A Different Way to Connect ---017
Over the years, more and more ways of transmitting data are being discovered. Today, I want to talk about an upcoming technology known as Li-Fi, or in other words light fidelity. You may ask, what is so unique about this tech? I am here to explain it to you today.
Now before we begin, you might recognize that Li-Fi and Wi-Fi sound quite similar. Nearly every household in today’s time uses a Wi-Fi network to connect to the internet. Wi-Fi, also known as wireless fidelity, uses radio waves to transmit data. This is how we generally connect to the internet- using a Wi-Fi network. Li-Fi, on the other hand, uses light instead of radio waves. This is unique because we can physically see light waves, while radio waves are completely invisible to the eye. How does Li-Fi work exactly? It is hard to picture it since the technology is not fully developed yet. But you can imagine a typical LED lamp to serve as a Wi-Fi modem, analogically speaking. The LED lamp would be able to send and receive information just like a modem. One of the main components needed to access the Li-Fi network is a dongle with a light capturing sensor. With the dongle, multiple people can connect to a public light source, just like how a public Wi-Fi functions.
These two methods of data transmission are similar in the way they function, but they serve very different purposes. For example, Wi-Fi can provide a greater coverage than Li-Fi. Li-Fi is generally used in smaller confined areas. This is because light waves cannot travel through walls. This limits the range of data that can be transmitted. However, the benefit of Li-FI technology is the speed. Li-Fi is extremely powerful and can transfer data in gigabytes per second, which can be ten to a hundred times faster than a Wi-Fi connection.
How can this be useful in our everyday lives? Even though the technology is not fully developed yet, once the technology is commercialized and ready for everyday use, users can find Li-Fi to be a suitable substitute for data sharing and networking. Li-Fi can attempt to solve several concerns that we have today such as speed, data capacity, and energy efficiency. One of the main benefits is that it does not interfere with electronics that are sensitive to radio waves. This is a great substitute for a connection in places such as hospitals or airplanes.
What does this say for the future? We do not know yet. Li-Fi technology is still in it’s early stages. It is questionable to say that Li-Fi will replace the Wi-Fi network anytime soon. Replacement may be the wrong word to describe the introduction of Li-Fi. I believe that Wi-Fi will not be replaced anytime soon, however, it may be able to serve as a complimentary tech in addition to Wi-Fi. Similar to a phone having access to Wi-Fi and a data connection at the same time, a separate network will simply lead to better and more conveniences. Here at Linkstyle, we strive to keep our customers updated with the latest high tech trends. We will try our best to keep you informed as more modern technology is being introduced in today’s fast growing world. We are always looking for the newest technology to present to our customers!