Michael Jackson: He would have LED
Feb 06, 2010
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Two regrets I have about Michael Jackson: 1) I never saw him live in concert and 2) I didn't see This is It in the theaters. But I did finally see the DVD, and while the film was stellar and moving . . . I was entranced by one of the special features, "The Gloved One."MJ had always been a fashion icon, and his images will always be imprinted in our memories. What struck me about watching This is It was that his untimely, and unnecessary passing, affected so many people in countless ways. Yes, there were the grips, assistants, dancers, planners, etc. . . . but what would have been worth a trip to London was to see him in concert wearing the costume he would have worn during "Billie Jean."
Working with costume designer Zaldy, Lumalive, a division of Philips, MJ would have boasted the most spectacular outfit. Using Lumalive's LED technology, LED diodes would have lit up MJ, from the stripe up his pants, through his jacket, and of course, that unforgettable single white glove. Jackson would have been the first artist performing using Lumalive technology, and it would have been a show that well . . . would have knocked your gloves off. Using a remote control, an assistant would have been able to change the flow of the light and the colors of the light as well.
Lumalive's technology involves LED diodes that are woven into a canvas fabric--a designer can simply order the kit and software from Lumalive. But Jackson's costumes involve several Philips engineers. I can't even describe what I felt as I watched Zaldy talk about the costume and how it worked. Even if you have seen This is It in the theaters, snag the DVD and watch "The Gloved One." It's a moving experience.
And watch for LED technologies to get more cost-effective and innovative. Personally, I'm salivating at the thought of lowering our electric bill down the road by having LED wallpaper emit soft light in our rooms . . .
If you have any sweet LED products that you want to share, please let us know. I plan on writing about more companies that are going to transform customers' experiences over the next several years using LED--while hopefully reducing electricity consumption!
