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Here's a bright idea: instead of radio waves, use light to get online.
妙點子的原理是這樣的:不利用無線電波,而是利用光線來上網。
Unlike wi-fi, or wireless fidelity, so-called “li-fi” transmits data through variations in light intensity.
與wi-fi,或熟知的無線保真不同,所謂的li-fi通過光強度的變化傳輸數據。
Researchers in China recently showed that, using a one-watt LED bulb, li-fi could connect four computers to the Internet at data transfer rates up to 150 megabits per second.
最近中國的研究者們發現,使用一個1瓦特的LED燈泡,li-fi就可以以帶寬150兆/秒的傳輸速率連接4臺電腦接入互聯網。
Earlier this year, German scientists sent data at three Gigabits per second using LED lamps, in controlled conditions in their lab.
今年早些時候,德國科學家在他們的實驗室中特定條件下使用LED燈以每秒3吉位的速度發送數據。
They later demonstrated 500 megabits per second speeds in a real-world setting.
而后他們在現實生活環境中展現了500兆/秒的速度。
Most wi-fi connections don't even come close to 100 megabits per second.
然而大多數的wi-fi連接甚至達不到100 兆/秒。
Li-fi has drawbacks.
同樣li-fi也有缺點。
The technology works only when the LED's light can reach the gadget.
這項技術只能仰仗LED這個小裝置的光源。
Stray from the LED, and you lose your connection.
沒有了LED,你就會失去一切聯系。
On the plus side, the visible light spectrum can handle way more traffic than wi-fi's already crowded radio spectrum.
另外, 相比wi-fi擁擠的無線電頻譜，可見光譜可以應對更多的傳輸方式。
And any LED bulb can be a network connection.
而且任何的LED燈泡都可以是一個網絡連接。
We may someday look back at wi-fi as technology from the dark ages.
我們總有一天會追憶來自于黑暗時代wi-fi技術。
