Smart lighting: The way forward? Reviewing the past to shape the future

The push for ubiquitous networking and device inter-connectivity in buildings is fueling the development of a new wave of smart devices with embedded electronics, sensors and wireless connectivity that can collect, process and exchange data. Commonly known as the Internet of Things (IoT), it encompasses, but is not limited to wireless sensor networks, home automation, mobile devices and lighting control systems. Smart lighting systems are of particular interest as they evolve from traditional lighting control by introducing autonomous control of light through feedback from integrated sensors, user data, cloud services and user input, bringing with it a host of benefits including increased energy savings, enhanced functionality, and user-centric lighting. In this paper, we review the current state of the art in smart lighting technology, focusing on energy-saving, commercial, and advanced smart lighting systems. Furthermore, we also present a review of smart lighting connectivity options and discuss potential advancements through the integration of visible light communication technology.