Li-Fi is the powerful replacement in wireless technology

Image courtesy of Sam Churchill at Flickr.com

Wireless is a term used to describe telecommunications in which electromagnetic waves, rather than wires, carry the signal over part or all of the communication path. Wireless communication is among technology’s biggest contributions to mankind. The transmitted distance can be anywhere between a few meters (for example, a television’s remote control) and thousands of kilometers (for example, radio communication).

One of the popular wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed Internet and network connections is Wi-Fi. This technology is supported by many applications and devices including video game consoles, home networks, PDAs, mobile phones, major operating systems, and other types of consumer electronics. You probably have heard of Wi-Fi, now you need to hear about Li-Fi. Still in the nascent stage, this new technology could change how you use the Internet. It’s much faster than existing Wi-Fi tech, it’s more energy efficient, and potentially more secure as well.

To read more about wireless technology, follow the link: Wireless Communication

Harold Haas is the biggest proponent of Li-Fi, a professor at The University of Edinburgh, and founder of the company pureLiFi, which is trying to bring the technology into real world markets. When Wi-Fi uses radio waves, by comparison, this technology is dependent entirely on light, specifically LED bulbs. In a way, it’s the next step in connected lighting. In the simplest terms, Li-Fi transfers data over light waves.

Li-Fi is a wireless optical networking technology that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for data transmission. 

Li-Fi is designed to use LED light bulbs similar to those currently in use in many energy-conscious homes and offices. However, Li-Fi bulbs are outfitted with a chip that modulates the light imperceptibly for optical data transmission. Li-Fi data is transmitted by the LED bulbs and received by photoreceptors.

You might be worried about how all that flickering in an office environment would drive you crazy, don’t worry, we’re talking LEDs that can be switched on and off at speeds imperceptible to the naked eye. And now, scientists have taken Li-Fi out of the lab for the first time, trialing it in offices and industrial environments in Tallinn, Estonia, reporting that they can achieve data transmission at 1GB per second, that's 100 times faster than current average Wi-Fi speeds. In April 2014, the Russian company Stins Coman announced the development of a Li-Fi wireless local network called BeamCaster. Their current module transfers data at 1.25 gigabytes per second but they foresee boosting speeds up to 5GB/second in the near future. In 2014 a new record was established by Sisoft (a Mexican company) that was able to transfer data at speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s across a light spectrum emitted by LED lamps.

The technology could also solve a growing problem with wireless communication systems: the radio frequency spectrum is overcrowded and we’re running out of space. The visible light spectrum is 10,000 times bigger, so Li-Fi is well placed to become the next generation of wireless communications.

Don Burns highlights some of the benefits of Li-Fi: Higher speeds than Wi-Fi; 10000 times the frequency spectrum of radio; more secure because data cannot be intercepted without a clear line of sight; prevents piggybacking (unauthorized access of a wireless LAN); eliminates neighboring network interference; unimpeded by radio interference; and does not create interference in sensitive electronics, making it better for use in environments like hospitals and aircraft.

There is always assumed to be a downside. An Estonian startup recently tested a commercial implementation of Li-Fi and found it to be superior to Wi-Fi in almost every way. The technology uses protocols, with additional standards to eliminate the impacts of interference and impacts of ambient lighting. 

Image courtesy of pinelife at Flickr.com

Despite this, however, natural light interferes with the technology, so it can’t be used outdoors (even near windows) or in other odd conditions. Visible light cannot travel through walls, an essential factor which gives old-school Wi-Fi a huge advantage. This line-of-sight limitation does make the system more secure and gives better control over emissions, but it is unclear what the minimum distance for signal reception would be if clear line-of-sight is achieved. With that in mind, it is easy to imagine the signal being intercepted by someone with a telephoto lens and an optical sensor tuned appropriately. While Li-Fi was touted as a possible channel for wireless communications on airplanes, widespread adoption of onboard Wi-Fi on most American airlines makes this use case less and less pertinent.

For the time being, all this downsides lead to think that there is one place to use Li-Fi in its current iteration, and it is one cold dark room filled with LED lights. We need to wait for more information and advances regarding this powerful replacement in wireless technology.

Interested in more groundbreaking telecommunication technology? Read about Microsoft Hololens

Prepare Yourself for a Breakthrough in Telecommunications: Microsoft Hololens

Image courtesy of Microsoft Sweden at Flickr.com

Without a doubt, Microsoft Hololens is primed to become the most revolutionary game changer in telecommunications since the internet itself. This breakthrough, unlike any that technology has seen in a long time, has the ability to connect people in three dimensional spaces via a holographic interface. While many are excited about its ability to immerse its users into the world of digital space, it behooves us to consider the implications it will have on telecommunication. 

