Everything you need to know about LiFi
Most households in the developed world have a broadband connection and have experienced connection or speed issues. To solve the connection and speed issues Li-Fi offers the benefit from a direct connection with much faster speeds.
Li-Fi which is short for Light Fidelity uses Visible Light Communications (VLC) which runs wireless communications that travel at very high speeds. Your LiFi enabled light blub is essentially your router. LiFi takes a common household LED light bulb and makes the LiFi enabled light bulb in to a high speed direct data transfer system, boasting speeds of up to 224 gigabits per second.
The term Li-Fi was coined by University of Edinburgh Professor Harald Haas during a TED Talk in 2011. Haas envisioned light bulbs that could act as wireless routers. In 2012 after Harald Haas set up the company pureLiFi which specializes in Visible Light Communications technology’.
Li-Fi and Wi-Fi work the same by transmitting data electromagnetically. The only difference is Wi-Fi uses radio waves, while Li-Fi runs on light waves. As we now know, Li-Fi is a Visible Light Communications (VLC) system but can also work in the infrared lighting spectrum also . Li-Fi uses a photo-detector ( which is installed in LiFi enabled dongles , cell phones and computers and in the future will be installed in cars , TV’s etc.) to receive the LiFi signal and convert the data into ‘streamable’ content.
An Li-Fi LED light bulb has a constant current of electricity supplied to it . The LiFi LED light bulb turns off and on at extremely high speeds, without being visible to the human eye. Basically LiFi takes the technology of a strobe light speeds it up and is able to take the off and on or 1’s and 0’s to make the LiFi Light send data through binary code… The data is fed into LiFi LED light bulb (with signal processing technology), the LiFi system then sends data (embedded in its beam) at rapid speeds to the photo-detector (photodiode) that is installed on the LiFi enabled dongle , computer , or cell phone. The rapid changes of the Li-Fi LED bulbs is then converted by the ‘receiver’ ( LiFi enabled dongle , cell phone , computer or other electronic device ) into an electrical signal.
The signal is then converted back into binary data that run on internet-enabled devices.
With Li-Fi speeds preforming upto 224 Gbps which by far out preforms Wi-Fi , Li-Fi’s exclusive use of visible and infrared light could dissuade the full transition.
LiFi problem – Li-Fi signals inability to pass through walls
LiFi solution to the problem – in order to enjoy the LiFi connectivity through out the entire office or house , LiFi enabled LED bulbs will need to be placed in zones were LiFi will be viable such as by the computer , TV , gamming system etc.
LiFi problem – the LiFi system will need to be on during the day the light and all during the night
LiFi solution to the problem– Li-Fi technology has increased over the last 24 months meaning that the LiFi lights can be ran in diffrent light spectrums so even though the LiFi system will need to be on during the day the light the diffrent light spectrums can be used to determine the light source visible or not visible .
LiFi problem – where there is a lack of light bulbs, there is a lack of Li-Fi internet so Li-Fi does take a hit when it comes to public Wi-Fi networks.
LiFi Solution to the problem – The Lifi network is fully transferable were once you walk out of the LiFi zone Wi-Fi will automatically be transfered to your device . Also the LiFi industry is working with a large variety of manufacturers and developers to make street lights , solar panels , car lights and a variety of other lighting fixtures LiFi enabled …
- The use of Li-Fi over Wi-Fi, will negate the security problems associated with shared and often overloaded broadband networks.
- LiFi can be used in areas where radio frequency waves do not reach. Even in the deep waters of the ocean , and the most remote locations on earth .
- LiFi stunning speeds, makes a huge impact on the internet of things too, with data transferred at much higher levels with even more devices able to connect to one another.
- Li-Fi is more secure than Wi-Fi with the LiFi light beams ability to be reflected off a variety of surfaces the reflective abilities can achieve a 70 Mbps speed.
- With LiFi having a faster connectivity and data transmission it is ideal for businesses. The assimilation of the internet of things ( IoT) devices and Li-Fi provides a wealth of opportunities for retailers and other businesses alike. For example, shop owners could transmit data such as coupons and advertisements to multiple customers’ phones quickly, securely and remotely.
What Wi-Fi is doing to keep up with Li-Fi
In 2016 an extension of standard Wi-Fi was announced called Wi-Fi HaLow which claims to double the range of connectivity while using less power and is reportedly perfect for battery-powered devices such as smartwatches and smartphones, and also lends itself to internet of things devices such as sensors and smart applications.
Companies that are investing in Li-Fi?
In November 2014, pureLiFi joined forces with French lighting company Lucibel to launch Li-Fi-enabled products.PureLiFi has the following LiFi products available a Li-Fi ceiling unit to connect to an LED light fixture and Li-Fi-XC which is for connecting to a device via USB or as part of the hardware, providing about 43Mbps from each LiFi-enabled LED light.
Philips has a division called Signify is now manufacturing Li-Fi, and offering full and integrated Li-Fi services including LED products and Li-Fi.
Li-Fi was being tested in Dubai, by UAE-based telecommunications provider Du and Zero1. Du has successfully provided internet, audio and video streaming over a Li-Fi connection.
Apple and Samsung are making smart Phones with Li-Fi capabilities. A Twitter user found out that within its iOS 9.1 code there were references to Li-Fi written as ‘LiFiCapability’ confirming that Apple is integrating Li-Fi with the iPhone.
Icade, a French real estate investment firm has opted to use Li-Fi to connect its employees to the internet.
