High-Speed Data Link Made from Laser Pointers Works Where Wi-Fi Won't

Wi-Fi isn’t always practical--in places like hospitals or labs, for instance, where radio transmitters are prohibited--and physical USB cables can be slow and cumbersome as well. Engineers at National Taipei University of Technology have built a low-cost, easy to implement optical setup that can beam data's across the room twice as fast as USB 2.0 technology using conventional laser pointers. This only cost about $600 and  build and employs the green and red laser pointers for conference rooms. By replacing these batteries in the lasers with a power sources it can switch them on and off rapidly about 500 million times per second rapidly. A two-laser rig can beam a billion bits per second across roughly 30 feet. If you combine these, the signals roughly double the data rate of USB 2.0 or Wi-Fi, and could link together systems in portable labs or medical centers, or simply make it easier to set up networks in places where radio signals might interfere with other equipment.

Links: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-05/high-speed-data-link-made-laser-pointers-works-where-wi-fi-wont
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