LI-FI

(Light Fidelity) Visible light communication

LI-FI It is a wireless optical technology that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for data transmissions

(Rouse, 2013).

The transmitter is a light fidelity bulb which incorporates a chip to receive the information from a source

and modulate the light turning on and off millions of times per second so the human eye cannot see the

flicker. The light signal is picked up by a photoreceptor which can be installed in a TV, a cellphone, etc.

In Figure 1 it is possible to see the system operation with its main elements.

Figure 1. LI-FI operation. (asys, 2013)

The importance of this technology lies in that the visible light spectrum is much larger than the radio

waves spectrum to transmit data. Therefore, it has the potential to transmit higher bandwidths (LeMind,

2013). Furthermore, with light transmissions there is not spectrum regulation.

The idea to use LI-FI is to take advantage of the lightning that provides a bulb and transmit information

at the same time. According to Herald Haas, creator of this technology, there are tens of billions of

regular light bulbs installed in homes and offices across the globe (LeMind, 2013)

The researching and improvements in this technology are increasing; in fact, at Mobile World Congress

in Barcelona 2014 a company showed a 'Li-1st' device that's able to both send and receive light data

and knows exactly which light source it should be receiving data from (Westaway, 2014)

According to (Rouse, 2013), the main benefits of Li-Fi are:

Higher speeds than Wi-Fi.

10000 times the frequency spectrum of radio.

More secure because data cannot be intercepted without a clear line of sight.

Prevents piggybacking.

Eliminates neighboring network interference.

Unimpeded by radio interference.

Does not create interference in sensitive electronics, making it better for use in environments

like hospitals and aircraft.

According to Herald Hass speaking at TED Global, some possible applications of this technology are:

Remote operated vehicles in the oceans can use LI-FI to communicate with each other

Petrochemical plants in which cannot use RF

Hospitals for new medical instruments

Street lights for traffic control and preventing accidents and communication between cars

Aircraft cabins. Each of its light could be a potential transmitter of information.

Bibliography

Asys. (2013, March 11). asys.com.br. Retrieved from Li-Fi: http://www.asys.com.br/blog/?p=2349

LeMind, A. (2013, June 14). LiFi Technology: Use Your Light Bulb to Access the Internet! Retrieved from

Learningmind: http://www.learning-mind.com/lifi-technology-use-your-light-bulb-to-access-the-

internet/

Rouse, M. (2013, November). WhatIs.com. Retrieved November 12, 2014, from LiFi:

http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/LiFi

Westaway, L. (2014, February 25). Pure LiFi transmits data using light (video). Retrieved from CNET:

http://www.cnet.com/news/pure-lifi-transmits-data-using-light-video/