Gizmodo: seasonal affective disorder

S.A.D. Light Therapy Clock Makes You Less Sad [Winter]

Erica Ho — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:10:00 EST

Philips has introduced goLITE BLU, a new clock that offers light therapy to people suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or what is commonly known as the winter blues. It sits by your bedsides and emits a blue light designed to lift your mood and soothe you. For $279, it doesn’t come cheap and only offers a basic array of clock functions besides the light. It’s still cheaper than a few sessions of therapy. Regardless, I think I might know what would make me and my wallet happier than buying this clock—stop pretending I’m a crime-fighting hero by the name of Batman and actually turn on the lights? Halloween is over. [Philips via Boing Boing]

Shiny Shiny Reviews Seasonal Affective Disorder Lights (Verdict: A Bright Idea) [Lights]

Jason Chen — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:00:01 EST

Seasonal Affective Disorder, or winter depression, or "where the hell is the Sun," can be treated by gadgets that mimic the sunlight you're otherwise not getting. The special name for these gadgets is "lamps," or "lights" if you're going strictly scientific. The crazy dames over at Shiny Shiny reviewed two of them and decided (I think) that the lights are great, but using the alarm function to wake up to frogs or static is "rubbish." [Shiny Shiny]

Litebook for SAD: Chase Those Winter Blues Away [Gadgets]

Charlie White — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:59:11 EDT

With those long days of summer slowly turning into the short days of winter, it's just about time for some poor souls to develop seasonal affective disorder, the winter blues that have been appropriately dubbed the acronym SAD. Exposure to certain types of bright lights can fool that circadian rhythm mechanism and suppress the melatonin that brings on the dark clouds of winter, and here's the cure: Litebook, a clinically-proven portable device that SAD sufferers can take with them on the road.

It has 24 bright white LEDs and a stand, along with a clip that lets you attach it to your exercise bike or treadmill, making you feel like you're going for a walk or bike ride on a sunny summer day. Available next month, it'll be $379, or the rechargeable Litebook Charge 'n' Go that gives you two 30 minute sessions per charge is $447. – Charlie White

Product Page [Litebook Company Ltd., via ubergizmo]