Thursday 16 April 2015

A dim glow from before the lightbulb Conspiracy

There's a story here about a lightbulb that's been going for over a hundred years. It was made before the lightbulb consortium got together and demanded that lightbulbs have a limited lifetime, to guarantee their ongoing sales. 

It's something of a miracle that LEDs have seen light in the market. A victory of technology over control capitalism. A victory for the consumers over the manufacturers. Perhaps a victory for the energy conservationists over generators, but that may depend on the Jevons paradox.

You can listen on 99% invisible.