Development of LEDs began more than a century ago, but the first practical versions were produced in General Electric labs in the 1960s. Until 1968, visible and infrared LEDs cost on the order of $200 per unit, and thus had little practical use. In 1968, Monsanto mass-produced visible red LEDs suitable for indicators. Hewlett-Packard advanced the concept for uses in alphanumeric displays, which were integrated into HP's early handheld calculators.

Duncan Aviation has developed an iPad-compatible wireless interface for cabin management systems. The iCabin application connects an iPad to an aircraft's CMS, providing passengers with a remote for sound, video and cabin lighting on aircraft equipped with Wi-Fi capability. The fully customized iPad application doesn't interfere with other onboard systems or change functionality, says Duncan. It also may be used to control most audio and video equipment. A wireless cabin control application for Android devices is also being tested.

Perusing the range of available cabin lighting sources, a few products seem worthy to mention here. For example, Islip, N.Y.-based Aircraft Lighting International has developed new LED lighting systems that replace fluorescent lamps directly without requiring any new wiring or connectors. Meanwhile, EMTEQ, the Milwaukee-based manufacturer, is expanding into more “intelligent” lighting systems with its Daylight and Quasar lines.