Introduction

In simple terms, Li-Fi can be thought of as a light-based Wi-Fi.

That is, it uses light instead of radio waves to transmit information.
And instead of Wi-Fi modems, Li-Fi would use transceiverfitted
LED lamps that can light a room as well as transmit and receive
information. Since simple light bulbs are used, there can
technically be any number of access points.

This technology uses a part of the electromagnetic spectrum that is

still not greatly utilized- The Visible Spectrum. Light is in fact very
much part of our lives for millions and millions of years and does
not have any major ill effect. Moreover there is 10,000 times more
space available in this spectrum and just counting on the bulbs in
use, it also multiplies to 10,000 times more availability as an
infrastructure, globally.

It is possible to encode data in the light by varying the rate at

which the LEDs flicker on and off to give different strings of 1s
and 0s. The LED intensity is modulated so rapidly that human eyes
cannot notice, so the output appears constant.

More sophisticated techniques could dramatically increase VLC

data rates. Teams at the University of Oxford and the University of
Edinburgh are focusing on parallel data transmission using arrays
of LEDs, where each LED transmits a different data stream. Other
groups are using mixtures of red, green and blue LEDs to alter the
light's frequency, with each frequency encoding a different data
channel.

Li-Fi, as it has been dubbed, has already achieved blisteringly high

speeds in the lab. Researchers at the Heinrich Hertz Institute in
Berlin, Germany, have reached data rates of over 500 megabytes
per second using a standard white-light LED. Haas has set up a
spin-off firm to sell a consumer VLC transmitter that is due for
launch next year. It is capable of transmitting data at 100 MB/s -
faster than most UK broadband connections.

Genesis of LI-FI
Harald Haas, a professor at the University of Edinburgh who began
his research in the field in 2004, gave a debut demonstration of
what he called a Li-Fi prototype at the TED Global conference in
Edinburgh on 12th July 2011. He used a table lamp with an LED
bulb to transmit a video of blooming flowers that was then
projected onto a screen behind him.
During the event he periodically blocked the light from lamp to
prove that the lamp was indeed the source of incoming data. At
TEDGlobal, Haas demonstrated a data rate of transmission of
around 10Mbps -- comparable to a fairly good UK broadband
connection. Two months later he achieved 123Mbps.
 How Li-Fi Works?
Li-Fi is typically implemented using white LED light bulbs at the
downlink transmitter. These devices are normally used for
illumination only by applying a constant current. However, by fast
and subtle variations of the current, the optical output can be made
to vary at extremely high speeds.
This very property of optical current is used in Li-Fi setup. The
operational procedure is very simple-, if the LED is on, you
transmit a digital 1, if its off you transmit a 0. The LEDs can be
switched on and off very quickly, which gives nice opportunities
for transmitting data. Hence all that is required is some LEDs and a
controller that code data into those LEDs. All one has to do is to
vary the rate at which the LEDs flicker depending upon the data
we want to encode.
Further enhancements can be made in this method, like using an
array of LEDs for parallel data transmission, or using mixtures of
red, green and blue LEDs to alter the lights frequency with each
frequency encoding a different data channel. Such advancements
promise a theoretical speed of 10 Gbps meaning one can
download a full high-definition film in just 30 seconds.

To further get a grasp of Li-Fi consider an IR remote.(fig 3.3). It

sends a single data stream of bits at the rate of 10,000-20,000 bps.
Now replace the IR LED with a Light Box containing a large LED
array. This system, fig 3.4, is capable of sending thousands of such
streams at very fast rate.

Light is inherently safe and can be used in places where radio

frequency communication is often deemed problematic, such as in
aircraft cabins or hospitals. So visible light communication not
only has the potential to solve the problem of lack of spectrum
space, but can also enable novel application. The visible light
spectrum is unused, it's not regulated, and can be used for
communication at very high speeds.

Application of Li-Fi Technology

You Might Just Live Longer
You Might Just Live Longer For a long time, med ical technology has
lagged behind the rest of the wireless world. Operating rooms do not allow
Wi-Fi over radiation concerns, and there is also that whole lack of
dedicated spectrum. While Wi-Fi is in place in many hospitals, interference
from cell phones and computers can block signals from monitoring
equipment.

Li-Fi solves both problems: lights are not only allowed in operating rooms,
but tend to be the most glaring (punintended) fixtures in the room. And, as
Haas mentions in his TED Talk,Li-Fi has 10,000 times the spectrum of Wi-
Fi, so maybe we can, I dunno, delegate red light to priority medical data.
Code Red!

Airlines

Airline Wi-Fi. Ugh. Nothing says captive audience like having to pay for
the "service" of dialup speed Wi-Fi on the plane. And dont get me started
on the pricing.

The best Ive heard so far is that passengers will "soon" be offered a "high-
speed like" connection on some airlines. United is planning on speeds as
high as 9.8 Mbps per plane.

Uh, I have twice that capacity in my living room. And at the same price as
checking a bag, I expect it. Li-Fi could easily introduce that sort of speed to
each seat's reading light. Ill be the guy WoWing next to you. Its better than
listening to you tell me about your wildly successful son, maam.

Smarter Power Plants

Wi-Fi and many other radiation types are bad for sensitive areas. Like those
surrounding power plants. But power plants need fast, inter-connected data
systems to monitor things like demand, grid integrity and (in nuclear plants)
core temperature. The savings from proper monitoring at a single power
plant can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Li-Fi could offer safe, abundant connectivity for all areas of these sensitive
locations. Not only would this save money related to currently implemented
solutions, but the draw on a power plants own reserves could be lessened if
they havent yet converted to LE D lighting.