In order to stay ahead of the curve it is important to understand how to use its strengths and weaknesses both to our advantage.

If you want to know more about this innovative device, visit the website https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-hololens/en-us

Strengths 

Hololens will take teleconferences and video conferences to a whole new level:

Two people on opposite sides of the globe will be able to sit down in front of each other and literally manipulate objects inside the same room creating a far more interactive environment than video conferences. For example, collaborating architects, engineers, fashion designers will be able to visualize their designs in 3D and interact with the worksite being at two different places. Concerning business operations, there will be greater work collaboration in the working world. It will benefit business owners, transactions and trainings. Also, virtual learning will be able to reach heights previously unfathomed. You will be able to create a classroom as if the student and the teacher were really there.

The money and time issue:

Imaging the time and money that this aspect of Hololens alone will create. Think about the time business owners and individuals will save on packing, waiting at airports, long layovers or flights; no more energy wasted on arranging hotels and transportation. Money of course factors in here as well: travel and hotel expenses will be available for other things such as employee bonuses, sales incentives and other perks.

Collaborative work:

Hololens will also increase collaborative efforts to solving global and local problems. Designers and engineers are not the only ones benefited by this technology. It will facilitate scientists, community and global leaders’ efforts to solve problems affecting society on both small and large scale.

Online gaming:

with a more immersive platform, users will be eager to invest more money on acquiring a device like this that can provide a much more exciting, physical experience. Online gamers will be able to manipulate objects, talk to virtual characters, enjoy exploration and activity, while communicating with other gamers around the world.

Limitations

There are, however, limitations to this technology.

Online traffic Jam:

Image courtesy of Geospatial World at Flickr.com

At the beginning internet may have to find a way to broaden the space because of the amount of data that will be streamed online. Hololens is likely to provide gigabytes of information in a very short amount of time, and streaming technology has yet to reach that capability for thousands of users at a time. This may create lagging or static field images until service providers catch up, and this may prove costly for internet builders.

Widespread use:

Hololens will not be able to reach its full potential until its use becomes widespread. The idea is great but risky if Microsoft is not able to convince its target market that Hololens is more a necessity than an accessory.

Cost:

Microsoft has been very secretive about the price so it is probably going to cost a pretty penny. This is also a determining factor in Microsoft’s new product’s survival. Most windows’ software is also expensive. Therefore, if Microsoft does not find a way to guarantee affordable software or applications, this may turn users off. For large companies money may not be an object when obtaining this shiny new toy, but smaller businesses and individuals will want to know that Microsoft has them in mind as well.
Dependence:

with such an innovative and entertaining way to communicate it will be all too easy to get lost in the world of augmented reality. In the age of advanced technology, both adults and children find it difficult to stay connected with their physical surroundings. People will have to make a conscious effort not to allow augmented reality to sever our connection to the real world.

Intrusion into your personal life:

technologies that connect people tend to steal time away from a person’s personal life. Be careful not to give license to these intruders.

In conclusion, it is important to anticipate how to keep up with new technological breakthroughs like this one. The challenge we face is using its strengths to our advantage while we find solutions to the issues its limitations may create.

If you want to read Don Burns’ last post, click here

Silent Circle, the company that turns your privacy into a business

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There is no more to it. Privacy and security in communications has to be included within the public and private security plans of organizations and individuals. Silent Circle is a company founded from the need for a new form of digital privacy. It was created in 2011 when Mike Janke, former member of the US Navy; and Phil Zimmerman, creator of PGP (Pretty Good Privacy), met with the idea of developing a new, safer version of Skype.

From this they summoned the other co-founders: Jon Callas, creator of Apple's encryption software, and Vincent Moscaritolo to found the company, in 2014, with the launch of the first phone designed to protect the privacy and digital safety of users. Its name: the BlackPhone.

To reinforce their commitment to the privacy of information, in 2014 they moved their headquarters to Geneva (Switzerland) since this is considered one of the countries with a stronger legislation to protect the privacy of information and, therefore, its customers’.

After four years of operation in Europe and the US, the company committed to emerging markets, targeting Mexico and the rest of Latin America. This is a region that has all elements at play when it comes to security, but there is still work to be done regarding the awareness of risks that exist and how much of the users contributions play a part in being at risk.

