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Using Visible Light for Data Transfer

Posted by chrisd on from the look-at-the-pretty-lights dept.

James Evans writes "Wired has an article about a New Zealand company which has developed a technology to transmit data at speeds up to 400Mbps up to 4km. They are working to have it more resistant to changes in weather, as well as increasing the distance. It has a number of advantages, including lack of federal regulation of the spectrum, as it is of course, visible light." In related terrestrial networking news, waytoomuchcoffee writes "Science Blog reports that the backbone for the World's Fastest Network is up and running. It's a fiber optic 40 gigabit per second connection between Chicago and LA. Teragrid is a project by the National Science Foundation designed to link up supercomputer centers."

7 of 345 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmmm.... by roomisigloomis · · Score: 5, Funny

    So, I guess we can finally have mirrors that are mirrors? Excellent!!!

    --
    "We are accountable for not only what we do, but also that which we don't do." -- Moliere
  2. flashlight by soul_hk · · Score: 5, Funny

    they better be careful at 400mbps, they may break the switch on their flashlight.

    http://hksoul.myftp.org/

  3. Red Light Destrict by Chokma · · Score: 5, Funny

    The LED-color should be chosen according to the content transferred... users sharing pr0n via P2P could build their own red-light-destrict! --- I wonder if powerful LEDs will attract insects and such - the connection speed could be reduced drastically by bugs.

  4. Re:is anyone else thinking... by Bluesman · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was thinking that we'll have really fast semaphore flags next.

    The problem is really tired arms.

    --
    If moderation could change anything, it would be illegal.
  5. Yeah, but more like ultra high speed morse code by Cappy+Red · · Score: 5, Funny

    Except with morse code, I believe, you have to find the right frequency. Not much of a problem, but likely harder to find than a little light strobing across the street. Then there's the rather obvious quote from the article

    On the other hand, bad weather, or anything that might block the light's path, can cause slowdowns or power failures.

    "File transfer failed: Code 75(flock of seagulls)"

    *honk*

    --
    This is my sig. It's prescription, I swear. I need it for reading things... on the other side of things
  6. Re:Federal Regulation by CyberDruid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Consider this, when you flash your lights to an oncoming vehical, you are conveying information
    Consider this, when you flash your tits to an oncoming vehicle, you are also conveying information.
    Yet there are sometimes laws against it.

    --

    Opinions stated are mine and do not reflect those of the Illuminati

  7. Re:Fiber Optics? by fredrikj · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pigeons could be a problem though ;)

    Not if you use sufficiently powerful lasers >:)