Complaining about slow Wi-Fi speeds is so 2017. At CES 2018, Oledcomm debuted what it claims is the first Li-Fi-connected object in the world. It’s called MyLiFi, and it offers wireless, radio wave-free internet at the speed of light, and all from an attractive LED lamp. Promising to revolutionize internet access and provide “controlled access to families, unprecedented confidentiality to professionals, a lag-free gaming experience, and radio wave-free internet to all,” this is one lamp that hopes to light up your life in more ways than one. Plus, you can control this light source with your voice, regardless of whether you speak French or English.
Li-Fi, or Light Fidelity, is a new technology that connects mobile devices and other internet-enabled objects by way of LED lights. Li-Fi transmits data by modulating light signals emitted by an LED light bulb — in essence, providing the internet through light. Said to be far faster than traditional Wi-Fi, Li-Fi has no need for radio or electromagnetic waves and claims to be supremely secure due to its imperceptible signal.
“Just as clean energies are displacing fossil fuels and propelling us towards a world of responsible innovation, light is now replacing radio waves to provide a safe, a people- and eco-friendly internet connection,” said Benjamin Azoulay, CEO of Oledcomm. “MyLiFi marks the start of a new era in connectivity.”
While Li-Fi has apparently been around since 2005, it’s never been made widely available to the public. Instead, Li-Fi has been mainly applied in the public realm, helping blind people navigate transportation systems, transmitting medical information in hospitals, and even measuring wait times in supermarkets. But now, MyLiFi is bringing the technology to the home.
The LED light is designed to be flexible, and its LED light beam can be pointed in any direction. The color temperature ranges from cold white to warm orange, and its brightness can be adjusted. The sleek and modern design hopes to blend in with any home decor, which is to say that MyLiFi ought to combine form and function.
MyLiFi will be compatible with a new MyLiFi Chatbot, which currently works with Google (and soon, Alexa as well). That means you will be able to turn on, turn off, set schedules, color temperature, and intensity of the lamp using only your voice.
While these all sound like great features, it appears that MyLiFi won’t come to market unless it manages to raise sufficient funds on Kickstarter. Thus far, it has garnered just under 20 percent of its goal with 11 days left in its campaign, and of course, you want to exercise caution before throwing your support behind the lamp. MyLiFi is currently offering early bird pricing at $861, with delivery expected for July.
Updated on February 26: MyLiFi now speaks (or understands) both English and French and is live on Kickstarter.
Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.
Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.
With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.
Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.