Mitsubishi has created windows or skylights capable of generating artificial light very similar to natural light . That's right, so you have the feeling of sunlight streaming in even if you're working in the basement of an office building. And so you don't feel confined.
The LED skylight that simulates sunlight
I remember a conversation in which they explained to me why most of the shopping centers built years ago hardly had any windows facing the street: to prevent the customer from having any notion of time. In other words, by depriving them of seeing if it was still daylight or if it was getting dark, the customer stayed longer and increased the probability of consumption.
The problem is that relying solely on artificial light also has a negative effect on workers, especially in office environments. Poor-quality lighting can easily create a somewhat depressing atmosphere. Hence the importance of good lighting and Mitsubishi's solution.
The manufacturer has created LED skylights that, along with their design, generate light similar to natural daylight. However, they incorporate a subtle visual trick that truly enhances the feeling of being illuminated by sunlight.
As you can see in the video, this Mitsubishi product called Misola is not just another LED panel. It's set in a frame about 5 cm thick, which helps create the illusion of a skylight through a visual trick: only three of the four inner faces are illuminated. The unlit face then creates a kind of shadow effect, making it seem as if natural light is actually coming through.
In addition, there are two more details that are interesting. When several of these proposals are used, they can be configured so that the shadow corresponds equally in each of them according to the position of the sun that has been set. And it can also be set so that, if desired, the color temperature varies and you can see the evolution of light during the first hours of the day and at sunset.
The major problem, in terms of widespread adoption, is that these artificial windows cost over €6.000 for the basic model and almost €7.000 for the one with programmable functions and integrated automatic timers. So, it's something to think about carefully, but if you work in interior spaces, you'll surely appreciate such a solution.
Other "windows" to the outside
Being aware of how complicated, if not impossible, it would be to modify the different office spaces, logic says that solutions will have to be found in technology. Hence this Mitsubishi Misola skylight. Even so, it is not the first of these proposals that seek to offer us a "window" to the outside.
Other manufacturers have launched similar products in the past. The main difference lies in the advancements in LED panel quality, particularly in terms of light output and control. You might also recall similar products like CoeLux windows or Philips Hue Aurelle.
While this solution, which covers office needs, can also be applied to the home. And if you're not looking for a window as such, most smart RGB lights offer, through their apps, the ability to configure their light to simulate a sunrise, sunset, or even daylight.