Methods and systems are provided for identifying entities and communicating using lightweight and wearable free space optical systems. A variety of optical and electronic elements are used to enable communications and identification in an environment where identification and communication must be accomplished to address a variety of constraints. Such constraints can include frequency congested environments or environments in which communication should be done using non radio frequency (RF) systems. Embodiments include converting data into optical signals that are transmitted using a laser which are received by optical receivers and converted into audio output.