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What is LiFi?

Admin 11th January 2016

A buzz is quickly growing around the term ‘LiFi’, but what is it actually all about? The quick version is, it’s a much, much, much faster version of WiFi – about 100 times faster, in fact, reaching up to 224GB/s. Li-Fi is an abbreviated form of ‘Light Fidelity’, which is the term given to this particular wireless connection. As its name suggests, it is an optical wireless communication, using visible light, infra-red, and near ultra-violet in the place of radio frequency waves. This means it can carry a great deal more information. In normal Visible Light Communication, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are switched on and off rapidly – too rapidly for a human to notice. However, LiFi would involve keeping the LEDs switched on all the time, although they could be dim enough to be impossible to perceive by the naked eye. This, of course, means that LiFi will be a relatively energy efficient mode of communication.

Speed and security

LiFi, unlike WiFi, cannot penetrate through walls, but is instead reflected off them. The result of this is that LiFi has a much shorter range. But this isn’t necessarily a drawback, as it also makes LiFi the more secure option, being much more difficult to hack than WiFi is. What’s more, LiFi can be used in electromagnetic sensitive areas without causing any risk. That means that even in places like aeroplanes, hospitals, and nuclear power plants, people can have fast, efficient connection without the hazards that come with interference.

Another strength LiFi has over its radio wave competitor, WiFi, is that the former has almost no limitation on its capacity. We have been warned that WiFi is already close to reaching its full capacity, which would result in spectrum crisis, but this would no longer be a pressing issue with LiFi. That’s because the visible light spectrum that LiFi uses is 10,000 times bigger than the radio frequency spectrum.

LiFi will also be able to achieve much higher data density, coming in at around 1,000 times the data density of WiFi, because while radio frequency tends to spread out and cause interference, visible light can be properly contained.

More than just a WiFi replacement

LiFi can even be used alongside the burgeoning market that is the Internet of Things (IoT), in a system known as Bg-Fi. An application on a mobile device will emit lights from the display. This can then reach an Internet of Things device, which comes with colour sensors, microcontrollers, and embedded software. The colour sensor will convert the light from the mobile device into digital information, combining with LEDs to allow the IoT product to communicate synchronously with the mobile device.

You might think with all these promises of speed, efficiency, superior availability and capacity, that LiFi will be something far out of your budget. But in fact, it couldn’t be further from the truth – it is expected to be a massive 10 times cheaper than WiFi is, requiring fewer components than WiFi does.

However, there are, of course, a few drawbacks. The short range is expected to be an issue in some cases, and installation prices will generally be quite high. Reliability may also be a problem as LiFi takes its first steps.

Nonetheless, LiFi is expected to bring huge changes to the way all businesses work, and estimates suggest it will be worth an astounding $113 billion by 2022.

Should you hold conference calls or a video calls?

Admin 12th March 2021

A lot of us often wonder about whether to choose conference calls or video calls. There are big benefits on both sides, and some shared across the two. After all, there’s no doubt that advancements in call technology have paved the way for new communication methods at work. They allow us to host keynote presentations from across the world, offering inclusivity to those with accessibility needs. Any type of group phone call also provides a sense of connection when teammates are working apart – something particularly valuable through COVID-related lockdowns and social distancing.

But while jumping on a video call has become a knee-jerk reaction for many, it’s not without its drawbacks. Video brings some complications that traditional conference calls simply don’t have. If you’re wondering whether to organise a conference call or video call, don’t forget that sometimes just picking up the phone is the better option.

How do you make a conference call more fun?

Admin 11th February 2021

It’s Tuesday afternoon and you’re already four conference calls into the week. Of course, conference calls are important for so many businesses. But making conference calls more fun should be a bigger priority. Otherwise, they can become tedious and repetitive, and morale and productivity will drop.

Whether you’re working from home and need to catch up with colleagues, or you’re calling clients, these tips will help to make your next conference call more fun.

Conference Call Tips, Remote Working

How to improve unspoken communication on a conference call

Admin 3rd February 2021

Verbal signals are an important part of all communication. But conference call communication depends on verbal and non-verbal signalling. In the age of teleconferencing (and seemingly its glory year!), they’re vital signs into how successful an interaction is. You may be pitching to a prospective client, it may be your weekly team catch up, or you may be a director presenting to an entire department. No matter the purpose of the call, if you are trying to deliver an engaging conference call, getting clued up on non-verbal and verbal signals is crucial. They can indicate that somebody is losing interest. Picking up on these feelings gives you the chance to try and improve things.

Read through our guide about some of the ways to improve communication on a conference call, by reading signals that call participants aren’t invested. We’ll also advise on what to do to turn things around.

Business Conference Calls, Business Tips and Advice, Conference Call Tips