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# bright idea
LiFi uses light to beam data directly to your smartphone
The technology allows LED lights to transmit data to your smartphone via light waves.
USING YOUR LAMP as a wireless hotspot might sound far-fetched, but it could soon become a reality thanks to some new developments in light technology.
LiFi technology uses LED light as a medium to send data instead of radio waves at broadband speeds.
With the industry estimated to be worth $6 billion by 2018, a number of companies such as PureLiFi have been working on developing this technology.
(Video: pureVLC/YouTube)
Another company working on developing LiFi is Oledcomm. The French company showcased a device capable of transmitting data, such as a video, map or image, from a lamp to your phone at CES this year.
The company has also partnered with Sunpartner Technologies to unveil the first solar LiFi smartphone.
The phone uses light to generate electricity as well as receive and transmit data at broadband speeds. This means it can use the light to recharge the phone as it’s connecting to the web.
If the concept still has you scratching your head in confusion, here’s the University of Edinbrugh’s chair of mobile communications Harald Haas explaining how the technology works back in 2011.
(Video: TED/YouTube)
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