Wires getting in the way? Bluetooth
may be the answer for you. This emerging technology is helping computer
users to shed the wires for good. Bluetooth is a communications
system where two devices talk to each other by low-intensity radio
signal. This innovation has proven to be inexpensive, accessible,
and carry advantages over other wireless communication protocols
like infrared. Signals do not require line of sight, so the devices
can be behind walls or furniture. Depending on the device, the signal
can travel as far as 60 feet.
To be Bluetooth-enabled, each device
needs a chip, which includes a tiny circuit and radio transmitter.
Most products have the chip pre-installed. All you'll need to do
is ensure the Bluetooth function is turned on. The devices must
be paired. This is the process where two devices are instructed
to trust and communicate automatically with each other. After this
initial pairing, the devices will communicate with each other whenever
they are in range. Multiple devices can be set up to talk with each
other at the same time.
Perhaps the most exciting use for
Bluetooth is connecting a printer. The biggest obstacle is obtaining
a Bluetooth-capable printer, but Hewlett-Packard and Lexmark are
leading the way by developing multifunction models in the $300-350
price range. Bluetooth printers free up a laptop user to move around
the home or office and print from wherever they might be sitting.
Bluetooth printers also offer a convenient work-around for networked
printing. Multiple computers can use a single printer without having
to set up a hard-wire network, an invaluable situation for offices
with little in-house IT expertise. Bluetooth is making laptop computers
even more portable. Devices like printers, mice, and digital cameras
can be connected without wires.
Bluetooth founds its first widespread
use in cell phone earpieces. These earpieces enabled cell phone
users to keep their hands free without the hassle of wires. Bluetooth
earpieces have another emerging use for telecommunications over
the internet. Newer VOIP services like Skype or Google Talk can
be used in conjunction with a Bluetooth earpiece. This eliminates
the need for a phone base or wires of any kind.
Bluetooth will no doubt develop further
as more machines and devices adopt the technology. With the proliferation
of the technology come safety considerations for users. Devices
should be kept in non-discoverable mode during daily life. This
ensures that nearby people with Bluetooth capability won't be able
to hijack your device. Another concern is the device's ability to
be found by thieves travelling nearby. For example, the Bluetooth
function of a cell phone or laptop computer should be turned off
when the device is being stored in a car or a hotel room. A potential
thief may be able to find that there is a Bluetooth (and therefore,
expensive) device locked inside. Most important is the prohibition
of using Bluetooth while on an airplane. Since Bluetooth is a radio
signal, it has a real possibility of interfering with the operation
of the aircraft. Devices should be completely powered down (not
put to sleep) when the pilot announces that electronic device need
to be stowed.
