16 points

This is cool and all, but Wi-Fi and Li-Fi are equally “light-based”, it’s just using different frequencies. A higher frequency means potentially faster data transmission, but at the cost of faster attenuation. We see this with 2.4GHz vs 5GHz wifi already, and this sounds to me like a more extreme version of that

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2 points

Idk. Lifi uses actual light waves which are quite high up the spectrum. For sure Wi-Fi and Li-Fi are both electromagnetic waves, but light itself is a very small section of the EM spectrum. Above that wavelength you get ionizing radiation that gives you cancer and below that is harmless non-ionizing light and radio waves.

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3 points

Regardless of if it’s on the visual spectrum or not, it’s all called light as long as it’s electromagnetic radiations

Radio waves are light, gamma rays are light, gravitational waves are not, sound waves are not

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2 points

At these frequencies, even paper could effect transmission speeds.

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3 points
*

Yes and no. It’s both electromagnetic waves but the frequencies are very very far apart. So far, the techniques we use to emit and receive them are fundamentally different. Their propagation and transmission characteristics are also very different. Also, the data transmission rate (in theory) only depends on the bandwidth of the transmission channel, not the absolute frequency. But there’s more “room” for large bands at higher frequencies, of course.

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6 points

Radio waves are light too. The article says that they’re planning to use near infrared range for Lo-Fi. It will basically be mostly limited to short distances and line of sight. I also wonder how natural light in those frequencies from cooking, exhaust etc. would affect the signal.

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30 points

Ma! Theres dust on the Li-Fi sensor again! Ma! You gotta clean it every week for the TV to work!

Yeah this is gonna be great.

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1 point

It’s going to be great if you don’t imagine it as a one-for-one replacement for traditional wifi and use it in applications that are specific to its strengths and weaknesses.

Also, just how dusty is your house that one week’s accumulation is enough to snuff out a signal?

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2 points

I’m making a joke about the article headline. It paints a picture to that it will replace traditional wifi when that is definitely not the case.

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11 points

Apple Cloth will sell like hot cake

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24 points

It’s been like 5 years since the last time I heard about the technology

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4 points

time for a new round of funding - it’s only 5 years away!

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5 points

I’m pretty sure I heard about this in high school, over 10 years ago…

Looked it up, and it was first announced in 2011.

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10 points

It is 5 years away from being 5 years away

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2 points

I can see LiFI being used in self driving systems as ideally you will always have LOS with other vehicles and it could be useful for signaling.

Otherwise the applications arent great due to LOS.

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