ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Harald Haas - Communications technology innovator
Harald 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."

More profile about the speaker
Harald Haas | Speaker | TED.com
TEDGlobal>London

Harald Haas: Forget Wi-Fi. Meet the new Li-Fi Internet

Harald Haas: “光带”:无线网络的新突破

Filmed:
2,751,742 views

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。
- Communications technology innovator
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演示
for the first time in public上市
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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可能 to transmit发送 a video视频
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00:20
from a standard标准 off-the-shelf现成的 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
00:24
to a solar太阳能 cell细胞 with a laptop笔记本电脑
acting演戏 as a receiver接收器.
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00:30
There is no Wi-Fi无线上网 involved参与,
it's just light.
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没有Wi-Fi介入,只是光
00:33
And you may可能 wonder奇迹, what's the point?
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那么你可能想知道,
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大规模的
extension延期 of the Internet互联网
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将来互联网会大规模覆盖
00:41
to close the digital数字 divide划分,
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“数字鸿沟“将不复存在
00:43
and also to allow允许 for what we call
"The Internet互联网 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数十亿 of devices设备
connected连接的 to the Internet互联网.
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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视图, such这样 an extension延期
of the Internet互联网 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)
00:55
if it's almost几乎 energy-neutral高能中性.
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00:58
This means手段 we need to use existing现有
infrastructure基础设施 as much as possible可能.
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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
01:03
And this is where the solar太阳能 cell细胞
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证明 for the first time,
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我之前第一次证明这件事
01:11
at TEDTED 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李网络, or Light Fidelity保真度.
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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李网络 uses使用 off-the-shelf现成的 LEDs发光二极管
to transmit发送 data数据 incredibly令人难以置信 fast快速,
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并且这种方式安全可靠
01:21
and also in a safe安全 and secure安全 manner方式.
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01:25
Data数据 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编码 in subtle微妙 changes变化
of the brightness亮度.
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01:32
If we look around,
we have many许多 LEDs发光二极管 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丰富 infrastructure基础设施
of Li-Fi李网络 transmitters变送器 around us.
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01:41
But so far, we have been using运用
special特别 devices设备 -- small photo照片 detectors探测器,
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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
来接收由数据解码出来的信息
01:46
to receive接收 the information信息
encoded编码 in the data数据.
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01:50
I wanted to find a way to also use
existing现有 infrastructure基础设施
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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接收 data数据 from our Li-Fi李网络 lights灯火.
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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太阳能 cells细胞 and solar太阳能 panels面板.
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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
02:03
A solar太阳能 cell细胞 absorbs吸收 light
and converts转换 it into electrical电动 energy能源.
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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太阳能 cell细胞
to charge收费 our mobile移动 phone电话.
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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
但我们知道
02:13
But now we need to remember记得
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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数据 is encoded编码 in subtle微妙 changes变化
of the brightness亮度 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波动,
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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能源 harvested收获
from the solar太阳能 cell细胞.
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02:28
This means手段 we have
a principal主要 mechanism机制 in place地点
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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接收 information信息 from the light
and by the solar太阳能 cell细胞,
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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波动
of the energy能源 harvested收获
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02:41
correspond对应 to the data数据 transmitted发送.
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02:43
Of course课程 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
02:46
can we receive接收 very fast快速 and subtle微妙
changes变化 of the brightness亮度,
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比如通过我们的LED灯传递的那种
02:50
such这样 as the ones那些 transmitted发送
by our LED lights灯火?
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02:54
And the answer回答 to that is yes, we can.
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答案是 是的,我们可以
02:58
We have shown显示 in the lab实验室
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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接收 up to 50
megabytes兆字节 per second第二
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通过一个标准的,现有的太阳能电池
03:03
from a standard标准, off-the-shelf现成的 solar太阳能 cell细胞.
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03:06
And this is faster更快 than most
broadband宽带 connections连接 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显示 you in practice实践.
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现在让我来实践展示一下
03:17
In this box is a standard标准,
off-the-shelf现成的 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标准,
off-the-shelf现成的 solar太阳能 cell细胞;
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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连接的 to the laptop笔记本电脑.
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03:28
And also we have an instrument仪器 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想象 the energy能源
we harvest收成 from the solar太阳能 cell细胞.
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现在这个仪表上有读数
03:35
And this instrument仪器 shows节目
something at the moment时刻.
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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
03:37
This is because the solar太阳能 cell细胞 already已经
harvests收成 light from the ambient周围 light.
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03:43
Now what I would like to do first
is switch开关 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只是, only switch开关 on the light,
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03:48
for a moment时刻,
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03:50
and what you'll你会 notice注意 is that
the instrument仪器 jumps跳跃 to the right.
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你会注意到指针跳到了右边
03:54
