High-speed Internet over lamps

What won't they think of next? Boston University's Smart Lighting Center is looking at how to use LEDs to light up entire rooms - and provide Internet access at the same time.

The center says that, as light sources, LEDs are better than those compact fluorescent lights that are now all the envirorage because they use even less energy, last longer and contain no mercury. On the downside - they currently cost a lot more.

But researchers aren't stopping there:

Now ERC researchers at BU are taking the next big step uniting illumination with communication to create encoded light transmissions for a wide range of new and interesting applications. For example, you might turn on a white LED ceiling lamp, from a digital wall switch, to illuminate the room and simultaneously enable your laptop, computer, PDA – even your thermostat – to wirelessly receive data transmissions. Any device bathed by light might be enabled to connect to this new visible light network.

They note such light-enabled communications is already in widespread use - think of all the TV/stereo remotes you have scattered throughout your couch.

More uses for the technology.

Tip o' the Star Simpson Sweatshirt to Mass. High Tech for mentioning "smart lighting" as one of its Mass. technologies to watch.

Ed. nerd note: I almost headlined this "Research would give new meaning to LAMP computing," but then I realized almost nobody would get it.