The trend is toward intelligent system technology as more and more lamp properties become available only as a result of the use of specialised electronic control gear. Electronic control gear systems have several advantages over conventional systems: * They are highly efficient due to energy savings and longer lamp life * They provide more agreeable lighting as they start without flickering, operate without shimmering and switch off automatically at the end of lamp life * They are extremely safe as they develop only minimal heat and switch off in the event of a fault * They are simple to install and versatile as they are light and compact.