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Harald Haas: Forget Wi-Fi. Meet the new Li-Fi Internet
Harald Haas: “光带”：无线网络的新突破
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我们能否用已存的技术来给超过40亿人居住的，不具备网络基础设施的地方提供互联网呢？Harald Haas 和他的团队作为技术的先驱者，用现有的 LED 和太阳能电池，实现了通过光传导数据，这很可能是跨越“数字鸿沟”的关键。看一看未来的互联网会是怎么样的吧。
Harald Haas - Communications technology innovator
Harald Haas is the pioneer behind a new technology that can communicate as well as illuminate. Full bio
Harald Haas is the pioneer behind a new technology that can communicate as well as illuminate. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
I would like to demonstrate
for the first time in public
for the first time in public
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我想要第一次向公众证明
视频可以由一台LED台灯
00:16
that it is possible to transmit a video
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00:20
from a standard off-the-shelf LED lamp
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传送至太阳能电池板上，
并由一台手提电脑接收
并由一台手提电脑接收
00:24
to a solar cell with a laptop
acting as a receiver.
acting as a receiver.
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00:30
There is no Wi-Fi involved,
it's just light.
it's just light.
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没有Wi-Fi介入，只是光
00:33
And you may wonder, what's the point?
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那么你可能想知道，
这样做有什么意义？
这样做有什么意义？
意义就是：
00:35
And the point is this:
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00:38
There will be a massive
extension of the Internet
extension of the Internet
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将来互联网会大规模覆盖
00:41
to close the digital divide,
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“数字鸿沟“将不复存在
00:43
and also to allow for what we call
"The Internet of Things" --
"The Internet of Things" --
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并且让我们所说的“物联网”变为可能——
00:48
tens of billions of devices
connected to the Internet.
connected to the Internet.
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数以亿计的设备连接到互联网
在我看来，互联网的大程度扩张
00:51
In my view, such an extension
of the Internet can only work
of the Internet can only work
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前提是需要基本保证“能源中性化”
（指尽量减少能源消耗）
（指尽量减少能源消耗）
00:55
if it's almost energy-neutral.
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00:58
This means we need to use existing
infrastructure as much as possible.
infrastructure as much as possible.
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这就是说， 我们需要
尽可能的多用现存的基础设施
尽可能的多用现存的基础设施
01:03
And this is where the solar cell
and the LED come in.
and the LED come in.
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这就是为什么前面提到太阳能电池和LED
01:08
I demonstrated for the first time,
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我之前第一次证明这件事
01:11
at TED in 2011,
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是2011年在TED演讲
我称它为Li-Fi，即光保真
01:13
Li-Fi, or Light Fidelity.
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用现存的LED灯可以极快地传递Li-Fi数据
01:15
Li-Fi uses off-the-shelf LEDs
to transmit data incredibly fast,
to transmit data incredibly fast,
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并且这种方式安全可靠
01:21
and also in a safe and secure manner.
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01:25
Data is transported by the light,
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数据由光传输
由亮度的细微变化解码
01:28
encoded in subtle changes
of the brightness.
of the brightness.
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01:32
If we look around,
we have many LEDs around us,
we have many LEDs around us,
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如果我们环视四周，在我们身边有很多的LED灯
因此在我们周围有着非常丰富的Li-Fi发射装置
01:35
so there's a rich infrastructure
of Li-Fi transmitters around us.
of Li-Fi transmitters around us.
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01:41
But so far, we have been using
special devices -- small photo detectors,
special devices -- small photo detectors,
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但是目前，我们通常使用一个特别的设备——
小型照片探测器
小型照片探测器
来接收由数据解码出来的信息
01:46
to receive the information
encoded in the data.
encoded in the data.
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01:50
I wanted to find a way to also use
existing infrastructure
existing infrastructure
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我想要找到一种方法，利用现有的基础设施
01:54
to receive data from our Li-Fi lights.
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来接收Li-Fi灯发出的数据
01:58
And this is why I have been looking into
solar cells and solar panels.
solar cells and solar panels.
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这也是为什么我一直研究
太阳能电池和太阳能电板
太阳能电池和太阳能电板
02:03
A solar cell absorbs light
and converts it into electrical energy.
and converts it into electrical energy.
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太阳能电池吸收光并转化成电能
02:08
This is why we can use a solar cell
to charge our mobile phone.
to charge our mobile phone.
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这就是为什么我们能用
太阳能电池给我们的手机充电
太阳能电池给我们的手机充电
但我们知道
02:13
But now we need to remember
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数据是由LED亮度的微妙变化来编码的
02:14
that the data is encoded in subtle changes
of the brightness of the LED,
of the brightness of the LED,
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所以如果入射的光有波动
02:21
so if the incoming light fluctuates,
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那么太阳能电池收集的能量也有波动
02:24
so does the energy harvested
from the solar cell.
from the solar cell.
