MASTEAM Speech: "Wireless Connectivity Through Lighting: Potential and Limitations"

Speaker: Mohammad Noshad (Harvard University).

Abstract: Visible light communication (VLC), or so called Li-Fi, is a data communication technique for wireless applications that uses optical energy to provide simultaneously lighting needs and data transmission. This dual-use approach is an alternative technology for Wi-Fi, and can offer energy-efficient connectivity as well as high throughput due to the huge unregulated optical spectrum. Since light is easily contained, VLC systems can also exploit spatial resource reuse to effectively form dense networks. Future applications range from mobile Wi-Fi alternatives for large indoor spaces to vehicular communication networks. Although the potential benefits are phenomenal, there are also substantial limitations that must be considered and resolved to best take advantage of the technology. VLC systems suffer from the limited modulation bandwidth of inexpensive LEDs in addition to intersymbol-interference imposed by channel multipath. Spatial reuse requires complex distribution networks that create data transmission bottlenecks. Lighting features must be preserved, further restricting the VLC system. In this talk we explore the potential of this new technology within the context of practical limitations, and present some visions for the future of VLC.

Bio: Dr Noshad obtained his BSc from Univ. of tabriz (Iran), MSc from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran (Iran), his PhD from the Univ. of Viriginia (USA), and is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Electrical Engineering Department, Harvard University (USA). He is also co-founder and CTO of VLNComm LLC. Dr Noshad's interests include Statistical and Causal Learning, Wireless Optical Communications; High-Dimensional Time-Series Model Selection, and Information and Coding Theory.