Technology keeps getting advanced everyday and new means of making life easier keeps evolving. So, data transmission and sharing is going to be a lot faster in a very simple form with the new LIGHT FIDELITY ( Li fi ) technology that is about to unfolded. Li - Fi is said to be 100 faster than a normal standard Wi fi and this post aims to tell you what Light fidelity technology (Li fi) is all about, how it works and how it compares with its predecessor (Wi fi)So, what is Li - Fi
Light fidelity or Li fi is a visible light communication (vlc) system running wireless communication traveling at a very high speed(s) . To make that definition simpler, li fi is just a new system that transfers/share with the use of visible lights (either a bulb, torch or any other forms of visible light)
Li fi uses LED ( light emitting diodes) lightbulbs to enable data transfer and it boasts up to 224 gigabytes per seconds ( you can imagine how crazily fast that'd be)
How it works
Li - fi and Wi-Fi are quite similar as both transmit data electromagnetically, However, Wi-Fi uses radio waves while Li-Fi runs on visible light. As we now know, Li-Fi is a Visible Light Communications (VLC) system. This means that it accommodates a photo-detector to receive light signals and there'll be a signal processing element to convert the data into 'stream-able' content.
A LED lightbulb is a semi-conductor light source meaning that the constant current of electricity supplied to an LED lightbulb can be dipped and dimmed, up and down at extremely high speeds, without being visible to the human eye for example, data is fed into an LED light bulb (with signal processing technology), it then sends data (embedded in its beam) at rapid speeds to the photo-detector (photodiode). The tiny changes in the rapid dimming of LED bulbs is then converted by the 'receiver' into electrical signal. The signal is then converted back into a binary data stream that we would recognise as web, video and audio applications that run on internet enables devices. ( you might have problems understanding the above explanation if you're not a computer/electronics engineering student)
Li-Fi is still in the early stages of development, but the benefits of Li-Fi over Wi fi include:
*Speed– When testing out Li-Fi, labs could transmit data at 1GB per second- 100 times faster than current average Wi-Fi speeds!
* Security– Li-Fi cannot pass through walls, which means greater security and less interference between devices.
While some may think that Li-Fi with its 224 gigabits per second leaves Wi- Fi in the dust, Li-Fi's exclusive use of visible light could halt a mass uptake.
Li-Fi signals cannot pass through walls, so in order to enjoy full connectivity, capable LED bulbs will need to be placed throughout the home. Not to mention, Li-Fi requires the lightbulb is on at all times to provide connectivity, meaning that the lights will need to be on during the day.
In November last year, Li-Fi pioneers pureLiFi joined forces with French lighting company Lucibel aiming to bring out Li-Fi enables products, later this year. pureLiFi already have two products on the market: Li-Flame Ceiling Unit (to connect to an LED light fixture) and Li-Flame Desktop Unit (which connects to a device via USB) both aiming to provide light and connectivity in one device.
Plus, with faster connectivity and data transmission it’s an interesting space for businesses. The integration of internet of things devices and Li-Fi will provide a wealth of opportunities for retailers and other businesses alike. For example, shop owners could transmit data to multiple customers' phones quickly, securely and remotely.
What's more, reports suggest that Apple may build future iPhones with Li-Fi capabilities. A Twitter user found that within its iOS 9.1 code there were references to Li-Fi written as 'LiFiCapability' hinting that Apple may integrate Li-fi with iPhones in the future.
Whether or not Li-Fi will live up to its hype is yet to be decided. Watch this space...
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