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02:28
This means we have
a principal mechanism in place
a principal mechanism in place
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这就意味着我们具备了一项基本原理：
信息通过光的传导，由太阳能电池板接收
02:32
to receive information from the light
and by the solar cell,
and by the solar cell,
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因为收集的能量波动 与传输的数据相对应
02:38
because the fluctuations
of the energy harvested
of the energy harvested
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02:41
correspond to the data transmitted.
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02:43
Of course the question is:
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当然问题就在
我们是否能够收集到
非常迅速和微小的亮度变化
非常迅速和微小的亮度变化
02:46
can we receive very fast and subtle
changes of the brightness,
changes of the brightness,
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比如通过我们的LED灯传递的那种
02:50
such as the ones transmitted
by our LED lights?
by our LED lights?
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02:54
And the answer to that is yes, we can.
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答案是 是的，我们可以
02:58
We have shown in the lab
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我们在实验室已经展示
我们能够接收达到每秒50MB的数据
03:00
that we can receive up to 50
megabytes per second
megabytes per second
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通过一个标准的，现有的太阳能电池
03:03
from a standard, off-the-shelf solar cell.
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03:06
And this is faster than most
broadband connections these days.
broadband connections these days.
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这比目前最高速的宽带连接还要快
03:11
Now let me show you in practice.
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现在让我来实践展示一下
03:17
In this box is a standard,
off-the-shelf LED lamp.
off-the-shelf LED lamp.
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在这个盒子里，是一个现有的标准LED灯
03:23
This is a standard,
off-the-shelf solar cell;
off-the-shelf solar cell;
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这是一个现有的标准太阳能电池
它连接到笔记本电脑上
03:25
it is connected to the laptop.
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03:28
And also we have an instrument here
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这儿我们还有一个测量仪
用来显示我们从太阳能电池收集的能量
03:31
to visualize the energy
we harvest from the solar cell.
we harvest from the solar cell.
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现在这个仪表上有读数
03:35
And this instrument shows
something at the moment.
something at the moment.
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这是因为太阳能电池
已经开始从周围环境收集光了
已经开始从周围环境收集光了
03:37
This is because the solar cell already
harvests light from the ambient light.
harvests light from the ambient light.
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03:43
Now what I would like to do first
is switch on the light,
is switch on the light,
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现在，首先我将把灯打开
只是简单的打开灯，等一段时间
03:45
and I'll simply, only switch on the light,
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03:48
for a moment,
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03:50
and what you'll notice is that
the instrument jumps to the right.
the instrument jumps to the right.
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你会注意到指针跳到了右边
03:54
So the solar cell, for a moment,
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所以现在 太阳能电池
正在从这个人工光源接收能量
正在从这个人工光源接收能量
03:56
is harvesting energy
from this artificial light source.
from this artificial light source.
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04:00
If I turn it off, we see it drops.
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如果把它关掉，我们看到读数降回去了
再打开
04:03
I turn it on ...
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所以我们用太阳能电池收集了能源
04:05
So we harvest energy with the solar cell.
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04:08
But next I would like to activate
the streaming of the video.
the streaming of the video.
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接下来， 我将要启动视频传导
04:15
And I've done this
by pressing this button.
by pressing this button.
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通过按下这个按钮来实现
所以现在这个LED灯正在通过亮度的细微变化传导一个视频
04:17
So now this LED lamp here
is streaming a video
is streaming a video
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04:22
by changing the brightness of the LED
in a very subtle way,
in a very subtle way,
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04:26
and in a way that you can't
recognize with your eye,
recognize with your eye,
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这种亮度变化太快，不能用肉眼识别
04:29
because the changes
are too fast to recognize.
are too fast to recognize.
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04:33
But in order to prove the point,
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为了证明这一点
我可以阻挡太阳能电池接收的光
04:35
I can block the light of the solar cell.
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04:40
So first you notice
the energy harvesting drops
the energy harvesting drops
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首先你会注意到收集的能源下降了
并且视频也停止了
04:43
and the video stops as well.
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如果我移开阻碍物， 视频会继续播放
04:45
If I remove the blockage,
the video will restart.
the video will restart.
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04:49
(Applause)
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（掌声）
这个操作可以重复
04:55
And I can repeat that.
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所以当我们阻止视频的传输
能源收集也相应停止
能源收集也相应停止
04:57
So we stop the transmission of the video
and energy harvesting stops as well.
and energy harvesting stops as well.
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这说明太阳能电池可以作为一个接收器
05:03
So that is to show that the solar cell
acts as a receiver.
acts as a receiver.
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05:08
But now imagine that this LED lamp
is a street light, and there's fog.
is a street light, and there's fog.
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但是现在想像一下这个LED灯是街灯
并且周围有雾
并且周围有雾
05:14
And so I want to simulate fog,
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我想模拟有雾的情况
因此我随身带来一个手帕
05:16
and that's why I brought
a handkerchief with me.
a handkerchief with me.
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（笑声）
05:19
(Laughter)
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让我把手帕放到太阳能电池上
05:20
And let me put the handkerchief
over the solar cell.
over the solar cell.
