Anonymous Coward]

I like the blue lights. They're all... Future-y.

R&D has seen the future, and it is blue!

I like my future like I like my movies... blue.

Re:Please place all * light jokes in this thread.

[glavenoid]

Brilliant! Quite an illuminating journal entry you have there. Thanks for shedding some light on it!

Re:Does this mean that ...

[Kranfer]

I think light in general keeps me awake... I drive a car with an in dash DVD player, GPS, sattelite radio (glows blue) and a bluetooth thing (glows blue too) maybe thats why I feel awake when I drive? I have no idea.

Re:Please place all * light jokes in this thread.

[SkyDude]

I think this is a bad idea. I mean, when I travel, I sometimes go by bus. Never get any sleep on a bus.

When I travel by plane, I never get any sleep. Kids yelling, flight attendants interrupting me.

But, when I'm driving myself, I can fall asleep no problem. Get some of my best shuteye when I'm behind the wheel.......

Re:Is this really the answer?

[Zorbane]

Ahhh yes, I cherish particular hatred for those blue lights. Once, in my youthful folly, I got the Netgear router with the light dome that was reminiscent of a flying saucer. I was in college at that time, and ever night I regretted it as my router just happened to come up about to my bed height. Every night felt like I was about to either be abducted by aliens, or sleeping with a poltergeist (yes, it came with a black cap to cover the lights...no it did not really work).

I already have blue lights.

[Propaganda13]

My dash is blue. My stereo is blue. The blue lights, they do nothing.

A potential customer!!!

[ghoul]

"Check! I can keep going all night folks."

Make Sure you get some blue lights to keep you going all night....

Re:Please place all * light jokes in this thread.

[OutSourcingIsTreason]

To me blue lights say, "Attention K-mart shoppers!"

Re:Please place all * light jokes in this thread.

[CastrTroy]

Maybe it's just because I'm Canadian, but to me, blue light means snow removal. Either that, or crappy beer.

Re:Blue wavelengths = No night vision as well

[inviolet]

Yes, I agree totally here! Furthermore, there's a worrying increase (on UK roads at least) headlamps with a *nasty* blue tint to them. I've no idea what they're called but they *really* screw with my eyes, mostly on BMWs and boy racers. Night vision gets all messed up and there's noticeable scarring (after image) - anyone know what the bulbs are?

The nasty headlighteseseses, it burns!

Re:Is this really the answer?

[Zorbane]

The Universe never talked to me...I am not sure if it was mad at me or what

I know it was there though, I could hear it breathing.