Send data over sound: Is it possible?

Download PC Repair Tool to quickly find & prepare Windows errors automatically

There are iii mainstream data transfer methods equally of now: the radio waves; copper/cobweb conductor; and Bluetooth. The latter has a very pocket-size range and is too slow for information transmission and hence can exist dismissed. The fiber conductors likewise need physical wires to exist placed all over the state to exist continued. It is possible but it is not feasible to connect almost of the sub-urban areas and particularly the rural areas lying far off the master cities and hence cannot be considered a practiced medium if we are to think about long-term data transmission.

Microsoft has been trying to use the TV signals' whitespace (space left between two bandwidths) for providing Internet to remote areas. While information technology is a good thought, I approximate if information technology pays attention to data over sound, many remote areas volition have ameliorate coverage. Read on to know how.

Radio Waves and WiFi are harmful

GPS and Wi-Fi utilize radio waves. While Wi-Fi has limits, radio waves don't and that is why they are used for GPS. They are present everywhere and tin travel fast to whatever area provided there are not many physical obstructions. Plus they can transmit in all directions and hence are pop for broadcasting. Simply radio waves are harmful. Some alternatives must exist that tin can become united states of america rid of harmful cellular waves and Wi-Fi signals. I was following the use of light (photons) every bit a carrier for data but at that place has been no breakthrough every bit still. But I came across a number of enquiry papers when I decided to wait into sound as a carrier for data and this folio shares my understanding of the research.

Send Data over Audio – Advantages

To begin counting the advantages when y'all send data over sound, they are not harmful to living beings. Ultra-high frequencies (inaudible to human ears may be harmful but I practise not know how harmful they can be). Lower frequencies are much better – they won't damage humans and can travel much further owing to larger amplitudes. Like radio waves, they also travel in all directions and can be used easily for broadcasting.

The negative that I encounter is that the audio waves need a carrier for themselves – air, water, metal conductors so cannot exist used in space or vacuum. That'southward the only drawback and hence they may not be useful for GPS. Other than that, they can be perfect carriers for information without harming anyone with dangerous radiations as the radio waves and do. To know the extent of damage we are exposing ourselves to, read our commodity on hazards of cellphone.

Using Sound to Send Data over Audio

There can be 3 implementations to transport data over sound. Y'all can use amplitude modulation, stage modulation and frequency modulation. Out of all these three, amplitude modulation seems more feasible as it can exist sent over low frequencies that are inaudible to homo ears and thus, won't create any humming audio or other distractions. Aamplitude modulation likewise ways sending information over longer areas every bit the sound waves with longer wavelength can easily bypass physical obstructions.

Since the digital information is binary, data can be easily mounted to sound waves by creating a short audio to indicate a 0 and a long audio to point the 1. At the receiving finish, demodulation (a modem) tin can exist used to decode the message.

It is not that this is yet to be implemented. Companies in the area are already researching the cause to transport data over sound and some have seen success though not consummate. There are a number of issues, such as getting rid of additional sounds that the information may confront while travelling on modulated audio waves. There may exist attenuation and noise problems that have to be worked upon.

I would similar to give the example of a startup called chirp (chirp.io). It uses bird sounds for transferring information. It was crowdfunded and was overfunded by 118%. They have developed a system that you tin can get on Google Play or for iOS. The app is not yet available for Windows phone.

Information technology is not necessary that you need to have an audible audio. The all-time method to send data over sound would exist to employ inaudible frequencies and depression amplitudes that can span buildings and other obstructions so that they can reach far off places. Of class, we'll need repeaters at places if the distance is too long. But information technology will still be better than using a balloon to provide Internet as sounds are everywhere unlike the balloons that are stationary for six months and motility over to other places leaving the Cyberspace-fond people with nothing until the balloon comes back. Hope Microsoft works on this aspect of data transmission and comes upward with something revolutionary.

Arun Kumar is a Microsoft MVP alumnus, obsessed with technology, peculiarly the Net. He deals with the multimedia content needs of training and corporate houses. Follow him on Twitter @PowercutIN