International. Telecommunications experts from the University of Strathclyde, UK, are working on the development of Li-Fi, a new LED-based technology that would enable the transmission of information efficiently.
How does it work? According to the information released so far by the researchers, they seek to convert the constant flickering of LED-based lights into a communication technology that is capable of transmitting data using the visible light spectrum.
This development is based on the communication of visual signals that ships use to transmit messages. But the challenge now is to do so with data communication with high transmission rates. To achieve this, the University of Strathclyde set up a research centre, called the Intelligent Lighting Centre.
This center is part of the Li-Fi Consortium, made up of different entities that, with a budget that exceeds US$7 million, seek to develop data transmission through small LEDs.
Scientists want to take advantage of the flickering of LEDs, estimated at a thousand times every second, being at a speed imperceptible to the human eye but that could be controlled by computers and in turn optical receivers could demular the signals in benefit of data transport.
In the long term, counting on the research to yield good results, Li-Fi could be counted on as an allernative to decongest the radio spectrum. In addition, it would mean a revolution in optical communications.
