October 7, 2008
Lightbulbs Could Replace Wi-Fi Hotpsots
Boston University's College of Engineering is launching a program, under a National Science Foundation grant, to develop the next generation of wireless communications technology based on visible light instead of radio waves.
Researchers expect to piggyback data communications capabilities on low-power light emitting diodes, or LEDs, to create "Smart Lighting" that would be faster and more secure than current network technology.
"Imagine if your computer, iPhone, TV, radio and thermostat could all communicate with you when you walked in a room just by flipping the wall light switch and without the usual cluster of wires," said BU Engineering Professor Thomas Little.
This initiative aims to develop an optical communication technology that would make an LED light the equivalent of a Wi-Fi access point.
[via Cellular News]
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