I wonder what they did, though. Because the article is omitting most of the interesting details and frames it as if this as if optical communication in itself was something new or disruptive... I mean if I read the Wikipedia article on Long-range optical wireless communication, it seems a bunch of companies have already invested 3digit million sums into solving this exact issue...
Similar “free-space optics” systems have been tested since the late 1990s, but past attempts were limited by weather conditions and fragile alignment systems. Taara claims its devices overcome many of those limitations with improved beam tracking and more resilient design.
They claim they’ve overcome that hurdle though, as per the article.
hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 2 days ago
Cethin@lemmy.zip 2 days ago
Well, most likely they’ll never say what they did to solve it, assuming it is solved. That’s how capitalism works. Everyone tries to keep innovation secret, so we have to invent the same thing dozens of times.
hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 2 days ago
Nah, all it takes is one person buying it, disassemble it and look at the mechanics to see whether there are things like motors and mirrors inside the transmitter. And I mean physics, lenses and near infraread lasers along with signal processing are well-understood as well. I think it won't be a big secret once it turns into a real thing... I mean as long as it's hype only it might be.
Cethin@lemmy.zip 2 days ago
Maybe, though processes and algorithms won’t be copied easily legally. If they did some special coating to lenses or something, or if they have a really smart algorithm to correct for different effects, those are protected by law. You can examine it and try to replicate it, but you can’t copy it.
lnxtx@feddit.nl 2 days ago
Okay, photo taken (by Gabriele Barni) from 17.1177 km (claimed metric kilometers) straight distance to the buildings: Image
.You can imagine how wobbly the image was.
How to compensate it? Wide, powerful beam? Gonna be blinded by an invisible light?
Quote from the video:
This is as simple as a digital camera with a laser pointer.
Powderhorn@beehaw.org 2 days ago
claimed metric kilometers
As opposed to imperial, customary or nautical kilometres?
lnxtx@feddit.nl 2 days ago
Yes
masterspace@lemmy.ca 2 days ago
Yes, but the article is literally nothing without that information.
The only interesting thing about a new approach to laser internet is if they’ve solved the critical issue holding it back.