Light fidelity (Li-Fi) is a Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology. It is wireless technology travelling at very high speed trough light. Li-fi uses light bulb to enable data transfer at the speed of 224gigabits per second.
Term Li-Fi is told by University of Edinburg's Professor Harald Haas during a TED TALK in 2011.In 2012 Haas set up a company pureLi-Fi with the aim to be the world leader in visible light communication technolgy.
How It Woks
Li-Fi and Wi-Fi are similar as both used to transfer the data electromagnetically. However Wi-Fi used radio waves while Li-Fi uses visible light.
As we know that Li-Fi is a visible light communication (VLC) system so its uses photo-detector to receive the signal and a signal processing element to convert the data into "stream-able" content.
An Led light bulb is semi conductor light source so constant current of electricity supplied to an LED light bulb can be dipped and dimmed and up/down at very high speed without being visible to the human eyes.
If we talk about the example data is fed into a LED light bulb with signal processing technology and then send data at rapid speed to the photo-detector(Photo-diode).
The small changes in rapid dimming of LED is Then converted by the receiver into electrical signal.the signal is then converted beck to the binary form.
Li-Fi VS Wi-Fi
As we all think that Li-Fi with its 224 gigabits will leave the Wi-Fi into no use but no this not true
because Li-Fi signal cannot pass through wall so in order to enjoy full connectivity,LED bulbs will need to be place throughout the home. Li-Fi require light is ON all the time to provide connectivity this means the light will need to be on during the day.
If there is lack of light bulbs then there is lack of Li-Fi internet so Li-Fi Does not stand when it comes to public Wi-Fi network.
Due to his shorter range Li-Wi is more secure then Wi-Fi it is reported that light beams reflected of a surface could still achieve 70 megabits per second.
Li-Fi Products
PureLi-Wi Has two products on the market:-
1. Li-Flame ceiling unit to connect to an LED light fixture.
2. Li-Flame desktop unit which connects to a device via USB, Both aiming to provide light and connectivity in one device.
Li-Fi is tested in Dubai UAE based telecommunication provider, du and Zero1. DU claims to have successfully provided internet, audio and video streaming over alifi connection.