Dr Waisu Popoola, University of Edinburgh

LiFi is the science of rapidly switching a visible light source (LED or laser), whose primary purpose is for lighting, to achieve wireless connectivity and lighting simultaneously. Thus, LiFi turns a passive light source into a dynamic internet access hub with opportunities to improve existing services, introduce new ones and fulfil our ever-growing demand for fast wireless connectivity. Therefore, LiFi is a low-cost and low-energy technology that complements the conventional radio frequency-based wireless internet communication in sustaining the global socio-economic activities.

However, light can cause visual, biological and physiological disorders that must be avoided in LiFi. Therefore, how can LiFi be safe and ethical with no switching-light induced health hazards? How can LiFi be designed/optimised to avoid any phototoxicity and safeguard users’ wellbeing? These are the questions to be addressed with this fellowship. To achieve this, I will be investigating any biochemical oxidative stress effects instigated by modulated light on the visual/non-visual receptors in humans, the inter-relationship between modulated-light induced phototoxicity, lighting requirements and data transmission.

The proposed ethic-centric approach is radical and in total contrast to the traditional technology-centric methodology in which technological innovations and ethical considerations evolve separately, with ethics often playing catch-up.