It's no surprise different kinds of lighting have different effects on us. Now Philips is planning to use LED lighting systems to improve patient care.

It is already being developed for use in hospitals, in intensive care units. The company has developed lighting which is being used in the Charité Clinic in Berlin to create a luminous ceiling, to simulate daylight and even play media on a large, sky-like area for critically ill patients.

Using gentle stimulation, individuals in intensive care can have their stress levels reduced. The LED-lit ceiling creates visuals and light moods customized to the individual, and the syste uses some 15,400 LEDs on the entire ceiling and wall in front of the patients.

The system is now being tested on patients who are severely ill, and doctors are finding that it is indeed helping to stimulate the natural, dynamic rhythm of daylight, which can stop critically ill patients into slipping into shock when they undergo physical stress.