The Institute of Physics (IOP) Launches new Accelerator Centre with Li-Fi Technology

The Institute of Physics

The Institute of Physics, also known as IOP, is a scientific charity that works for the advancement of physics education, research and application. It was established in 1874 and has a worldwide membership of over 50,000. The IOP supports physics in education, research and industry. The IOP provides services to its members including careers advice and professional development and grants the professional qualification of Chartered Physicist (CPhys), as well as Chartered Engineer (CEng) as a nominated body of the Engineering Council. The IOP's publishing company, IOP Publishing, publishes more than 70 academic journals and magazines.

The IOP opens an accelerator centre equipped with Li-Fi equipment in London near Caledonian Road. Li-Fi, also known as "Light Fidelity" is a wireless optical networking technology, which uses light emitting diodes (LEDs) to transmit data. In 2011, professor Harald Haas made a Li-Fi demonstration at the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conference.

Li-Fi is a high speed, bidirectional, and fully networked wireless communication of data using light. Li-Fi is made of several light bulbs that form a wireless network. In simple words, Li-Fi is the internet through Light. You can watch the video below to see how Li-Fi works.

The IOP's head of science and innovation, Anne Crean stated that the technology was a potential game-changer moving forward.

She further stated: "We're all so connected now using the internet and downstreaming videos that there's going to be a big data crunch soon and not enough bandwidth for Wi-Fi to work (known as the spectrum crunch).

"That's why we're moving out into different frequencies such as light.

"In the future you could be in an office and you wouldn't need a router - it would all be built into the lighting system and you would communicate from the lights.

"It's an exciting, disruptive technology that might impact on business and the public for years to come."

"Security-wise you can't tap into it," added Anne. "Wi-Fi leaks through the wall because it uses radio frequency but light doesn't - it's very much a bi-directional communication so secret spies can't tap in!"

The IOP sees the new Accelerator centre as another platform to develop its ties with the Islington community. It already partners with local schools and desires to grow the industry's employment opportunities in the borough.

Anne said: "It's here to help entrepreneurs, start-ups and middle-sized organisations come together, network, collaborate and share intelligence.

"It can help them access funding or for instance put them in touch with someone knowledgeable about bank loans, or perhaps even develop a partnership with the local university.

"The idea is that an organisation's growth will be even greater at the centre because they'll benefit from all the institute's networks."

IOP Li-Fi Launch with pureLiFi

On Thursday 16th May 2019, the International Day of Light, the IOP and pureLiFi will unveil the cutting edge Li-Fi technology in the IOP’s new Accelerator Centre.

This is the first in a series of physics innovation talks being introduced at the IOP aimed at researchers in the field, potential users, as well as inspiring innovators taking tech to market. The inaugural physics innovation talk will be done by Professor Harald Haas from the University of Edinburgh, co-founder of pureLiFi, the leaders in Li-Fi technology, and one of the IOP’s 2017 Business Award winners.

Professor Haas will speak about the journey of building a technology company in the UK starting from a few researchers in a lab to the growing scale-up it is today with more than 130 deployments across more than 24 countries. Haas will speak about the fundamental advantages of Li-Fi. He will illustrate a vision for Li-Fi and how this revolutionary light communications technology will transform the way the world connects and how it will enable other disruptive technologies and applications. Haas will share a few case studies of where Li-Fi is making a difference for industries and communities today.

pureLiFi is a pioneering Li-Fi company engaged in the research and development of Li-Fi and visible light communication technologies. pureLiFi seeks to resolve the global struggle for diminishing wireless capacity resulting in the Spectrum Crunch. The company is currently developing and delivering technology for secure, reliable, high-speed communication networks that seamlessly integrate data and lighting utility infrastructures and significantly reduce energy consumption.

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