Privacy and security in communications must be included within the security plan of organizations and individuals. This initial phase should provoke a cultural and organizational change. Prevention is always the best tool when it comes to crises. The lack of privacy and security can bring financial and reputational losses to both organisations and individuals.

Silent Circle wants to work for the privacy of Latin American markets and their people. They will focus in carrying their message to CEOs or CTOs, as well as the whole society by talking about the risks that exist today in mobile environments. And at the operational level, within organizations, for them to understand the current severity of implementing these policies.

Over the past few years, losses have been reported due to leakages or theft of information equivalent to more than 156 billion dollars. But we should keep in mind that this risk is for companies, organizations and the end consumer. It's not about restricting, but raising awareness and giving people the right tools for them to have a professional and personal balance without losing connectivity or sacrificing functionality.

Image courtesy of Jon Callas at Flickr.com

In this scenario, Silent Circle offers the first platform designed for the privacy of individuals, which is composed of their mobile device, the BlackPhone 2 and the software Silent OS, and the Silent Phone, along with services that add value such as the Silent Manager. The purpose of each of the components of this platform is to provide private and secure communications to the users.

Silent OS the operating system which is exclusive to the BlackPhone 2. It is based on Android but it's designed to address the current concerns about the privacy and safety of users. This means there won't be any leakages of information. The operating system gives users control of their personal, work and family privacy without sacrificing their lifestyles.

Blackphone 2 is the device that provides extra levels of security, such as the Security Center to give absolute control over the personal information that apps request on the mobile device.

The potential markets

The company got to Mexico with an aggressive plan. Seeking to consolidate in that country and then opening to other markets in order to meet the needs of digital privacy and security of the region, it includes staffing and business partners that allows them to develop and effectively execute their operations, which in turn directly affects job creation.

Thanks to their portfolio, the company works hand in hand with the constant needs of private entities, government or whoever handles sensitive information in a more frequent way that has an impact on their organizations. In addition, at the moment, they believe they have an offer and a solution that penetrates different niches and contemplates the growing need for privacy and security of communications and the information in society. This allows them to position themselves in the various Latin American markets and consumer preferences.

How will the BlackPhone be marketed?

The company started operations in its first phase with just one mobile carrier, but it will subsequently do it with the rest of the carriers. The phone is intended for all users, not just businesses, as it provides all the functionality of the best smartphones in the industry and it adds an important piece of privacy and information security and communications. This gives them a very broad spectrum of consumers and they are not limiting functionality or connectivity to their daily lives, but they protect them through the Silent OS and their communications platform, Silent Phone, at the highest level, both information management and communications.

Telecommunication trends: what you need to know to make profit

Image courtesy of Peter Harrison at Flickr.com

The modern world is propelled by the power of Telecommunications, which is the exchange of information over significant distances by electronic means. A complete, single telecommunications circuit consists of two stations, each equipped with a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter and receiver at any station may be combined into a single device called a transceiver. The medium of signal transmission can be electrical wire or cable (also known as "copper"), optical fiber or electromagnetic fields. The free-space transmission and reception of data by means of electromagnetic fields is called wireless.

To better understand this wide concept, lets analyze the simplest form of telecommunication, which takes place between two stations. However, it is common for multiple transmitting and receiving stations to exchange data among themselves. Such an arrangement is called a telecommunications network. The Internet is the largest example. On a smaller scale, examples include: Corporate and academic wide-area networks (WANs), Telephone networks, Police and fire communications systems, Taxicab dispatch networks, and Groups of amateur radio operators.

For businesses to remain competitive, they must monitor the latest telecommunications developments and adapt their products and services to meet marketplace demands. Small and medium businesses phone service buyers can find significant cost savings and employee productivity gains when choosing suppliers and technologies. Associated advances in technology, make telecommunications even more critical for SMBs. Global spending on cloud, mobile, social and big data technologies and solutions in 2016 will be growing to more than $3.8 trillion by 2019.

In order to remain competitive in their industries, SMBs need to consider four telecommunication trends that will allow them to make profit and take advantage of the changing technologies.

Information Technology and Telecommunications Convergence

Telecommunications convergence is the way distinct services are merged into single networks. For example, devices such as smartphones that offer voice calls, web access, video, productivity applications and more. In this, Internet is the way information is relayed across networks, and the cloud storage and computing services the massive deluge of data have spawned, foundational for businesses today. Cloud computing is the one with more increasing relevance because the cloud enables the use of all web based tools and applications, from smartphone apps to business basics, such as video conferencing. The cloud is third party, offsite storage and processing of data, in massive. SMBs can purchase their data storage and processing, from a “cloud” provider, avoiding huge capital costs and ensuring access to the latest storage and processing technologies.

