LED data transmission used to be all the rage -- we fondly remember
beaming Palm Pilot contacts via IrDA. Then we got omni-directional
Bluetooth and building-penetrating
WiFi, and put all that caveman stuff behind us. But now, scientists the world over are
looking to bring back line-of-sight networking, and the latest demonstration has Chinese researchers streaming video to a laptop with naught but ceiling-mounted blue LEDs. The Chinese Academy of Sciences claims to have realized a 2Mbit per second internet connection that transmits data simply by modulating the flicker of the little diodes, and imperceptibly enough to have them serve as room lighting as well.
Like Boston University before them, the Chinese scholars see short-range LED networks controlling smart appliances. It's not quite the gigabit speed you'd get from
laser diodes, but this way you'll get more mileage out of those
expensive new bulbs, eh?
posted May 17th 2010 8:22PM
Great now everyone is going to walk around in a helmet with an LED light.
"Because it's teh FUTURE"...right...
@Alexpeegs LED HATS and 3D GLASSES. Welcome to the future.
@Alexpeegs It's also important to consider the long-term health costs of running WiFi networks in corporate environments. Light emitting diodes reduce the effects of electromagnetic radiation on the body significantly more than a 2.4GHz omnidirectional MIMO configuration.
@Alexpeegs Why not a LED Wrist band or belt buckle... wait :D Those already exist. Would it be so impossible to incorporate this technology into those items.
3D future is a future without 3D glasses.
@AuDioFreaK39 ... except that light is... electromagnetic RADIATION!
@Alexpeegs JUST DONT TURN THE LIGHTS OFF LAWLS
@Tagbert Just to point out how wrong Audio is, he specifies 2.4 GHz as harmful. Wrong. MIMO as aggravating the issue. Wrong. Cell damage is a result of a) any frequency with massive power or b) EHF like gamma rays at any power. The FCC puts power constraints on unlicensed channels like 2.4 GHz so people can't spam the neighborhood. You would need something like a megawatt of 2.4 GHz hitting you for cell damage. If you have such an array, put it on eBay and I'll buy it.
@felipedeeznuts
Mike: "Hey there Matt, looks like u got them fancy wifi lights eh?"
Matt: "Ya eh, sucks tho since I dont have a highspeed connection, the damn things keep on flickerin' D :
@Alexpeegs That's great. Although I'm still waiting for that 1GBPS plan of google. http://j.mp/googlee-isp
@shoxite
Just what I always imagined the future to look like: Devo.
Looks like the Light Side has won this battle!
Where's Darth when you need him?
@CaptainPlanet Go hug one last tree before Vader zaps our planet for your insolent comment
Darth Vader is trying a new technology! Gazillion GBps internet connection via lightsabers!
@CaptainPlanet. (BOOM) There goes the Amazon rain forest. Next time you underestimate the darkside, Captain Planet, it will the Atlantic Ocean that feels the wrath of my Death Star
@mikmik111. What the!? Slave, you will die for leaking valuable Empire R&D
@Lord Vader
Wow, you have a shitty Death Star. Mine destroys entire planets. Jeez man, set phasers to kill. (I did just do that).
@Slave Agent Steve, You should know that my Death Star III is not fully operational, but I could destroy your puny little planet if i wanted to. But why would i destroy the home of the greatest Tech Blog in the universe?
@Lord Vader Don't make me come up there and beat you to a pulp!
@CaptainPlanet. You and what army? Your tree friends? Don't make me Destroy you
@Lord Vader Hey, be a man and come down here, i'll whoop your butt. I don't need an army :)
@CaptainPlanet. Do not underestimate the power of the Darkside Captain Planet, I can make you implode using just my mind if you are within a 50m radius
@Lord Vader
Come on Planeteers! Lets show this Vader what Captain planet is made off!
Let our powers combine!
@Kwame
Fire!
@Kwame
Wind!
@Kwame
Water!
@Kwame
What? You called me out of bed for this?
@Kwame
LOLcats!
@Linka With your powers [almost] combined. I am Half-A-Planet.
This is actually a really cool idea, might be the only way to have a truly secure wireless networking. might need a light filter on windows.
2Mbps isn't all that high, but it would certainly do for most office appliances (printer, phone)
@Playos the question is, how do you send back data to the LED light bulb?
@(Unverified) very nice remark
who watches on their screen with a big "HD" text? LOL show off much?
the future is now, plants tell YOU when they need water... without wires!
Who want to use 2mb?
YAY! Now I can enjoy seizures from my ceiling lights as it transmits my porn to my laptop.
Asians are their ninja researchers!
If the light flickers faster on higher data transfer everyone will know when I torrent in the office... crap
@DudeMX Everyone will be all seized up they won't notice.
Why does everyone look mad in the photo?
@iDamien they are probably Chinese contractors working on Apple products.
@iDamien The headaches and seizures from the flashing lights.
@iDamien because any time a shadow is cast over any of the devices in their office they lose internet connectivity.
Cool... but what's wrong with wifi?
@maattp
Well...the linked article says that this might be applicable in airplanes, where EM interference with communication equipment needs to be minimized.
@bigcow05 well I'm sold...I'll take 100!
@maattp
"...this might be applicable in airplanes, where EM interference with communication equipment needs to be minimized."
Which in itself is total bs. No, I believe this invention is more for the tinfoil hat crowd who swears up and down that WiFi is the cause of all their illnesses. Oh and for plants that crave Internet access.
@bigcow05
That and lights already flicker on airplanes. :P
Would be interesting - but Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Zigbee kinda covers all these areas. Unless you needed robustness against radio interference - only to get sunlight interference problems.
A PICTURE and a DEMONSTRATION are two completely different things.
Go go epileptic seiz....argh !