Li-Fi to replace Wi-Fi?

It doesn't seem that long ago when we were all excited about being able to go wireless with our devices. The advent of Wi-Fi changed the way many of us worked, as well as played, whether at home or in the office. Now, as most of us have gotten comfortable with our Wi-Fi, change is on the horizon.

Light-based wireless communication, or Li-Fi was invented by Harald Haas in 2011. Li-Fi "is a method of internet connectivity that doesn't use cable or radio waves, instead flickering the light from a special LED to transmit data just like your Wi-Fi adapter would", according to Joshua Sherman from Digital Trends.

There are two big benefits to using Li-Fi. First, Li-Fi can emit signals at a speed that is 100 times faster than Wi-Fi. Second, Li-Fi is more secure than Wi-Fi. Your device will only work if it can detect the light being emitted in the same room. This makes it impossible for people in the area or passing by to connect or piggyback onto your connection.

Li-Fi works by sending out light flickers at extreme speeds to write and transmit data in binary code. This happens without any flickers being visible to the naked eye. The BEC crew at ScienceAlert compared it to an "incredibly advanced form of Morse code".

There are differing thoughts on when Li-Fi will be available for use in the home or most businesses. Some estimates are a couple of years, while other estimates are not in the coming decades. The cost of removing existing technology and either retro-fitting or replacing it for Li-Fi is a factor in these estimates.

We are looking forward to learning more about this game changing development.

Sources used:

www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/light-bulb-li-fi-wireless-internet; www.sciencealert.com/li-fi-tested-in-the-real-world-for-the-first-time-is-100-times-faster-than-wi-fi