The Rise of the App Economy

In the last year alone, an estimated 180 billion applications were downloaded globally. But what originated as an Information Technology catchphrase for smartphone tools has a much deeper meaning for business productivity. Business intelligence applications delivered through telecom systems, such as video conferencing and unified communications, help employees work collaboratively, increase their efficiency and optimize overall business processes. The potential payoffs are huge. Thanks to Business Intelligence, applications are growing in importance and have the biggest impact on a company’s telecommunications needs. Cloud based voice over Internet Protocol calls, and associated applications let small and medium business reap the benefits of applications that allow unified communications through virtually every business application imaginable. Unified communications applications bring productivity improvements for mobile employees, they can also favorably change ways in which all employees communicate as well as reduce the necessity of travel. And, with the right service partner, these solutions to complex business needs, can be implemented simply and cost effectively.

Cyber Security

Image courtesy of Christiaan Colen at Flickr.com

Cyber security ceased to be optional. Everything from banking and healthcare to education and government, is protecting these digitized networks and the data they hold is critical. Cybercrime is crime that involves a computer and a network, with the computer being used in the commission of a crime, or being be the target Cybercrime costs are projected to reach $2 trillion by 2019. 

Regulations to protect this sensitive data are substantially increasing and are becoming increasingly complex. This creates a dilemma for SMBs, for whom these expectations may be the same as large companies’ with substantially greater resources: to remain competitive; do they incur the huge costs of self-implementing every possible security protection; or do they just take the risk? Fortunately, SMBs have another choice: obtaining data and network security as a service from a provider with third-party data security certifications, covering the key risk areas and regulatory requirements.

Large telecommunication providers

The fourth trend is that large telecommunication providers are shifting their focus away from small and medium businesses. This market segment requires a greater level of customer service than consumer markets, leaving them out of the sweet spot of most large telecom providers. Selling and servicing SMBs involves a greater number of stakeholders and requires higher and more frequent degrees of touch.

All you need to know about Encrypted Communication basics

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Nearly every computing device we interact with on a daily basis utilizes some form of encryption technology. From smartphones (which can often have their data encrypted), to tablets, desktop, laptops or even your trusty Kindle, encryption is everywhere and it is a good idea to have some notions about this technology and know how to use it in case of need. Let's analyze the basic concepts:

We can define Encryption as the process of encoding messages or information in such a way that only authorized parties can read it. Encryption does not of itself prevent interception, but denies the message content to the interceptor. In an encryption scheme, the intended communication information or message is encrypted using an encryption algorithm. For technical reasons, an encryption scheme usually uses a pseudo-random encryption key generated by an algorithm. It is in principle possible to decrypt the message without possessing the key, but, for a well-designed encryption scheme, large computational resources and skill are required. An authorized recipient can easily decrypt the message with the key provided by the originator to recipients.

When we use the Internet, we're not always just clicking around and passively taking in information, such as reading news articles or blog posts, a great deal of our time online involves sending others our own information. Ordering something over the Internet from an online vendor, or signing up for an online account, requires entering in a good deal of sensitive personal information. A typical transaction might include not only our names, email addresses and physical address and phone number, but also passwords and personal identification numbers. The incredible growth of the Internet has excited businesses and consumers alike with its promise of changing the way we live and work. It's extremely easy to buy and sell goods all over the world while sitting in front of a laptop. But security is a major concern on the Internet, especially when you're using it to send sensitive information between parties.

There is a whole lot of information that we don't want other people to see, such as Credit card information, Social Security numbers, Private correspondence, Personal details, Sensitive company information and Bank account information.

Information security is provided on computers and over the Internet by a variety of methods. A simple but straightforward security method is to only keep sensitive information on removable storage media like portable flash memory drives or external hard drives. But the most popular forms of security all rely on encryption, the process of encoding information in such a way that only the person with the key can decode it.

How does it works?

Encryption is a modern form of cryptography that allows a user to hide information from others. Encryption uses a complex algorithm called a cipher in order to turn normalized data (plaintext) into a series of seemingly random characters (ciphertext) that is unreadable by those without a special key in which to decrypt it. Those that possess the key can decrypt the data in order to view the plaintext again rather than the random character string of ciphertext.

