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Wireless Data Via A Light Bulb — Parallax Forums

Wireless Data Via A Light Bulb

Don MDon M Posts: 1,653
edited 2011-08-08 12:44 in General Discussion
From Manufacturing Business Technology:

"What if every light bulb in the world could also transmit data? The speaker in this TED video, Harald Haas, unveils a device that could do exactly that. By flickering the light from a single LED, he can transmit far more data than a cellular tower -- and he can do it in a way that's more efficient, secure and widespread."

Click to watch video here

Comments

  • Paul Sr.Paul Sr. Posts: 435
    edited 2011-08-04 09:22
    I knew a guy years ago that did this very thing! He had a "stationary bicycle" that he built from a standard one and transmitted information to an Atari 800 (he was an Atari Guru). Very slick and creative. No idea what happened to the guy, but he was a "Maker" for sure!
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-08-04 09:25
    I remember transmitting data from a TRS-80 Model I by modulating a spot on the display and picking up the data via a light sensor stuck on it with a piece of Sellotape.
  • Jimmy LiebJimmy Lieb Posts: 46
    edited 2011-08-04 10:10
    I really like this idea for the means of syncing computers and smartphones, sending code to a robot, and maybe in coffee shops, where people can bring their laptops, and set them down under the lights. however, I doubt that it will work very well with smartphones, other than setting it next to a computer to sync, because they are always moving. also, he brings up the point of using it in airplanes. Ok, but how is the plane going to connect to the ground/satellite? I doubt this is practical while moving 600 miles an hour, over rural areas still using dial up. you cant possibly always have the plane within a line of sight of the tranciever.
    Also, what about coverage? I doubt this could replace cellular networks, due to coverage issues. I suppose it might replace WiFi to some extent, possibly for downloading large files, you could just set your phone/tablet/laptop under a light and download a 1+ gigabyte file in seconds, but otherwise I doubt it would be useful.
    Don't get me wrong, I think that it is a very futuristic, cool idea, but I don't think it could ever completely catch on.
    If I'm not quite getting it, feel free to correct me.

    ~Jimmy
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2011-08-04 10:25
    There was a clock once(maybe a Casio?) which contained PDA-functions, and that could be updated by running a program that made the PC monitor flicker. Unfortunately, not only was it one-way, but it also didn't work with LCDs, only CRTs.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-08-04 10:59
    I remember a Casio watch that had that facility. I nearly bought one.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-08-04 14:57
    Timex Data Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timex_Datalink

    One of my Ironman watches has this feature and it did work amazingly well for transmitting data from the PC to the watch. Too bad it only one-way and the wrong way! Uploading race splits from the watch to the computer would have been more useful than the way it worked.
  • Ed TEd T Posts: 50
    edited 2011-08-08 12:44
    In light of this, I would recommend anyone who has sensitive conversations to be wary of those bearing LED bulbs as a gift!!!
    -Ed
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