Golden Energy Saver: 50 Years of LED Technology and Many More For Shaping A Better Future

How does it feel to be 50?

If the LED technology could only talk, we’d certainly love to ask that. October marks the 50^th Anniversary of the LED light technology that gave birth to scrolling LED sign, elevator lights and the OLED technology used in automobiles today. With the many innovations born out of the tiny red light bulb, we are surely on the right path to better energy efficiency that could save our planet.

When we wrote the 11 Points You Should Know About the LED Technology History in September, the golden anniversary of this much celebrated technology was still bleak. Our previous article was more of retelling how LED technology came to life.

Today, we are taking this opportunity to pay tribute to the father the LED, Nick Holonyak, Jr. and celebrate what lies ahead not only for this particular technology but its peripheral effects to others.

“I know that I’m just at the front end but I know the result is so powerful…” Holonyak said. “…there’s no ambiguity about the fact that this has got a life way beyond what we’re seeing.”

We at AffordableLED, couldn’t agree more with this great man that has made a positive difference in our daily lives. For the 50^th Anniversary of his brainchild, Dr. Nick Holonyak took the time to share his joys in the video below.

Nick Holonyak, Jr. was born on November 3, 1928 at Zeigler, Illinois in Chicago to Ukranian parents. He is the first member of his family to receive any formal education. Pursuing academic studies was a decision he pursued after working at the Illinois Central Railroad for 30 hours straight. The experience made him realize that a life of hard labor is not the life he intends to lead.

It was in 1962 when Dr. Holonyak invented a visible LED that had a practical use. He worked as a consulting scientist for General Electric Company at that time in Syracuse, New York. Since then, he was called the father of the light-emitting diode (LED).

Got any birthday messages for the LED technology?

Share your greetings, questions and well-wishes with us by leaving a comment below.

Happy 50^th Anniversary to the LED Technology!

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