Two of the most widely used encryption methods are Public key (asymmetric) encryption and Private Key (symmetric) encryption.

The Public Key Encryption uses the recipient’s public key as well as a (mathematically) matching private key. With the public key you could enter new information to the storage but you wouldn’t be able to view items already in there, nor would he be able to retrieve anything. The private key is used for encrypting cipher text. On the other hand, with the private key you could open the storage and view all items inside as well as removing them as you see fit by using the matching private key. However you could not add things to the box without having an additional public key.

Image courtesy of Karl Baron at Flickr.com

The Private Key Encryption or symmetric encryption differs from Public Key encryption is in the purpose of the keys themselves. There are still two keys needed to communicate, but each of these keys is now essentially the same. Two users need two different keys, but with them, they both are allowed to encrypt a message as well as decryption it, so they are both allowed to add or remove things from the storage.

We can conclude that Encryption is safe. The amount of time, energy usage and computational cost to crack most modern cryptographic technologies makes the act of attempting to break an encryption (without the key) an expensive exercise that is, relatively speaking, futile. That said, encryption does have vulnerabilities that rest largely outside of the power of the technology. But no matter how secure the encryption, a backdoor could potentially provide access to the private key. This access provides the means necessary to decrypt the message without ever breaking the encryption.

How to encrypt communications to have secure Android calls and text messaging

Image courtesy of Steve Crane at Flickr.com

In the digital age, maintaining your privacy seems to be a never ending battle sometimes. All kinds of companies and organizations have access to your personal data and information, and a few of them can spy on almost all methods of modern communication. 

In an effort to fight this trend, Open Whisper Systems has been at the forefront of encrypted mobile communications for quite some time. Their apps TextSecure and RedPhone, originally an exclusive feature in the CyanogenMod ROM, have brought secure and fully encrypted calls and text messages to smartphone users from all over the world.

With the aim of consolidating both options, Open Whisper Systems combined those two applications for secure communications into a single one, Signal. As a result, your calls and text messages can now take place away from prying eyes by installing a simple application, so we’ll take a look at how to achieve this:

1. Install the Signal app

All of TextSecure and RedPhone’s functionalities have been grouped into a single, open sourced application, called Signal. In order to start having encrypted communications that no one can eavesdrop, open the following link from your Android device to install the application:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.thoughtcrime.securesms

The installation of Signal can be performed, free of charge, from the Google Play Store. If you were previously a user of TextSecure or RedPhone, you'll notice that Signal will be installed as an upgrade to your existing TextSecure application. Basically, the only difference is that Signal provides all of the functionalities of RedPhone plus encrypted SMS, so, if you wish, you can uninstall the RedPhone app once you’re done. Signal is also available on iOS, so your friends and family members who own an iPhone can also use the app on their devices.

2. Activate Signal and import messages

Once you’ve installed Signal for the first time, you will be prompted to register the device. Make sure the phone number is correct, then tap the “Register” button and click “Continue”. From here, an encrypted text message will be sent to your device to automatically complete the registration process. Once you have registered, you will be prompted to set Signal as your default SMS app. Tap the banner at the top of the screen to do this, then press “Yes” in the pop-up. From here, you’ll see a second banner that lets you import existing SMS messages, so touch it if you’d like to have all of your text messages brought to Signal.

3. Invite your friends to join

At this point, app itself is all set, but before you start making calls and sending text messages, you should familiarize yourself with how the system works. Signal can only fully encrypt calls and text messages if both parties in a conversation are using the app. Otherwise, all communications will be carried out via standard connections. To start a secure conversation, press the action button in the lower right corner, then select a contact from the list. If the user you selected doesn’t have the app installed, you’ll be notified and will have the chance to invite him or her to do so. The other party will receive a link to download the Signal app for iOS or Android.

4. Make encrypted calls and send encrypted text messages

Image courtesy of Mister G.C at Flickr.com

Once you have made sure that the other party has installed the Signal app on their device, the text box on the bottom of the screen will say “Send Signal message”. This means that the messages you send to this person will be encrypted end to end, so there is no way for anyone to spy on the conversation. If you wish to make an encrypted call, just find the phone icon at the top of the chat window and make sure it has a small padlock icon superimposed on top of it. If so, simply press the button and the call interface should appear, and the banner at the top of the screen will read “Signal call”, which means that the conversation will be fully encrypted. The little padlock icon may not be displayed on top of the call button on all devices. In some cases, even when both parties have the application installed, the call button might have the lock icon missing and the system’s stock dialer interface is launched instead of Signal’s calling interface. So apparently there are still some rough edges in the app, but these issues should be resolved soon.

