Abstract
IN his presidential address to the Illuminating Engineering Society, delivered on October 8, Mr. A. W. Beuttell took an optimistic view of the future of illuminating engineering. He based his claim on the inevitable demand for more artificial light which must approximate more and more to daylight. At the moment, the cost of this light is prohibitive, and the problem is to produce more light whilst using no more energy. The keeping low of energy costs will increase the cost of equipment. It is now realised that having incandescent metals near their melting point does not give the solution. On the other hand, vapour discharge lamps, although we are only at the threshold of these fields of discovery, whilst giving cheaper light, do not give white light. The question is now being thoroughly explored. The disturbance of electrons causing light is produced by heat, but at present much energy is lost in the non-visible spectrum. This problem is of great importance owing to the future great demand for light and the well-defined field with which we have to deal, and the fact that the production of light is based on the fundamental principles which physicists study. In considering the production and use of light, the psychological aspect has also to be considered. Mr. Beuttell expressed the view that in both the physiological and pgychological processes concerning light, cause and effect hold good. Whilst we are learning rapidly, it is necessary that specialists should pool their knowledge.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Illuminating Engineering. Nature 136, 714 (1935). https://doi.org/10.1038/136714b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/136714b0