Sports Fitness (1002)

Philips Debuts 14-foot "Light Canvas"

Installed in US hospital to help make kids smile

29 February 2008 12:35 GMT / By Katie Scott

Let's face it - going to hospital isn't very nice if you're an adult but for kids, it can be terrifying.

To help kids feel a little more comfortable when they go in for treatment, Philips has donated a huge light wall to a hospital in Arkansas.

The Imagination Light Canvas is an interactive wall of light, 14-feet long and 6-feet high, that uses touchscreen and Philips technologies to animate 1420 LED lights.

Up to six kids at one time can touch (or indeed whack) the wall and see the lights change.

The images will remain visible for a few minutes and then disappear.

And the best thing for cost conscious health services is that the wall only uses the daily energy equivalent of a single toaster.