Undersea Awesomeness

Underwater ROVs, those favourite toys of treasure seekers and James

Cameron,operate from large cables that supply their power and allow them
to receive signals from their pilots above. ROVs work great, except when
the tether isnt long enough to explore an area, or when it gets stuck on
something.

If their wires were cut and replaced with light say from a submerged,
high-powered lamp then they would be much freer to explore. They
could also use their headlamps to communicate with each other, processing
data autonomously and referring findings periodically back to the surface,
all the while obtaining their next batch of orders.

It Could Keep You Informed and Save Lives

Say theres an earthquake in New York. Or a hurricane. Take your pick

its a wacky city. The average New Yorker may not know what the
protocols are for those kinds of disasters. Until they pass under a street
light, that is.

Remember, with Li-Fi, if theres light, youre online. Subway stations and
tunnels, common dead zones for most emergency communications, pose no
obstruction. Plus, in times less stresssing cities could opt to provide cheap
high speed Web access to every street corner.

How it is different?

Li-Fi technology is based on LEDs for the transfer of data. The

transfer of the data can be with the help of all kinds of light, no
matter the part of the spectrum that they belong. That is, the light
can belong to the invisible, ultraviolet or the visible part of the
spectrum. Also, the speed of the internet is incredibly high and you
can download movies, games, music etc in just a few minutes with
the help of this technology.

Also, the technology removes limitations that have been put on the
user by the Wi-Fi. You no more need to be in a region that is Wi-Fi
enabled to have access to the internet. You can simply stand under
any form of light and surf the internet as the connection is made in
case of any light presence. There cannot be anything better than
this technology.

Uses in Various Areas

It Can be used in the places where it is difficult to lay the optical

fiber like hospitals. In operation theatre LiFi can be used for
modern medical instruments. In traffic signals LiFi can be used
which will communicate with the LED lights of the cars and
ccident numbers can be decreased.

Thousand and millions of street lamps can be transferred to LiFi

lamps to transfer data. In aircraft LiFi can be used for data
transmission.It can be used in petroleum or chemical plants where
other transmission or frequencies could be hazardous.

Advantages of LI-FI

Li-Fi can solve problems related to the insufficiency of radio

frequency bandwidth because this technology uses Visible
light spectrum that has still not been greatly utilized.
 High data transmission rates of up to 10Gbps can be achieved.

Since light cannot penetrate walls, it provides privacy and

security that Wi-Fi cannot.

Li-Fi has low implementation and maintenance costs.

It is safe for humans since light, unlike radio frequencies,

cannot penetrate human body. Hence, concerns of cell
mutation are mitigated.

Disadvantage of LI-FI

Light can't pass through objects.

 A major challenge facing Li-Fi is how the receiving device
will transmit back to transmitter.

High installation cost of the VLC systems.

Interferences from external light sources like sun, light,

normal bulbs, opaque materials.

Conclusion

The possibilities are numerous and can be explored further. If his

technology can be put into practical use, every bulb can be used
something like a Wi-Fi hotspot to transmit wireless data and we
will proceed toward the cleaner, greener, safer and brighter future.
The concept of Li-Fi is currently attracting a great deal of interest,
not least because it may offer a genuine and very efficient
alternative to radio-based wireless. As a growing number of people
and their many devices access wireless internet, the airwaves are
becoming increasingly clogged, making it more and more difficult
to get a reliable, high-speed signal.

This may solve issues such as the shortage of radio-frequency

bandwidth and also allow internet where traditional radio based
wireless isnt allowed such as aircraft or hospitals. One of the
shortcomings however is that it only work in direct line of sight.

Abstract of Li-Fi Technology

Whether youre using wireless internet in a coffee shop, stealing it
from the guy next door, or competing for bandwidth at a
conference, youve probably gotten frustrated at the slow speeds
you face when more than one device is tapped into the network. As
more and more people and their many devices access wireless
internet, clogged airwaves are going to make it increasingly
difficult to latch onto a reliable signal.
But radio waves are just one part of the spectrum that can carry our
data. What if we could use other waves to surf the internet? One
German physicist,DR. Harald Haas, has come up with a solution he
calls Data Through Illuminationtaking the fiber out of fiber
optics by sending data through an LED light bulb that varies in
intensity faster than the human eye can follow. Its the same idea
behind infrared remote controls, but far more powerful.
Haas says his invention, which he calls D-Light, can produce data
rates faster than 10 megabits per second, which is speedier than
your average broadband connection. He envisions a future where
data for laptops, smartphones, and tablets is transmitted through
the light in a room. And security would be a snapif you cant see
the light, you cant access the data.
Li-Fi is a VLC, visible light communication, technology developed
by a team of scientists including Dr Gordon Povey, Prof. Harald
Haas and Dr Mostafa Afgani at the University of Edinburgh. The
term Li-Fi was coined by Prof. Haas when he amazed people by
streaming highdefinition video from a standard LED lamp, at TED
Global in July 2011. Li-Fi is now part of the Visible Light
Communications (VLC) PAN IEEE 802.15.7 standard.
Li-Fi is typically implemented using white LED light bulbs.
These devices are normally used for illumination by applying a
constant current through the LED. However, by fast and subtle
variations of the current, the optical output can be made to vary at
extremely high speeds. Unseen by the human eye, this variation is
used to carry high-speed data, says Dr Povey, , Product Manager
of the University of Edinburgh's Li-Fi Program D-Light Project.