We are all familiar with WIFI and the vast majority of us use it everyday. It is based on the transmission of radio waves but it does have limitations and drawbacks. What’s next? Li-Fi. Believe it or not, it transfers data using the visible light spectrum inherent in LED light bulbs. The relatively new technology is fast, very fast.
Li-Fi uses standard light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to transmit electronic data signals, which will enable users to access the internet through the ordinary lighting systems in schools, workplaces, homes, and anywhere else light can be transmitted from one point to another.
Both Wi-Fi and Li-Fi transmit data over the electromagnetic spectrum, but whereas Wi-Fi utilizes radio waves, Li-Fi uses visible light. Germany’s Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute claimed that data rates of up to 1Gbit/s per LED light frequency were possible in laboratory conditions.
The Li-Fi market is projected to have a compound annual growth rate of 82% from 2013 to 2018 and to be worth over $6 billion per year by 2018. Basic information pertaining to the technology can be found on Wikipedia here.
How does Li-Fi work?
By flickering the light from a single LED, a change too quick for the human eye to detect, Li-Fi technology can transmit far more data than a cellular tower. And, it can do so in a manner that is more efficient, secure and widespread.
Here’s a TED talk that explains the invention in more detail for those interested:
[youtube width=”638″ height=”516″]https://youtu.be/NaoSp4NpkGg[/youtube]