So the solar太阳能 cell细胞, for a moment时刻,
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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
03:56
is harvesting收获 energy能源
from this artificial人造 light source资源.
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04:00
If I turn it off, we see it drops滴剂.
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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收成 energy能源 with the solar太阳能 cell细胞.
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04:08
But next下一个 I would like to activate启用
the streaming of the video视频.
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接下来, 我将要启动视频传导
04:15
And I've doneDONE this
by pressing紧迫 this button按键.
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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视频
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04:22
by changing改变 the brightness亮度 of the LED
in a very subtle微妙 way,
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04:26
and in a way that you can't
recognize认识 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变化
are too fast快速 to recognize认识.
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04:33
But in order订购 to prove证明 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太阳能 cell细胞.
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04:40
So first you notice注意
the energy能源 harvesting收获 drops滴剂
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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视频 stops停止 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去掉 the blockage阻止,
the video视频 will restart重新开始.
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04:49
(Applause掌声)
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(掌声)
这个操作可以重复
04:55
And I can repeat重复 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
04:57
So we stop the transmission传输 of the video视频
and energy能源 harvesting收获 stops停止 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显示 that the solar太阳能 cell细胞
acts行为 as a receiver接收器.
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05:08
But now imagine想像 that this LED lamp
is a street light, and there's fog多雾路段.
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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
05:14
And so I want to simulate模拟 fog多雾路段,
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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手帕 with me.
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(笑声)
05:19
(Laughter笑声)
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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手帕
over the solar太阳能 cell细胞.
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05:25
First you notice注意
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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能源 harvested收获 drops滴剂, as expected预期,
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但是现在视频仍在继续播放
05:31
but now the video视频 still continues继续.
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05:34
This means手段, despite尽管 the blockage阻止,
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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足够 light coming未来 through通过
the handkerchief手帕 to the solar太阳能 cell细胞,
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因此太阳能电池仍然
能够解码、传导数据信息
05:41
so that the solar太阳能 cell细胞 is able能够 to decode解码
and stream that information信息,
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甚至是我们现在用的高清视频信息
05:46
in this case案件, a high-definition高清 video视频.
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05:51
What's really important重要 here is that
a solar太阳能 cell细胞 has become成为 a receiver接收器
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重要的是 太阳能电池
在这里成为了一个接收器
05:56
for high-speed高速 wireless无线 signals信号
encoded编码 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
06:00
while it maintains维持 its primary function功能
as an energy-harvesting能量收集 device设备.
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06:05
That's why it is possible可能
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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现有 solar太阳能 cells细胞
on the roof屋顶 of a hut棚屋
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可以用来作为宽带网络的接收器
06:12
to act法案 as a broadband宽带 receiver接收器
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06:14
from a laser激光 station on a close by hill爬坡道,
or indeed确实, lamp post岗位.
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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
06:19
And It really doesn't matter
where the beam光束 hits点击 the solar太阳能 cell细胞.
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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相同 is true真正
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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半透明 solar太阳能 cells细胞
integrated集成 into windows视窗,
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安装在街道设施上的太阳能电池
06:28
solar太阳能 cells细胞 integrated集成
into street furniture家具,
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甚至安装在成千上万
其他设备上的太阳能电池
06:32
or indeed确实, solar太阳能 cells细胞 integrated集成
into these billions数十亿 of devices设备
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它们将会形成物联网
06:36
that will form形成 the Internet互联网 of Things.
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06:38
Because simply只是,
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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收费
these devices设备 regularly经常,
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更不想每几个月就要更换电池
06:42
or worse更差, replace更换 the batteries电池
every一切 few少数 months个月.
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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显示 this in public上市.
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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实验室 demonstration示范,
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一个原型
06:52
a prototype原型.
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06:54
But my team球队 and I are confident信心
that we can take this to market市场
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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
06:57
within the next下一个 two to three years年份.
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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希望 we will be able能够 to contribute有助于
to closing关闭 the digital数字 divide划分,
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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有助于
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07:06
to connecting all these billions数十亿
of devices设备 to the Internet互联网.
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07:10
And all of this without causing造成
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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大规模的 explosion爆炸
of energy能源 consumption消费 --
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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太阳能 cells细胞,
quite相当 the opposite对面.
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07:16
Thank you.
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谢谢
07:17
(Applause掌声)
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(掌声)
Translated by Ziyu Zhao
Reviewed by Yunjia Zhang

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Harald Haas - Communications technology innovator
Harald 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."

More profile about the speaker
Harald Haas | Speaker | TED.com