Do you feel more comfortable knowing that all of your Android communications can now be encrypted? Hopefully this app will continue to grow, in order to restore people’s peace of mind when it comes to regaining their privacy and the right to protect their personal information and conversations.

Awesome discovery in revolutionary charging technology

Image courtesy of Jorge Franganillo at Flickr.com

Researchers from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, have designed a system of wireless charging for mobile devices, which allow longer distances of charging compared to the actual functioning system, with greater efficiency. This model is developed with materials surrounding the emitter and receiver. The wireless charge in mobile devices is probably one of the technological milestones with more research. Actually, there are already working devices that allow wireless charge, by placing the mobile in a charging base. The next step is to charge the mobile without ever taking it out of the pocket. This step is yet to be reached. But a team in the Physics Department from the Autonomous University of Barcelona developed a system capable of transferring electrical charge with high efficiency, between two separated circuits, using meta-materials. It is a system in experimental phase, should it be optimized and the load applied to mobile devices, it will allow the desired wireless charging at distances greater than today.

The induction phenomenon is the principle that allows the wireless charge for mobile devices, using a special case, adapted to the device and a base connected to the electrical grid. When the mobile is placed on the base, this generates a magnetic field that induces an electrical flow in the case, and without the need of a wire the battery begins to charge.

If the mobile is separated from the base, the energy is not transmitted with sufficient efficiency and battery cannot be charged. The new system developed by the research in Barcelona overcomes limitation. It is constructed with meta-materials that combine layers of ferromagnetic materials, like the magnets, and conducting materials, like copper. The meta-materials surround the emitter and receiver circuits and allow the transference of energy between them at a certain distance, with remarkable efficiency.

Image courtesy of Jim Pennucci at Flickr.com

With the use of the crowns of meta-materials, researchers have managed to increase the transference efficiency up to 35 times in the laboratory. Álvar Sanchez, the director of the research said: “and there is still a lot of room for improvement, since the theory tells us that efficiency can be increased considerably if we optimize the conditions and the experimental design is perfected”. The lead author of the article, Jordi Prat, explained “Surrounding the two circuits with the crowns of meta-materials, has the same effect as bringing them closer, as if the space between them became shorter”. Furthermore, the materials used to build the meta-materials, like copper and ferrite, are very common and easy to find. The early experiments in this direction, to concentrate static magnetic fields, required the use of superconductors, beyond the reach of day to day use for mobile devices. “Instead, with the use of low frequency electromagnetic waves, like the ones with use to transfer energy from one circuit to another, we just need conductors and conventional magnets”. Said Carles Navau.

In the patent process, participated Àlvar Sanchez from the Department of Physics Electromagnetism in UAB, with Academy and ICREA (Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies) researcher Carles Navau, along with Jordi Prat, currently at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Innsbruck (Austria). The device has been patented by the UAB and there are companies from several countries interested in applying this technology. The research was funded by a Producte project of the Generalitat de Catalunya, for ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) and the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.

The already achieved distance: 20 centimeters

A group of scientists from the ITMO University (St. Petersburg) and the Giricond Research Institute (both from Russia) proposed a wireless charging system with transfer efficiency of 80% at a distance of 20 centimeters. This was three months ago. The results were tested experimentally with a light emitter diode, which scientists managed to turn wirelessly. The system replaces the copper coils traditionally used with spherical dielectric resonators made of ceramic material with low loss and high permittivity. This step that prevents loss of metals, achieves greater efficiency.

Another innovation was to use resonant frequencies of higher order modes called magnetic quadrupole (A quadrupole or quadrapole is one of a sequence of configurations of electric charge or current, or gravitational mass that can exist in ideal form, but it is usually just part of a multipole expansion of a more complex structure reflecting various orders of complexity). The group found that the system operation quadrupole mode, rather than in the dipole mode, not only increases the system efficiency, but also makes it less sensitive to random orientation of the transmitter relative to the receiver.

The possibility of random orientation is an important step to achieve wireless charging stations of practical commercial use. Today, the wireless charging requires perfect alignment between the device and the charging base. The quadrupole mode does not require such precision. The researcher Polina Kapitanova stated that “This is just a pioneering work, but our experimental configuration now works with distances up to 20 centimeters and 1 watt of power”.