Li-Fi : Light Fidelity
In this article we are going to see Li-Fi which is the abbreviation of term Light Fidelity. If we talk in simple terms, it can be said that Li-Fi technology is nothing but light based Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) technology. And as we know, this Wi-Fi is fully networked, bi-directional wireless communication technology where the data is being transmitted using the radio waves. On the other hand, in the case of Li-Fi technology, the data is transmitted in the form of visible light using the LED (Light Emitting Diode) light source.
Illustration : Li-Fi
How The Technology Works?
So, this house hold LED bulbs and LED lamps which are used as a light source and can also be used to transmit the data. Let see first of all, how this Li-Fi technology works? If the constant current is provided to flow through the LED source then it will provide the constant illumination or constant brightness. As we change the current that is flowing through the LED bulb, the illumination or brightness of this bulb will change. And this principle is used for transmitting the data wirelessly using this Li-Fi technology. So, if no current or minimum current is flowing through this LED bulb then, the brightness of this LED source will be at its low and this will be as treated as digital 0. So, digital 0 will be transmitted at the receiver side. Similarly, when the light bulb is ON, or we can say that if the maximum amount of current is flowing through this LED bulb then the illumination or brightness of the LED bulb will be at its high and this will be treated as digital 1. So, whenever the LED is ON, so digital 1 will be transmitted at the receiver side. In this way the LED light source flickers very rapidly and the data can be transmitted in the form of 1's and 0's to the receiver. If this flickering happens at million times per second then we cannot see this flickering by our naked eyes. Hence we can treat this LED bulb source as normal regular bulb source.
Li-Fi : The Future Of Corporate World
As we know, the data that comes from the web server or the internet first goes to the MODEM, which provides the necessary modulation to the incoming data stream. Then this modulated data is fed to the LED driver, which changes the driving current for this LED bulb according to the incoming streaming data. At the receiver end, the optically received data is first converted into the electrical signal using the photo receiver or photo diode. And after the signal conditioning, this data is being fed to the computer or laptop. So, to receive this incoming data, at the receiver side we require the Li-Fi dongle, which consists of photo receiver as well as IR transmitter. Now this infrared transmitter can be used to transmit the up-link data back to the LED source.
Now, one such company which provides the complete Li-Fi solution is Pure Li-Fi that generally makes these Li-Fi dongles. So, now as we know, how this Li-Fi technology works, now let's see the advantages of this Li-Fi technology over the other wireless communication technologies. The some of the advantages of this Li-Fi technology over the other wireless communication technology.
Advantages overconventional Wi-Fi.
First let's talk about the speed, far the researchers have achieved the speed up to the 10 Gbps in the lab scale prototype models. And this speed can further be enhanced by using the array of LED source or by using the multiple colors of LEDs like RGB LEDs, where each LED source is able to transmit the data up to the 10 Gbps. So, using such technologies, the researchers have achieved the maximum speed up to the 100 Gbps. So, now let's compare its speed with other wireless communication technologies. So, if we compare it with 4G/LTE or particularly the LTE advanced, the maximum achievable speed under this LTE advanced is 1 Gbps for the stationary user and 100 Mbps for the mobile user. But all these speeds are the theoretically achievable maximum speed. But actual speed may be much lesser compared to this theoretically achievable maximum speed. So, if you see the countries which provide the fastest internet in the world, the average 4G/LTE speed in such countries is in the range of 40-50 Mbps, which is much lesser compared to the speed which is provided by the Li-Fi.
Li-Fi : Next Generation Of Internet
Now let's compare the speed of Li-Fi with Wi-Fi. Now, in case of Wi-Fi, if you see the standard IEEE 802.11.ac, the maximum speed which can be supported by this standard is 1.3 Gbps and that is in the 5 GHz band, which is almost 100 times lesser compared to the speed which is supported by the Li-Fi. And if you see another Wi-Fi standard, which is not commercially available yet, that is IEEE 802.11.ad, the maximum speed which can be supported by this standard is 7 Gbps. And all the speeds which are mentioned over here are the theoretically achievable maximum speeds. But the actual speeds may be quite lesser compared to the theoretically achievable maximum speeds. And still, if we consider the maximum speed which is supported by this Wi-Fi technology, the Li-Fi technology is still 10 times faster compared to this Wi-Fi technology.
Well, right now the speed which is provided by the Wi-Fi technology is sufficient for our day to day life. But as we are moving in the era of Internet of Things, where each device is able to communicate with each other, soon you will find that the speed which is provided by the Wi-Fi technology is insufficient. And you will require the insane speed like 100 Gbps, which as of now looks like a dream. So, next, if you see the electromagnetic spectrum, the bandwidth of the radio wave is up to 300 GHz. But if you see the bandwidth of this visible spectrum alone, the bandwidth of this visible spectrum is around 300 THz which is almost 1000 times more compared to the bandwidth of the radio waves. So, not only you can achieve the higher speed but also you will not find any kind of electromagnetic radio interference.
So, now in the case of Li-Fi, as we are using the visible light source, the visible light source cannot cross the walls, unlike the case of Wi-Fi, where the radio waves are able to transmit across the walls. So, in this way, this Li-Fi technology provides the one more layer of security. These were some advantages of Li-Fi technology over the other wireless communication technologies.
Applications
Let see the different applications of this Li-Fi technology. Li-Fi technology can be used in the hospitals. As this Li-Fi technology is providing very high-speed internet communication, so the real time health monitoring of the patient will be possible. So, apart from that this Li-Fi technology can be used for the underwater communication. Also, using this technology, the vehicles can communicate with each other using the front and the rear lights, using this technology, we can prevent the accidents.
This Li-Fi technology can be used in the airplanes to provide the internet to the passengers and not only that, if this technology is fitted into our street lights, then even our street lights can provide us high-speed internet. So, these are the some of the applications in which this Li-Fi technology can be used. But still, the Li-Fi technology is the futuristic technology, means; commercially there are no products which are available which provides the insane speed up to the 10 Gbps or 100 Gbps.
So, in the upcoming years, we might see the technologies or devices which support this Li-Fi technology. Right now, as we are seeing the Free Wi-fi Zone in the cafeteria, in future we might see Free Li-Fi zone in the cafeteria. Now bigger question is, if the Li-Fi is the future of internet then what about the already existing wireless technologies. So, the answer is that in future also all the existing technologies will remain. And rather this Li-Fi technology will complement all the existing technologies because this Li-Fi is short range communication. So, using this technology we cannot cover the entire area using the light. So, grossly we can say, when you require large coverage, we will still prefer Wi-Fi and 4G/LTE but in short coverage, like in the case of our room or hotel or even offices, we can still prefer this Li-Fi technology.
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