Difference Between Li-Fi and Wi-Fi Technology

-

Wi-Fi Vs Li-Fi

Wi-Fi and Li-Fi both are wireless method of data transmission, but are different in technology usage. Wi-Fi uses radio waves while Li-Fi uses visible light for data transmission. You are more familiar with Wi-Fi but I am sure very few peoples known about this Li-Fi technology.

So, let’s know about these technologies in brief:   

What is Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi is a wireless networking protocol through which devices use to communicate without direct cable connections. Wi-Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity.

It is based on 802.11 IEEE network standards. The Wi-Fi standards were created by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and are certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance. In 1991, NCR Corporation with AT&T Corporation invented the precursor to 802.11 but actually It has started in the Year 1997 with 902.11 standard.

The main requirement for Wi-Fi is a device that receives and transmits a wireless signal, usually a router. Wi-Fi network is established by installing Wi-Fi AP (Access Point) or Wi-Fi router. The Wi-Fi router or AP is connected with the internet using physical or wired Ethernet cable or Fibre optic cable.

Types of Band in Wi-Fi System

It works on two bands one is 2.4 GHz band and second 5GHz. In lower frequency band Wi-Fi coverage is good compare to high frequency band. 2.4 GHz band outshines 5 GHz band in terms of Wi-Fi coverage. The lower frequency band transmitted low frequency signals that more easily penetrate solid objects; it means better signal carried out throughout your home. In case of speed the 2.4 GHz band supports speed up to 600 Mbps while 5 GHz band supports speed up to 1300 Mbps (megabytes per second).

In the 2.4 GHz band, you have the option to choose from 11 Wi-Fi channels, where 3 of which are non-overlapping. In the 5 GHz band, you have the option to choose from 45 Wi-Fi channels, where 24 of which are non-overlapping. Overlapping channels are what lead to network interference, so comparing the two Wi-Fi frequency bands; we can easily see that 5GHz provides less room for co-channel interference.

Advantages of Wi-Fi

  • Convenience: Wi-Fi helps to connect the devices to internet wherever they can locate a Wi-Fi Signal. So it is very convenient to connect to internet using this technology.
  • Mobility: It provides mobility means you can use this technology from anywhere anytime.
  • Cost Saving : Wi-Fi is easier and cheaper to install in comparison to broadband.

Disadvantages of Wi-Fi

  • Data transfer rate decreases (to individual computer) when number of clients or computers connected with Wi-Fi network increases.
  • Security : It is more prone to cyber attack. It can be accessed by unauthorised  user if you ignore securing your Wi-Fi system.

What is Li-Fi?

LiFi (short for light fidelity) is wireless communication technology which utilizes light to transmit data. Li-Fi uses visible light. It was first introduce by Harlad Hass in the year 2011. He is also known as father of Li-Fi.

This technology only needs a light source with a chip to transmit an internet signal through light waves. This indicates that Li-Fi has a wider range of available frequencies as the visible light spectrum is much larger (10,000 times) than the entire radio spectrum. It covers frequencies from 430,000 to 770,000 GHz and colours from near-ultraviolet to near-infrared. It is based on IEEE 802.15.7 standard protocol. (IEEE 802.15 is the working group for Wireless Specialty Networks (WSN), which are used in IoT, wearables and autonomous vehicles.)

Type of LED used 

Micro-sized Gallium Nitride (GaN) light emitting diodes (mirco-LEDs) are excellent options for Li-Fi (Light fidelity) and VLC (visible light communication) because of their large bandwidths.

The technology makes a LED light bulb emit pulses of light that are undetectable to the human eye and within those emitted pulses, data can travel to and from receivers.

The biggest LiFi companies are Signify, PureLiFi, Oledcomm and VLNComm.

