Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Lightbulbs To Replace Wi-Fi Hotspots?


Internet connections at the speed of light.

Smart LED lighting and lightbulbs could become Wi-Fi hotspots. Could this be the service provider for Internet Phase 2?

From Cellular News Lightbulbs to replace Wi-Fi hotspots

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.

This initiative aims to develop an optical communication technology that would make an LED light the equivalent of a Wi-Fi access point.

"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 is a unique opportunity to create a transcendent technology that not only enables energy efficient lighting, but also creates the next generation of secure wireless communications," Little added.

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