LiFi in education

Taking full advantage of the benefits of digital technology in education without latency or radio waves is no longer a utopia. It is a reality made possible by LiFi, a revolutionary technology for wireless communication through light.

Digital technology spearheads education

Digital technology is now an integral part of school education. From kindergarten to university, the world of education has been able to put the opportunities of digital technology at the service of students, pushing back the boundaries of learning and opening the way to new ways of working.

From interactive games for the very young to collaborative work tools for the older students and streaming content for educational purposes, the benefits of using the Internet in education are undeniable.

When familiarity with digital tools is essential in the job market, it seems obvious that the Internet has its place in the school curriculum for students.

Education: towards the end of the radio waves

If the necessity of digital technology in education is no longer to be proven, its use must be subject to precautions. On the one hand, navigation must be supervised and taught good practices at a young age.

On the other hand, it is a question of limiting the exposure of pupils and students to radiofrequency waves coming from WiFi. Still, mostly used as an Internet connection technology in schools.

Indeed, the impact of electromagnetic waves on health – particularly that of children and teenagers in full development – remains a source of concern. Because of the extent of these concerns over the last decade, the “Abeille” law was introduced, relating to sobriety, transparency, information, and consultation on public exposure to electromagnetic waves. Within the framework of the principle of “sobriety of public exposure to electromagnetic fields” established by this law, decided that:

Establishments offering WiFi access to the public (town hall, media library) must mention it using a pictogram at the establishment’s entrance.
Establishments that welcome children under three years old are forbidden to use WiFi in areas reserved for reception, rest, and activities
WiFi must be turned off in elementary school when not in use for educational purposes.

Faced with these regulations, schools have had to rethink the place of the Internet in education. But it is not necessary to give up on the contributions of digital technology in education to protect students from electromagnetic waves. There is a solution to this dilemma: LiFi.

LiFi and education: connectivity without concessions

LiFi, for Light Fidelity, is a connectivity technology using LED light, completely free of radio waves. The result of more than a decade of scientific research, LiFi is a non-harmful, high-performance alternative to WiFi.

While it is not intended to replace WiFi, LiFi is on its way to replacing it wherever radio waves are not desirable. Schools, because they must be safe and healthy learning spaces for the children, teens and young adults who attend them, are prime application locations for LiFi.

But if LiFi solves the problem of electromagnetic waves, it has many other qualities that justify its use in education. That’s why Oledcomm, a pioneer in LiFi, has developed LiFiMAX Education, a custom connectivity offering for the education sector.

The advantages of LiFi in education

A stable and robust connection: Unlike WiFi, LiFi allows an entire classroom to be simultaneously connected to the Internet without causing fluctuations in connection quality. Currently, LiFi can provide 32 students with an optimal connection with a latency of only 0.5 milliseconds.

Ultra-powerful throughput: With data transmission speeds equivalent to fiber optics, LiFi allows students to take full advantage of the best digital educational resources.

A discreet installation for an optimized workspace: clusters of cables, cumbersome, unsightly and dangerous, have no place in the computer room of the future. For LiFi To cover a classroom of 70m², only two Access Points and six ultra-discrete photonic antennas are needed, installed in the ceiling, at the level of the LED lighting network of the infrastructure.

An unmistakable signal: cybersecurity in schools is a priority. The data transmitted by LiFi connection travels only through light, which, unlike radio waves, does not pass through walls. Therefore, technically impossible to hack a LiFi signal from outside the room in which it is installed.