What are the Advantages of infrared spectroscopy?

IR Advantages:

Low power requirements: therefore ideal for laptops, telephones, personal digital assistants

Low circuitry costs: $2-$5 for the entire coding/decoding circuitry

Simple circuitry: no special or proprietary hardware is required, can be incorporated into the integrated circuit of a product

Higher security: directionality of the beam helps ensure that data isn't leaked or spilled to nearby devices as it's transmitted

Portable

Few international regulatory constraints: IrDA (Infrared Data Association) functional devices will ideally be usable by international travelers, no matter where they may be

High noise immunity: not as likely to have interference from signals from other devices