It was only a matter of time, really, and now they’re here: LED light bulbs controllable via your smart phone. We’ve already seen programmable, interactive LED lighting installations (controlled by an iPad or computer), but those were only accessible to super techy DIY artist types. By the end of the year, however, anyone who uses an Android device will be able to buy this new bulb, as part of Google’s move into home automation. At the recent Google I/O conference, Google demonstrated how the bulb, an A19 LED by Lighting Sciences Group, could talk to Android using a new mesh wireless network (different than typical WIFI, to cut down on interference problems). In the demonstration, LED lighting turned on and off as shots were fired in a shoot-em-up video game. Google hopes that software developers will begin creating applications for its network of automated home devices, which will expand beyond lighting to include appliances, thermostats and music. The implications are huge: besides being able to change your home atmosphere with the click of a button, think about the convenience of controlling the lighting and temperature in your house while you’re away on a trip. (This could be especially convenient for indoor gardeners, who could regulate lighting and watering systems for their plants from afar.) Google’s smart bulbs will cost about as much as regular LED bulbs: $20-$35; their availability marks the beginning of a growing trend of smart home products.

Thanks to Cnet for the image.