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05:25
First you notice
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首先你会注意到
能源收集量降低了，和预料的一样
05:27
the energy harvested drops, as expected,
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但是现在视频仍在继续播放
05:31
but now the video still continues.
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05:34
This means, despite the blockage,
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这意味着，尽管有阻碍物
还是有足够的光穿过手帕到太阳能电池
05:37
there's sufficient light coming through
the handkerchief to the solar cell,
the handkerchief to the solar cell,
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因此太阳能电池仍然
能够解码、传导数据信息
能够解码、传导数据信息
05:41
so that the solar cell is able to decode
and stream that information,
and stream that information,
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甚至是我们现在用的高清视频信息
05:46
in this case, a high-definition video.
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05:51
What's really important here is that
a solar cell has become a receiver
a solar cell has become a receiver
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重要的是 太阳能电池
在这里成为了一个接收器
在这里成为了一个接收器
05:56
for high-speed wireless signals
encoded in light,
encoded in light,
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接收编码成光的高速无线信号
同时也保持了它作为
能源收集设备的基本功能
能源收集设备的基本功能
06:00
while it maintains its primary function
as an energy-harvesting device.
as an energy-harvesting device.
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06:05
That's why it is possible
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这就是说，屋顶上那些现有的太阳能电池
06:08
to use existing solar cells
on the roof of a hut
on the roof of a hut
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可以用来作为宽带网络的接收器
06:12
to act as a broadband receiver
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06:14
from a laser station on a close by hill,
or indeed, lamp post.
or indeed, lamp post.
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信号可以来自靠近山坡的
激光站，或者街边的路灯
激光站，或者街边的路灯
06:19
And It really doesn't matter
where the beam hits the solar cell.
where the beam hits the solar cell.
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哪里的光束到达太阳能电池并不要紧
06:23
And the same is true
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并且实际上
窗户上安装的半透明太阳能电池
06:24
for translucent solar cells
integrated into windows,
integrated into windows,
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安装在街道设施上的太阳能电池
06:28
solar cells integrated
into street furniture,
into street furniture,
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甚至安装在成千上万
其他设备上的太阳能电池
其他设备上的太阳能电池
06:32
or indeed, solar cells integrated
into these billions of devices
into these billions of devices
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它们将会形成物联网
06:36
that will form the Internet of Things.
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06:38
Because simply,
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这是因为我们不想经常给这些设备充电
06:40
we don't want to charge
these devices regularly,
these devices regularly,
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更不想每几个月就要更换电池
06:42
or worse, replace the batteries
every few months.
every few months.
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06:46
As I said to you,
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我之前说
这是我第一次向公众展示这些
06:48
this is the first time
I've shown this in public.
I've shown this in public.
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这次展示可以说是一个实验证明
06:50
It's very much a lab demonstration,
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一个原型
06:52
a prototype.
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06:54
But my team and I are confident
that we can take this to market
that we can take this to market
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但是我和我的团队有信心
接下来两到三年，这项产品会进入市场
接下来两到三年，这项产品会进入市场
06:57
within the next two to three years.
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希望我们能够对终结“数字鸿沟”做出贡献
07:00
And we hope we will be able to contribute
to closing the digital divide,
to closing the digital divide,
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并且帮助成千上万的设备连接到互联网
07:05
and also contribute
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07:06
to connecting all these billions
of devices to the Internet.
of devices to the Internet.
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07:10
And all of this without causing
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而且所有设备不会造成巨大的能源消耗
07:11
a massive explosion
of energy consumption --
of energy consumption --
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因为我们将利用现有的太阳能电池
07:14
because of the solar cells,
quite the opposite.
quite the opposite.
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07:16
Thank you.
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谢谢
07:17
(Applause)
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（掌声）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Harald Haas - Communications technology innovatorHarald Haas is the pioneer behind a new technology that can communicate as well as illuminate.
Why you should listen
Imagine using your car headlights to transmit data ... or surfing the web safely on a plane, tethered only by a line of sight. Harald Haas is working on it. He currently holds the Chair of Mobile Communications at the University of Edinburgh, and is co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of pureLiFi Ltd as well as the Director of the LiFi Research and Development Center at the University of Edinburgh. His main research interests are in optical wireless communications, hybrid optical wireless and RF communications, spatial modulation, and interference coordination in wireless networks.
Haas has long been studying ways to communicate electronic data signals, designing modulation techniques that pack more data onto existing networks. But his latest work leaps beyond wires and radio waves to transmit data via an LED bulb that glows and darkens faster than the human eye can see. His group published the first proof-of-concept results demonstrating that it is possible to to turn commercially available light emitting diode (LED) light bulbs into broadband wireless transmission systems.
"It should be so cheap that it's everywhere," he says. "Using the visible light spectrum, which comes for free, you can piggy-back existing wireless services on the back of lighting equipment."
Harald Haas | Speaker | TED.com