Data transmission via visible light is no longer a technological novelty, but it has yet to make its way into consumer's hands. Japanese firm Outstanding Technology is aiming to change that with its Commulight location system, which relies on a pair of receivers to get smartphones and tablets downloading info using photons instead of radio waves. One dongle is of the USB variety, but since most mobile gadgets lack such a socket, there's another that plugs into any device's 3.5mm jack. Each employs a sensor that grabs relevant location-based info from an overhead data-transmitting LED light. According to its maker, Commulight's destined for use as a way to give museum goers exhibit info, to transmit coupons, and even provide precision indoor location services more accurate than GPS or WiFi. Want to know more? Check out the video of tech in action after the break.

Continue reading Outstanding Technology brings visible light communication to phones and tablets via dongle and LEDs

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Tablet PCs

Outstanding Technology brings visible light communication to phones and tablets via dongle and LEDs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Jul 2012 03:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.