I remarked in a recent post on the fact that LEDs are appearing in a number of applications such as traffic lights and automotive signal lights. This was interesting enough, but it turns out that there are possibilities for communications using those same devices. Specifically, a traffic light and headlights could communicate via pulses invisible to human eyes to better manage traffic at intersections. The same communications could allow network access between a reading light and a laptop computer, although it would seem that shadows would be a problem there.

Research on these and other possibilities are being researched at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and was reported in a recent AP report on CNN.

Granted, some of the applications seem a bit contrived. I can see a few applications for communications systems that are stopped by walls, but it seems likely that these would be the exception rather than the rule. The automotive applications seem like the ones that make the most sense. They obviously are dependent on some significant infrastructure investment, but I can see them working. What do you think?

Larry Mittag