Li-Fi is a new experimental wireless data transmission technology which sends data using the same lights that illuminate the space you are in, at such frequencies and intensities that your brain does not process any change in lighting which your eyes might capture. It transmits at an incredible speed, under perfect conditions in the the lab they saw 224GBps and recently have successfully transmitted at 1GBps in the field. Yes, that is 1GB per second of data transfer, light travels rather quickly after all. There are limits on where this technology can be used, in large spaces signals from different lights could interfere with each other and if you are outside then you will not be able to benefit but for offices and the home this could be rather impressive to behold. Read more about the researchers and how these lightbulbs could be tied into existing lighting at The Inquirer.
"BOFFINS HAVE field tested Li-Fi for the first time, achieving wireless speeds 100 times faster than WiFi."
Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
- Downloads for Windows 10 November big-bang build axed by Microsoft @ The Register
- Microsoft warns you might not get Windows updates if you're not using IE 11 @ The Inquirer
- Windows 10 Fall Update Uninstalls Desktop Software Without Informing Users @ Slashdot
- Even the Dumbest Ransomware Is Almost Unremovable On Smart TVs @ Slashdot
- Dum dum dum – another cloud bites the dust (Adobe's photo cloud) @ The Register
Soooo, this is just a
Soooo, this is just a wireless fibre optic signal that requires line of sight?
More or less, but damn nifty
More or less, but damn nifty if you ask me.
1GBS of data to and from your
1GBS of data to and from your device, better make sure that there are no special light sensors that can get between those many photons coming to and from your device and to and from the light’s sensors/transmitter. That mass of photons better be in a tight beam with not too much reflection that might allow for interception, especially if the encryption keys are from Lenovo, or Dell devices, and most likely others.
Who is going to monitor those bulbs and make sure no one swaps them out for any NSA/other enabled devices for some Man In The Middle shenanigans in hardware! Each one of those bulbs is going to have to have an encrypted serial number associated with an encrypted serial number built into the light fixture so that no one can spoof and swap out a bulb with a malevolent bulb, so the entire network of light bulb based internet portals can not be compromised.
If most every bulb in a building can sense photons then even computers without dedicated light transmitters can be made to transmit information via their LCD screens, with pixels switched on and off so rapidly that the users will not notice any flicker. These Networks of smart Bulbs will have to be vetted and hardware built into the lights, and receptacles and even the wires to make sure the proper vetted bulbs, receptacles and wires are not switched out for compromised hardware. It’s much easier to keep track of a small number of wifi hotspots, but every bulb, that’s going to be hard to do.
The IT department is going to be the ones responsible for changing the bulbs and not the janitor or maintenance, just to maintain a level of security! And end-point to end-point double encryption is going to have to be employed to assure enough security for communication over these devices. Who’s to say that the light sensors could not have the ability to record video, then every light bulb becomes an eyeball looking down or over your shoulder and all points in-between!
Users are going to have to have full privacy tents draped over their heads, screens, and keyboards to keep out those prying bulbs’ light sensors, should users not want to have their typing hands recorded, or their LCD’s blabing via their many thousands of pixel based LCD elements!
My Tin Foil Hat is made of 100% Tin! And watch out for that Other Ten, the one with the spyware built into the OS!
http://hacks.mit.edu/Hacks/by
http://hacks.mit.edu/Hacks/by_year/2005/tinfoil_hats/
Abstract
Among a fringe community of paranoids, aluminum helmets serve as the protective measure of choice against invasive radio signals. We investigate the efficacy of three aluminum helmet designs on a sample group of four individuals. Using a $250,000 network analyser, we find that although on average all helmets attenuate invasive radio frequencies in either directions (either emanating from an outside source, or emanating from the cranium of the subject), certain frequencies are in fact greatly amplified. These amplified frequencies coincide with radio bands reserved for government use according to the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). Statistical evidence suggests the use of helmets may in fact enhance the government's invasive abilities. We speculate that the government may in fact have started the helmet craze for this reason.
Big brother spying through
Big brother spying through the utilities companies via light has long been the talk – way before ex CIA chief (Gen Petraeus) talked about having your appliances do the spying.
So..Is Jeremy on the “crack”
So..Is Jeremy on the “crack” now?
These Kids and their crack!
These Kids and their crack! This stuff needs to stop!