First Ceiling Light Internet Systems Installed 179
An anonymous reader writes "We last heard about LVX's LED ceiling light optical communication system in December, and now news has broken that the company recently implemented the technology at several city offices in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The LVX/ceiling light system is capable of transmitting data at about three megabits per second, which is about as fast as a residential DSL line. It works by placing light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in a standard-sized light fixture. This then transmits coded binary messages to the special modems attached to computers, which also respond via light waves."
It is not first (Score:4, Insightful)
First was IBM Zurich 30 or so years ago with IR on the ceiling as a connection method
Then there was the IR profile for WiFi. 802.11b at 1Mbit actually has an optical option. However as there is nobody doing it any more so there is no standards compliant kit out there.
Otherwise it is a very cool idea for a number of applications. There are places where you just do not want radio for a variety of reasons. Light is much less likely to cause interference and is much easier to keep "contained" so it is not eavesdropped on.
Re:Welcome to 1994... (Score:3, Insightful)
The return of the infra-red access point, even if its not infra red this time around same bad concept.
Well presuming the developers are not total idiots, lets give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they at least encourage WPA2 or something.
In a closed room, at least you can be assured your transmissions aren't seeping thru walls as with regular WiFi.
Even in an windowed room or public space, assuming the use of the above mentioned security, what is the difference in using light as opposed to radio waves?
Other than the slow speed of this early version, and its line of sight restriction, what causes you to call it a "bad concept"?
Re:Welcome to 1994... (Score:2, Insightful)
Because it's a security violation for any real enterprise. Forget Faraday, you're broadcasting, and accepting lightwave-carrier connections right through the air and the nearest window.
So "Real enterprises" never use WiFi?
Re:Real enterprises very cautious with WiFi. (Score:5, Insightful)
Real Enterprises know how to deal with the security issue of Wi-Fi.
Re:Welcome to 1994... (Score:4, Insightful)
Yeah, I'm new here.
I've only been around long enough to learn two things:
1) how to evaluate Slashdot Poster ID numbers.
2) how to detect posers calling themselves a "data center Jesus".
Re:Welcome to 1994... (Score:5, Insightful)
i agree, it's little different from wifi, but i don't understand why it's better than wifi? ... It doesn't work through drywall.
I don't claim to understand this system completely, but that sounds like a feature to me. Crowded apartment building? This gives an alternative to a saturated wifi network.