Can use light to connect to the Internet

American researchers at Boston University say that in the near future, light can be used as an environment to connect to the Internet from phones or personal computers.

Perhaps this will surprise us but it has a solid scientific basis. Because, in fact, infrared light has been used by scientists to transmit signals from remote control devices (remote) to terminal devices such as televisions, DVD players . Even recently , household lighting devices are also controlled via remote control devices, even via the Internet.

Currently, scientists are focusing on studying the signaling ability of light emitted by electronic LEDs (LED stands for Light Emiting Diode, meaning light emitting diodes), because of the type of light This consumes less energy, has a long life.

Another advantage of LEDs is that it allows users to choose glowing colors. "We can provide a signal transmission solution anywhere, as long as there is light," said Thomas Little, a computer engineer at Boston University .

Using light for signaling purposes is not something new. Since ancient times, the ancient Romans knew how to use beacons to transmit signals between besieged fortresses, or to use sea lights to inform boats in the sea.

Recently, the US Aerospace Agency (NASA) and a number of US military research facilities are conducting research on lasers, a form of high-density light, for use in communications.

Most wireless communication technologies (radio, radio) are now implemented on radio waves. This method is easy to cause congestion or slow communication due to "squeezing together" on the same frequency range of devices.

Little said: "Imagine like a cocktail party, noises are increasing as everyone doesn't hear anything but everyone tries to say" .

According to Little, light communication will allow us to avoid these obstacles, because each device will receive a separate signal transmitted, whether the signal comes from a laser or a beam. shining.

The principle of the new communication method will be: the information will be transmitted from a route (the device allows data packets along the network, referred to as the router) wirelessly to the LEDs arranged in a certain enclosed space (such as an apartment). From here the LEDs will transfer data to devices that need to connect to the Internet, such as computers, phones .

Data transmitted from LEDs will not be visible to the naked eye.

Thomass Little added: "This method of communication is highly secure, because light cannot penetrate walls like radio waves so it is impossible to get out of your 4 walls so others can use it."

Currently, Thomass Little engineers and colleagues have developed a working protocol between routes with LED bulbs.

Little said that LEDs are now very popular in computers, such as working status indicators and are very cheap. But in fact, in order to be able to carry out information and lighting, it is necessary to have LED lamps with much higher prices - at least 30 USD or more.

However, LED bulbs consume less power and have an average life span of more than 50,000 hours, much larger than incandescent lamps (about 1,000 hours). Therefore, according to Little, those benefits will probably reduce the cost of LED bulbs in the next 5-10 years. This is really a good opportunity for LED industry.