The novel class of optical modulators can make data transfer over optical fiber communication faster and more efficient.
Whether you’re battling foes in a virtual arena or collaborating with colleagues across the globe, lag-induced disruptions can be a major hindrance to seamless communication and immersive experiences.
That’s why researchers with UCF’s College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL) and the University of California, Los Angeles, have developed new technology to make data transfer over optical fiber communication faster and more efficient.
Speed of light in glass is 33% slower than in free space.
Regardless, in most scenarios that people notice latency it’s from sitting in router buffers, slow CPUs, bad software, and slow last mile. All of those things are fixable, so tricks to lower the fundamental latency floor, like laser beams in space, is pretty neat.