Advantages of Li-Fi

  • Can be used in Sensitive to Electromagnetic Area like Hospitals and Airplanes
  • Cheap to implement
  • Enabling of the Internet-of-Things 
  • Low cost because of VLC technology used which in turn uses highly efficient LED bulbs.
  • Less interference, ability to travel across salt water, and ability to operate in dense areas.
Disadvantages of Li-Fi

  • The light source must constantly be on in order to provide network connectivity.
  • Light wave has very short range that’s why Users are made stationary when using Li-Fi devices? 
  • Interference from external source of light like Sun

Key Difference in both the technology:

Wi-Fi Technology:
  • Wi-Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity. 
  • It was invented by NCR Corporation in the Year 1991 but the first version of the 802.11 protocol was released in 1997.
  • It is based on IEEE 802.11 standard protocol.
  • This technology uses radio waves to transmit data using router. 
  • Wi-Fi transfer speed ranges from 150 Mbps to 2Gbps. 
  • It works on two frequencies 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
  • Its coverage area is upto 32meters 
  • It is used in internet browsing, Surveillance Camera and smart home 

Li-Fi Technology:

  • Li-Fi stands for Light Fidelity.
  • Its invention credit goes to  Professor Harald Haas, who invented it in the Year 2011
  • It is based on IEEE 802.15.7 standard protocol. (
  • Li-Fi transmits data using light signal using LED bulb.
  • Its transfer speed is about 1Gbps.
  • It is 10000 times above par radio frequency. 
  • Its coverage area is about 10 meters
  • It can be used in airlines, under sea water and hospitals.
Basically these technologies are used for internet based applications.
Location: India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WHAT SIDE OF THE PAPER DOES THE PRINTER PRINT ON ?

-
Image
It is a common practice by all of us to forget the orientation of the paper in case of printing over a Letter Head or pre-printed paper.  Printer Paper Orientation  This way in order to save the paper, we furthermore generate the waste. Besides this, many times we print the document on assumption and again waste the paper, ink, time & energy. Surely, we can utilize the one-sided paper for the draft printing of documents.   But lack of knowledge about printers leads us to repeat this mistake again and again and unintentionally generate lots of waste. But we can save the papers, ink, and our precious time too if we keep one thing in mind and then print the documents i.e  understand the following icons :  How to place the printed paper on the Printer? The icon embossed over the paper tray tells us about the orientation of the paper quite clearly.  But, we simply ignore it and print it without knowing its worth. Generally, in haste or stress, we often forge...
Read more

Metaverse a Virtual Universe Parallel to Real Universe

-
Image
Metaverse is a new word that is made up of a combination of two words “Meta” and “Universe”, where Meta means beyond and “Verse” refers to Universe.  This term first debuted in Neal Stephenson's 1992 novel "Snow Crash," in which the protagonist, a pizza delivery man, hangs out in an online virtual fantasy world. WHEREAS "Ready Player One," a novel set in the Oasis Metaverse, updated the concept in 2011. There are many movies based on this concept that elaborately show the function of the Metaverse and give an idea of that too like Ready Player One and Avatar etc.  What is Metaverse? I t is a virtual 3D world created for interaction, doing business, and forging social connections using immersive, interactive, and collaborative technology in the field of the Internet. This is the world in which peoples interacts with each other through their respective Avatars using the metaphor of the real world but without its physical limits. Immersive technology is an integrat...
Read more

Keyboard Types, Layout & Technology

-
Image
What is Keyboard? Keyboard is an input device attached to a computer. This is used to print the text, numbers and special characters on screen in a document. What we are using today is a refined design of yester year’s research and development.  There are lots of improvements happen from its invention to development keeping in user’s point of view and ease. Now keyboard is most useful peripheral device of a computer. History of Keyboard  The invention of this wonderful device based on tele printer and keypunch machines. Christopher Latham Sholes was an American Inventor who invented the QWERTY keyboard. He was the first man who invented the first commercially used typewriter. He was born in Mooresburg, Pennsylvania on 14th February 1819. His design is the base of development in the field of keyboard. The first computer ENIAC was based on a punch card reader as its input and output device. But after 2years another computer BINAC was developed that was designed to use electro-me...
Read more