basically, sound. reporter: it sounds a bit like how dolphins communicate. they use sound waves. these modems will use the same techniques to talk to each other. he s trying to communicate to this guy. reporter: modems transmitting data from underwater to a modem on the surface, then to a laptop and to a cell phone anywhere in the world. did you get names? we did. for an experiment in which we have one of the spears that communicate. reporter: then it s into the water. so what happens now? so this will send a message under water, and bob will transmit these data to the internet. reporter: after a few moments, a message. first via laptop welcome, cnn. reporter: then the mobile. this is the message i was waiting for. so when everything works, we re like, kind of, whew! that s it. we got it. reporter: today lake erie.
will it work? we went out to lake erie to test the system. you do that through electromagnetic waves, through water, it is acoustic waves, basically, sound. reporter: it sounds a bit like how dolphins communicate, they use sound waves, these modems will use the same technology, modems transmitting data from under water to a surface, or to a laptop or cell phone anywhere in the world. did you give them names? we did, we have the experiment, the ones that will communicate with bob. reporter: then, it is into the water. so what happens now? so it will send a message from under water, and transfer this data to the internet. reporter: after a few moments a message, first via laptop,
work. they hope the technology will improve tsunami detection and security surveillance. but will it work? we went out to lake erie to test the science behind it. when you communicate wirelessly through air you do that through eelectromagnetic waves. when you communicate wirelessly through water you do it through acoustic waves, basically sound. reporter: it sounds a bit like how dolphins communicate, they use sound waves, these modems will use the same technology. he is trying to transmit to these guys. reporter: modems transmitting data from under water to a surface or a laptop or cell phone anywhere in the world. did you give them names? we did, we have the experiment, the ones that will communicate with bob. reporter: then, it is into