Just when you were starting to feel sufficiently impressed with the speed of your Wi-Fi connection, it may soon be time to say goodbye — Li-Fi Internet is faster, my friends. I'm not being hyperbolic when I say a lot faster, either. This new wireless technology has been tested and proven 100 times stronger than Wi-Fi. And as though that information isn't enough to blow your mind today, household lighting could be the mode of transmission for this super-speedy new Internet technology.
It's a lot to process, I know. But here's the gist of it. First invented by Harold Haas of the University of Edinburgh in 2011, Li-Fi uses visible light communication (VLC) to send data and transmit messages through binary code. "All we need to do is fit a small microchip to every potential illumination device and this would then combine two basic functionalities: illumination and wireless data transmission," Haas said of converting household lights into Li-Fi transmitters. Bonus? It may also be more secure than Wi-Fi, since light cannot pass through walls. On the down side, this could also mean the user would lose their connection whenever they leave a room.
However, working out such minor kinks would all be worth it in the long run based on preliminary usage. The technology, which is currently being used in offices and other workplaces in Estonia, has achieved data transmissions of 1GB per second with a lab record of 224 gigabits per second. To put that in more palatable terms, that would enable you to download 18 movies of 1.5GB every second. I kid you not.
Considering global monthly Internet data usage is increasing exponentially, according to the Cisco Visual Networking Index Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast, Li-Fi Internet comes along at an opportune juncture in the the world's technological timeline. So, since we're all obviously now excited about the sorcery behind beaming data transmissions out of our light bulbs, let's look ahead to all of the important time-sucking activities we'll be able to do far more efficiently if Li-Fi goes mainstream.
1. Watching Cat Videos, Of Course
If you can download a feature-length movie every second, just imagine how many cute (albeit inane) cat videos you could squeeze into that same time frame! Someone please give Haas all the awards for making this possible.
2. Self-Diagnosing On WebMD
With Wi-Fi, I can spend hours determining I might possibly — oh, who am I kidding? — am definitely dying from some rare and previously undiagnosed obscure disease. I have the brown-speckled rash to prove it. Or wait ... is that a freckle? Either way, I'll be able to make the most of the precious moments I have left by cutting my diagnosis time with lightning fast Li-Fi.
3. One Word: Pinterest
Li-Fi will make it possible to add even more DIY projects like deceptively complicated burlap wreaths and dresser re-dos to my already overflowing to-do list. In turn, this may carve out enough time for me to actually attempt the myriad Pinterest fails just waiting to happen.
4. Read A Blog (Or Thirty)
The wide world of blogs is vast and full of untapped wisdom. There's no telling what secrets of life I've been missing due to a lagging connection. Faster Internet means faster browsing, which means I can finally catch up on what Ree Drummond is cooking up these days. Goodbye, bookmarked Pioneer Woman blog post circa 2013!
5. Learn What My Personality Says About... Everything
With a lightning fast connection, I could blow through online quizzes like a beast. Which Disney character are you most like? Done (and Belle, FYI). What does your favorite color say about your mental health? Done. There's no limit to the facets of my personality I may be able to unearth with Li-Fi.
Images: kaboompics.com/Pexels; Giphy (6)
