Engineers at NC State University (NCSU) have discovered a way of boosting the throughput of busy WiFi networks by up to 700%. Perhaps most importantly, the breakthrough is purely software-based, meaning it could be rolled out to existing WiFi networks relatively easily — instantly improving the throughput and latency of the network.

I found the description at ExtremeTech to be extremely unintelligible. I will look for other descriptions of how this new algorithm works.

16 November 2012 52 underpaidgenius Permalink

Light-based data transmission technology is attractive because it allows wireless communication without the use of radio gear, which can be dangerous in places like oil platforms (where it can cause sparks) and underwater (where the salt conducts electricity), or on planes (where it can interfere with other radio equipment). In addition, transmissions can be stopped simply by blocking the light, and thus can be stopped by walls, so there is less risk of data leaking out of a house or office. And researchers say they believe that signals can piggyback on lights that are already in use — street lamps, car headlights or room lighting. Indeed, Klipsch, a speaker manufacturer, last year introduced speakers which could receive music data from normal LED lightbulbs in the home.

The future of wifi is lifi.

25 July 2011 14 Permalink