LED Internet

 

Vocabulary

LED	impulse (2)	light emitting diode
data	transmit	in place of
desire	shield (2)	accessible
optical	adverse	glimpse
pulse	switch (2)	modulator
decode	on its way	register (2)
beam	achieve	compromise
device	opaque	conventional
set up	transparent	translucent
sensor	spectrum	adjustable
arise	lag behind	point of view
encode	complication	infrastructure

 
 
 

Video: Internet via LED

 

Transcript

Light impulses from LEDs can be used to transmit data in place of radio frequencies from Wi-Fi routers.

They’re often used when radio signals are inaccessible or undesirable, such as schools, hospitals or any well-shielded room.

Researchers at Berlin’s Fraunhofer Institute are at work on an optical Wi-Fi system that would have no adverse health-effects.

Anagnostis Paraskevopoulos, Institution, Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz: “It’s a little glimpse of our future, when we’ll be able to bring mobile-radio communications inside, and send and transmit data with a light like this.”

And this is how it works: a modulator switches and LED light on and off, extremely fast — too fast for the human eye to register — that data are encoded in the pulses.

For example, a photo diode on a laptop would receive the pulses and the computer would decode them.

No data are lost or compromised.

The technology is achieving transmission rates of up to 800 Megabits per second — faster than commercially available Wi-Fi.

Another advantage is the added security of data transmission by way of light.

The pulses can only be received by devices within the beam. Unlike conventional Wi-Fi, the light impulses are completely blocked by any opaque material; walls for instance.

Experimental systems have already been set up. The Fraunhofer Institute researchers have developed special light cubes for conference rooms. The color, temperature and spectrum are adjustable.

But consumer devices with optical sensors have to become available before the technology can be established on the market.

Anagnostis Paraskevopoulos, Combination Science and Technology: “From our point of view, the commercialization is lagging behind. The complication arises from having to bring two separate manufacturing industries together.”

The infrastructure and computers equipped for the technology have to be developed as well.

But even now, data transmitted by light is already on its way.

Questions

1. It is possible for light to transmit internet data just like radio signals. True or false?

2. Light carried internet can “penetrate” shielded, walled rooms that radio signals cannot. Yes or no?

3. Is LED internet radiation believed to be unhealthy?

4. Is the light pulses continuous or blinking?

5. The light is the carrier of data. Is this correct or wrong?

6. Is the quality of LED internet lower, higher than or the same as conventional Wi-Fi?

7. Is the security of LED internet better or worse than Wi-Fi internet connection?

8. “From our point of view, the commercialization is lagging behind. The complication arises from having to bring two separate manufacturing industries together.” What does this refer to?

 

A. Have you had any difficulties with Wi-Fi or conventional internet access?

B. How would LED internet improve your and other people’s lives?

C. What would industries do to take advantage of LED internet?

D. How would LED internet change businesses and people’s lives?