Are Light bulb networks the next WiFi???

by **J The Kidd** Tue Oct 07, 2008 3:49 pm

Boston University is launching a program, under a National Science
Foundation grant, to develop the next generation of wireless
communications technology based on visible light instead of radio
waves. The initiative aims to develop an optical communication
technology that would make an LED light the equivalent of a Wi-Fi
access point. "Imagine if your computer, iPhone, TV, radio and thermostat could all
communicate with you when you walked in a room just by flipping the
wall light switch and without the usual cluster of wires," said BU
Engineering Professor Thomas Little. "This could be done with an
LED-based communications network that also provides light - all over
existing power lines with low power consumption, high reliability and
no electromagnetic interference. Ultimately, the system is expected to
be applicable from existing illumination devices, like swapping light
bulbs for LEDs." Very cool!