Chinese researchers have finally made a breakthrough in the wireless internet segment with Li-Fi technology, where wireless signals get transmitted via lightbulbs. These brilliantly awesome Chinese folks proposed that four computers under a 1 Watt LED lightbulb may connect to the web, principle being that light can act as a carrier instead of conventional radio frequencies. Chi Nan, an IT professor at Shanghai-based Fudan University expanded that a lightbulb having embedded microchips can produce data uploading/downloading speeds of nearly 150 Mbps (Wooot!), and this is way higher that what the average broadband connection in China currently delivers. Also, where Li-fi scores over the traditional Wi-Fi is that it's way to cheaper than the existing wireless signal transmission equipment and offers a much greater efficiency.



Chi added that as far as cell phones are concerned, millions of base stations across the world contribute to strengthen the signals, but a major part of the energy is juiced up in their cooling systems. She even added that the energy utilization rate was just a mere 5%. Having said that, Chi was quick enough to point out the commercial impracticality of Li-Fi as of now, as when the light will be blocked, it's cut off the signal then and there. A few developments remain to make Li-Fi a commercial success, and the team is currently running experiments for light communication controls, microchip design and manufacturing, among other segments.

Haral Hass from Edinburgh University is the man who bestowed upon this technology the name Li-Fi back in 2011, which stands for 'light-fidelity' and simply refers to a light communication technology that offers high-speed wireless transmissions, somewhat like our very own Wi-fi. Once this tech comes to life, it opens up the Pandora's box to limitless applications, with each and every light source being employed as a data transmitter. Edison would've been proud.