South Korea-based electronics brand LG has a brand new household lighting concept. It isn't just a light bulb, it's a smart bulb concept called Smart Lamp. Announced on its Korean site, at first glance it might be a little difficult to imagine exactly what a smart bulb can do; you may ask just how smart can a light bulb be? Well for starts, it’s an 10W LED light bulb (most people are starting to switch from incandescence by now), said to last up to 10 years, with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. The bulb's connectivity allow for its “smart functions”, such as performing specific tasks in accordance to Android and iOS devices.

Several interesting features are included in the “smart light bulb” idea. For one, the lighting in your home can be controlled with your smartphone. This is something most of us have heard of before when it comes to the 'Internet of Things'. Smartphones can pretty much control everything in a home nowadays; from your thermostat to your theater system. However, LG has more in store for this little bulb. In hopes to challenge one of its biggest competitors, Philips, LG is providing consumers with something different by making the bulb the 'smart' device, and the smartphone simply the helper. However, wireless light bulbs aren't unheard of; and LG's Smart Lamp is not the only one out there. AwoX announced its “StriimLight B-10” at CES this year; bulbs that are made with Bluetooth enabled speakers as well as a remote control for sound. Another notable connected bulb is from a company called LiFX, whose recent crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter also offers smartphone controls: including the option to change the color of the bulbs lighting.

Among Smart Lamps features include a security mode for having the lights on when you are away; making it appear like you are home. Also, with just a few taps you can dim the lights, or even turn them on or off. Things don't stop there; features get even more impressive. For instance, the bulb can start blinking if you are receiving a phone call! This particular characteristic is said to make smartphone usage easier for the hearing impaired. It can also act as an alarm clock, gradually getting brighter to help you wake. “Party mode” is an interesting one. It can vary its brightness according to the beat of chosen music.

LG says the bulbs run for about $32 dollars, are 80% more efficient than incandescents, last for a decade, and currently support both iOS and Android. Needless to say, it is significant for LG to have entered this market because of the international presence of the company itself. For it to launch such a unique device, with no such competitor (that is capable of the same tasks) at the moment is great for LG. It is dually noted that the device could provide help to those with hearing loss. When Apple first released “FaceTime” for its users, the option quickly gained popularity for the deaf and hearing impaired. For about 30 dollars, Smart Lamp is a lightbulb that could trick would-be burglars, help you party-to-the-music with a strobe effect, and even wake you up with gentle light rather than pestering sound. By doing all that while not burning out for years, I would call this revolutionary. I'll take 4 please!