How Modern Indicator Lights Are Disrupting Your Sleep Patterns

For millennia, the darkness of night has signaled to humans that it is time to rest and sleep. This natural instinct is deeply ingrained in our brains, but for some, it can be disrupted by the presence of bright indicator lights on household electronics.

Many devices and gadgets, such as surge protectors, televisions, headphones, and laptops, come equipped with a bright light that remains on when the device is plugged in. Unfortunately, these lights cannot be turned off without unplugging the device, causing frustration for those trying to sleep peacefully in their bedrooms.

In author Paul Bogard's 2013 book "The End of Night," neuroscientist Steven Lockley from Harvard Medical School's Division of Sleep Medicine emphasized how exposure to light at night is an unnatural and unfamiliar experience.

Today, there is an abundance of bright artificial lights that are more prevalent than ever before. While some manufacturers argue that indicator lights can be practical, the reality is that these intrusive dots of light can be a nuisance when trying to fall asleep at night. The comforting darkness needed for a good night's rest is often disturbed by these unwanted sources of light.

Kyle Moschen, a 27-year-old public relations professional from Seattle, was living in a studio apartment with his boyfriend. The lighting in their apartment made it feel like a starry night sky, but it was more annoying than beautiful, unlike Vincent van Gogh's famous painting.

Moschen had trouble sleeping at night due to the bright lights coming from various sources in his room - the oven, automatic fan, fire alarm, air purifier, and wireless phone charger.

His simple solution? Just tape them up.

Blue standby light of on / off switch.

Kyle Moschen puts tape on a device in his home.

Kyle Moschen shared with CNN that he felt overwhelmed by the abundance of lights around him. He couldn't understand why there were so many lights and ended up covering them with black electrical tape.

Amazon, along with other retailers, offers a variety of blackout stickers and sheets in different sizes and shapes.

For Jonathan King, a finance professional from New York, the solution appeared slightly different.

When using my Logitech headphones, there is a small blue light that can be distracting when trying to sleep. To remedy this, I either wear a face mask or cover the headphones with a shirt to block out the light, as mentioned by King in an email to CNN.

The indicator lights on devices serve both practical and aesthetic purposes.

An indicator light simply shows the status of a device, which can differ depending on the product. For instance, it can indicate that a device is charging or connected and functioning correctly. Bluetooth devices require indicator lights when pairing with a phone.

These indicator lights are typically bright LED lights. LED lighting is a great energy-efficient choice for making indicator lights. LEDs have a long lifespan and do not produce excessive heat, making them ideal for a technology that is in constant use.

Blue LED light is a widely used indicator color, but it can be especially disruptive to sleep. In fact, this innovation was so significant that in 2014, physicists Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for inventing it.

Blue standby light of on / off switch.

Arterra/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Blue LED became available for commercial use in the 1990s, adding a new and innovative color option to consumer electronics. This new technology was a game-changer in the growing tech industry, giving products a cutting-edge appearance.

According to David Loftus, president and chief executive of the Electronic Components Industry Association, blue LED lights are often used for aesthetic purposes to enhance the design, appeal, and overall user experience of gadgets.

Many manufacturers choose not to include indicator lights in their products. This could be due to the cost of adding a LED status light, or because the devices are designed to be simple and do not require it, according to Loftus.

On the other hand, Manny Linhares Jr., senior director of product management at Legrand, a French electrical equipment manufacturer, emphasizes the importance of indicator lights in Legrand's products for functional, aesthetic, and safety purposes.

Adding an LED light may come with a cost for manufacturers. However, Linhares Jr. emphasized that at their company, the purpose of adding LED lights is to enhance the user experience, not just for the sake of adding them unnecessarily.

Additionally, Linhares Jr. pointed out that the LED lights can also serve a practical purpose as night lights.

"We want the soft lights to guide customers to locate these devices in dark spaces, especially in unfamiliar rooms like hotels where a subtle light glow can be helpful," he explained.

This story was contributed by John Towfighi.

Editor's P/S:

The proliferation of bright indicator lights on household electronics poses a significant challenge to peaceful sleep. These intrusive lights, often emitted from surge protectors, televisions, and laptops, disrupt the natural darkness that signals our brains to rest. Neuroscientists have highlighted the unnatural and detrimental effects of light exposure at night, particularly the disruptive blue light emitted by LED indicator lights.

While manufacturers argue for the practicality of these lights, the reality is that they can be a nuisance when trying to fall asleep. The simple solution of covering or taping up these lights offers respite from the overwhelming illumination that permeates our bedrooms. However, it also raises questions about the necessity and purpose of these indicator lights. By exploring alternative design choices and considering the impact of light on sleep, manufacturers and consumers alike can work towards creating a more conducive environment for restful nights.