Future of computer technology in the home and wireless networking.

Even though wireless network technology is easy, cheap, and extremely useful, don't forget that it is a relatively new technology. Let's now examine what we can expect to happen in the future of computer technology in the home.

The Radio and the Phone

Wireless networks will always be preferred compared to the wired ones, because it is cheaper for signals to pass through the free air than it is to have wires being installed and then also maintained. Just think of telephones that were originally used for sending and receiving news reports. When radio came out, this changed almost immediately.

The same applies for computer networking. Why would you choose wired networks? Because it's cheaper? That is going to change soon.

Because you are used to it? Believe me, wireless is much simpler. So, there's really no reason why someone would stick to wired networks.

WiMAX

While wireless networking today uses the standard called 802.11, WiMAX is 802.16 -- the next generation of wireless. Even if there's still a lot of work to be done, the possibilities are already very exciting.

WiMAX means Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, and is intended to complement current wireless equipment instead of replacing it.

The greatest strength of WiMAX is its greatly enlarged range . you will need to use square miles to measure WiMAX ranges instead of square yards! According to some, the most powerful WiMAX stations could have a range of over 30 miles (50 kilometers)!

This clearly marks the beginning of a series of new possibilities. Wireless access becomes MANs: Metropolitan Area Networks, that cover entire towns or cities with wireless access. The question wouldn't be whether you can find a hotspot in your local area, but which of the multitude of WiMAX networks you wish to connect to.

Other advantages include increased speed, more precisely up to 70Mbps (almost 10 MB per second), and improved security.

Imagine a world where you can order Internet access by simply connecting your existing wireless equipment to the network, open your web browser, and buy a cheap subscription. No more need for access points, routers, configuration... only wireless Internet. What an innovation!

To find out more about WiMAX, go to WiMAX Weblog at http://wimax.weblogsinc.com, or visit the WiMAX Forum (a non-profit industry group set up to promote WiMAX) at http://www.wimaxforum.org. WiMAX has started to be developed in 2001, and the first WiMAX equipment is expected to be launched as soon as the end of 2005.

Bluetooth in Everything

While Bluetooth is primarily designed to replace USB, it can also replace almost every wire you need to use (except power cables). This means that in the future you could connect your TV to your DVD player by Bluetooth, or your speakers to your radio, etc.

As time goes by, you should expect to see a decreasing number wires out there. Even if people are often cautious when it comes to abandoning things they are used to, like in the case of paper, I am sure that no one would rather choose to have wires running all over their houses.

A Simpler Life

When you read about all the advantages of wireless technology, one thing seems to be always highlighted: it all seems so convenient.

Wires have so many disadvantages, especially when long distances are involved. Well, the whole wireless project can actually eliminate them from our lives! Isn't that a major revolution?

Let me predict something: in a matter of a few years, wireless access will make everyone's life much simpler, and they won't even realize it's there. That's what the future of wireless is. Will I see you there?

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