Strobe lights are used in a variety of situations to provide special effects, including in theater productions, Halloween events and nightclubs. Through the use of strobe lighting over an extended period of time, a slow motion effect can be produced.
Strobe lighting can have negative effects on individuals with epilepsy, who can have seizures triggered by the rapid pattern of strobe lighting. This medical condition is known as photosensitive epilepsy and is most common in children and adolescents.
The creation of strobe lighting effects requires a charge of high-voltage electricity to be passed through a bulb containing a gas, such as xenon or krypton. The electrical charge is passed through the bulb at regular intervals, with effects often produced using a remote control unit.