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Intel Encodes Data In Flickering LEDs (and Shows Off Other Bright Ideas)

Posted by timothy on from the hidden-in-the-noise dept.

darien writes "On the day before the Intel Developer Forum opens in San Francisco, Intel has been showing off some of its current research projects, including a system for encoding data in apparently steady light sources, a Kinect-based projected 'touch interface' that works on any surface and an ambitious signage concept that could revolutionise your weekly shop." My favorite thing about light-based networking is that it's the basis of a certain strain of (all too plausible, all too often) conspiracy theory. ("The modern LED 'eco-friendly' light bulb is also a two-way communications device." — easy to believe, since many of them can be. )

10 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. An aliens mind job. by MindPrison · · Score: 2

    Imagine being an light dependent alien, coming to visit you with all your blinking communications leds all over your house.

    Wow...what a mind job that would be.

    --
    What this world is coming to - is for you and me to decide.
  2. So, that would be... by msauve · · Score: 4, Insightful

    IRDA, but without the "I".

    --
    "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    1. Re:So, that would be... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      *ROOOOOOXANE*

    2. Re:So, that would be... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 2

      In that vein, the demo unit appears to be using red LEDs. I wonder if the phosphor-blobbed white ones are severely bandwidth constrained by the residual glow from the phosphor layer, or if the ghastly framerates of the cheapy cameras that intel proposes to use as receivers for these signals is the limiting factor?

  3. Grandad Remembers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Back in the old days(tm), people claimed to be able to intercept your communications from outside the building by simply having a view of your modem TX RX lights. That was in the days of the 1200 baud modem. Nothing has changed. There are still those that claim the same thing about your high-speed cable modem.

    1. Re:Grandad Remembers by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It was demonstrated on low speed modems, some of which directly tied the blinkenlights to the serial traffic(including, if memory serves, an embarassing case where some model of fancy 'encrypted' modem tied the blinkenlights to the serial traffic before the encryption stage...); but the author concluded that status indicator lights on higher speed stuff were(either in response to the possibility of attack, or just because humans can't distinguish between ultrafast blinking and 'on', which would make excessively fast blinks useless as indicators) not usefully coupled to the data channel for anything more than vague inference about traffic volume...

  4. Lackluster... by malakai · · Score: 2

    I read the full article, I have to say, I was a bit disappointed. Nothing really of interest. The LED encoding has been done, before, and better. The "Display without Borders" has also been done, before, and much better. And the digital signage was a gimmick. Even as a prototype, it's silly. Yes, you took 18 androids, put them in cases, and glued them to a display rack. Presto, digital signage. Please....

    I find it more interesting to read up on the research.microsoft.com projects, or MIT Media lab.

    --
    -Malakai
    A Dragon Lives in my Garage
  5. Traffic lights by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Since most traffic lights now use LEDs, this flicker-comm technology might be a good way to send info to intelligent cars about the traffic light timing, traffic conditions on the road ahead, etc.
     

  6. Encoding data in a light source? by tgd · · Score: 2

    You mean, like virtually every grocery store in the US has been doing for ten years now?

    (That's how those little digital price tags on shelves get programmed -- the lights flicker the codes down to them all day long, and slowly update the tags.)

  7. Airplane 2 by Jeng · · Score: 2

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083530/quotes

    Oh, cut the bleeding heart crap, will ya? We've all got our switches, lights, and knobs to deal with, Striker. I mean, down here there are literally hundreds and thousands of blinking, beeping, and flashing lights, blinking and beeping and flashing - they're *flashing* and they're *beeping*. I can't stand it anymore! They're *blinking* and *beeping* and *flashing*! Why doesn't somebody pull the plug!

    Went to find a video clip of this and well it's been taken down so the quotes will have to do.

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