THE LIGHT VISOR:
Milwaulkee Sentinel
"Boy I can hardly wait to get finished writing this story. You won't believe
all the projects I have lined up for later in the day. Suddenly, when I was
least expecting it, I've turned into a bald, middle aged version of the
Energizer bunny. Only instead of having a little drum strapped to my chest,
I'm wearing a portable electronic visor that resembles visors worn by tennis
players during games in bright sunlight. The type I have on, though, has two
small lights aimed right at my eyes. Wearing the Visor for 30 minutes each
morning during the winter - when the sun hardly shines in Wisconsin - makes me
want to put on roller blades and zip from room to room in my house..."
The Washington Post
"A Bethesda (MD) company got some free publicity from an unusual source when
its product was featured on the hit show Northern Exposure. Bio-Brite, Inc.
makes an electric visor that emits a constant stream of light on a wearer's
eyes. It is designed to combat winter depression caused by reduced sunlight.
Founded in 1989, Bio-Brite was created through the transfer of technology
from the National Institutes of Health."
THE JET LAG COMBAT KIT:
The Washington Times
"Based on the work of Harvard Medical School professor Martin Moore-Ede, a
pioneer in circadian-rhythm research, the Bio-Brite [jet lag] Calculator uses
information on the trip's time and direction of travel to suggest when to go
to sleep and when to stay up. The products work, or so says Robert Wilner, a
personnel executive at a large food service firm based near Chicago. On his
twice-a-month trans-Pacific airplane trips, Mr. Wilner wears the Light Visor
while sitting and reading, and responds to fellow travellers by handing out
Bio-Brite literature to the curious. "I'm all for it. It's made a
difference."
The Wall Street Journal
"Conquering jet lag is becoming more than a cottage industry, as the global
marketplace puts more demands on the business traveler. Bio-Brite, a
Bethesda, MD fim, markets a computer software package and customizes and
prints sleep schedules for overseas fliers and determines when they should be
exposed to bright light. The company also sells a battery-
powered visor
that shines simulated sunlight into the eyes, 'fooling' the body into
maintaining its internal clock..."
THE SUNRISE ALARM CLOCK:
The New York Times
..."perhaps the most intriguing finding about SAD has been the benefits
demonstrated when patients are exposed to an artificial dawn while still
asleep. Dr. David H. Avery of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle
demonstrated that very low levels of light ... can reverse the symptoms of
seasonal depression and help patients wake up at a normal time... It is not
yet known how dawn simulation affects the brain, but the finding that light
penetrating through closed eyelids can influence biological rhythms 'indicates
that the eyes must be very sensitive to light at that time of day,' Dr.
Rosenthal said.'
The Daily Telegraph, London
The SunRise Alarm Clock was rated the number one alarm clock in Daily
Telegraph's Consumer Report, besting competition from Casio, Remington, Braun.
"Initial skepticism about light-influenced body clock regulation turned to
appreciation on first use. The light is soft and comforting on wintry
mornings ..."