Sophisticated, Energy-Saving Light Switches

All in all - not really - as you'd still need a switch, maybe more than one.

If one reads this as a 'smart bulb', each 'eventually' having a user preference interface, said 'bulb', would need a bypass switch, for when it's 'smarts' go's stupid.

Equally with a multi-bulb area controller, when it decides you are only there 10 to 40% of the time; it 'saves energy'.

However it has potential for a boutique range of desk lamps - I guess.

Especially if beeped, flashed, unlocked your desk draws and adjusted your seat.

But that wouldn't be IR technology - would it?

I agree with 34point5 that as presented the use of in home intelligent lighting does not seem practical. However, I do think that this type of research will be very useful somewhere. Identifying which LED lighting patterns work best for task lighting, room navigation, relaxation, etc. will certainly be useful to know, at least for theater productions. I can also see this as being a way to improve lighting efficiencies in several public venues.

I'm not sure what is so different about this technology but motion sensing lighting control has been in use on other countries for years...nothing new.

Hotels, offices, etc. have been using this to save energy in South America and Europe and it will be just a matter of time before the US gets caught up with the rest of the world...

You missed a critical point here. This is not a study of on ON/OFF motion controlled lighting. Despite your eagerness to bash the US, that power saving technique has been used for years in the US. This study is evaluating if there is an advantage to different color temperature quality in lighting for different tasks and can automated sensors detect the task to be done to then produce the appropriate lighting.