The Visible Light Communications Consortium is proposing using light emitting diodes to transmit data traffic at high speeds up to 10 meters.

With the technology, a person trapped in a building could hold up a mobile phone to a ceiling light, and rescuers would be able to pinpoint his or her exact location. Similarly, cars could exchange information through headlights and taillights, and car computer systems could tell drivers if there were major stalls ahead.

LEDs emit bright light, consume little power and should replace most light bulbs in the next five to 10 years.

Only LEDs designed with communication in mind will offer sharp performance of data transfer. White LEDs can send information at 80 megabits per second, while red and green ones can shuttle data at 200 megabits per second and 500 megabits per second, respectively.

The group is holding demos at CEATEC , a tech show held this week in Japan. They presented headphones that play a different musical tunes depending on the color of the lights beaming on the wearer. People also played games by aiming their cell phone screens at targets on a TV a few feet away.

A lot of work remains. All of the prototypes, for instance, require a clean line of sight between the transmitter and receiver. And “Although there are no concrete plans right now for making it into a standard, some companies are very serious, ” say Shinichiro Haruyama, Keio University professor.

Via News.com.

Pics via Asahi RFID in Japan.