Bluetooth
In
2000, the first Bluetooth capable phone and earpiece hit the market (Bluetooth
SIG). For months after the release of the Bluetooth headset, we
were all freaked out by the people wandering around in public talking to
themselves (Jackson). At
least this is how it appeared to everyone else. I remember looking at a lady
talking to herself and thinking “Oh my God, this lady is crazy or on drugs”.
She noticed I was staring at her and she said “I’m on the phone”. She turned to
show me her earpiece. I smiled and said “Oh good, you’re not crazy”. We both
laughed.
Bluetooth was developed by Ericsson, a large Swedish telecommunications equipment manufacturer. The specification was developed in 1994 by Jaap Haartsen and Sven Mattisson, who were working for Ericsson at the time. The standard for which all Bluetooth capable devices run was formalized by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group in May, 1998. The group was established by Ericsson, IBM, Toshiba, Nokia and Intel. There are more than 11,000 member companies of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. Bluetooth technology was officially introduced in 1998, although it was in development in Scandinavia prior (Shankel). Bluetooth compatible mobile phones didn’t hit the market until 2000 and was then available for consumer purchase (Bluetooth SIG).Both the name "Bluetooth" and the logo associated with it have been trademarked by SIG (Bluetooth Special Interest Group). Numerous companies belong to SIG including Ericsson, IBM, Microsoft, Intel, Nokia, Toshiba and Agere. The SIG trade association continues to work on progressing and researching the use of Bluetooth technology in the computing, automotive, industrial automation and telecommunication industries. The name "Bluetooth" was inspired by Harald Bluetooth, a Danish King who ruled during the 10th century. At first, the name "Bluetooth" was used as a code name for the technology, but eventually became the official name. SIG decided to stick with the name since Bluetooth technology is designed to unite multiple industries, the same way King Bluetooth united Scandinavian Europe during the 10th century despite the region being engulfed in war and violence. Bluetooth technology also originated in Scandinavia, another reason the name stuck (Shankel).
What is Bluetooth technology? Bluetooth is more than just an earpiece you can connect to your phone through a wireless connection. Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances using short-wavelengths from fixed and mobile devices, and building personal area networks (PANs). PANs are a computer network used for data transmission among devices such as computers, telephones and personal digital assistants (Maughan). Bluetooth sucks up very little energy, it's low-cost, and it's interoperable, even if your stuff is made by different manufacturers (DMV.ORG). It’s a chip or receiver that is put into various devices allowing them to communicate with each other. Such as, headsets, printers, wireless game controllers, laptops, GPS systems, PCs, digital cameras. These devices can then be link to any other Bluetooth-compatible equipment. Each device sends out its own radio signal in the 2.4 Mhz band and can pick up other Bluetooth signals within a 30-foot area. The signals are sent out on a set of frequencies (79 in all) and hop from one frequency to another, faster than 1,600 times per second. This allows multiple devices to send out signals and operate on different frequencies without interfering with each other. It also prevents people from intercepting the data sent between two Bluetooth devices (Maughan).
This is a breakthrough for our society because it allows us much more freedom in the way we communicate and transfer information. It sets us free and empowers us to accomplish amazing things, on our own terms. It streamlines your work space by getting rid of the wires that clutter up your home and office; it allows you to be mobile making it more convenient because you are not tied down with wires holding you back but most important it can make some devices safer by allowing your hands to be free. Many cars today are being built with Bluetooth-enabled stereos that can sync with your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone. While you're in the car you can link your phone to your stereo and talk through the stereo speakers with the vehicle's built-in microphone. It's an instant hands-free way to talk so you can use your cell phone while driving, without ever having to touch your phone (DMV.ORG). This technology has the ability to save countless lives. Hands free devices like Bluetooth earpieces allow you to talk and do other activities like work, make dinner, give your kids a bath and so much more. This technology has influenced our society by changing the way we do things; it simplifies the way we communicate, work and play.
References
Bluetooth SIG. http://www.bluetooth.com/pages/history-of-bluetooth.aspx
DMV.ORG. http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/bluetooth.php
Jackson, Josh. http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/11/the-20-best-gadgets-of-the-decade-2000-2009.html
Maughan, Jaceson. http://www.life123.com/technology/home-electronics/bluetooth-headset/how-does-bluetooth-work.shtml
Shankel, Noel. http://www.ehow.com/info_8468535_history-bluetooth-technology.html
Bluetooth was developed by Ericsson, a large Swedish telecommunications equipment manufacturer. The specification was developed in 1994 by Jaap Haartsen and Sven Mattisson, who were working for Ericsson at the time. The standard for which all Bluetooth capable devices run was formalized by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group in May, 1998. The group was established by Ericsson, IBM, Toshiba, Nokia and Intel. There are more than 11,000 member companies of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. Bluetooth technology was officially introduced in 1998, although it was in development in Scandinavia prior (Shankel). Bluetooth compatible mobile phones didn’t hit the market until 2000 and was then available for consumer purchase (Bluetooth SIG).Both the name "Bluetooth" and the logo associated with it have been trademarked by SIG (Bluetooth Special Interest Group). Numerous companies belong to SIG including Ericsson, IBM, Microsoft, Intel, Nokia, Toshiba and Agere. The SIG trade association continues to work on progressing and researching the use of Bluetooth technology in the computing, automotive, industrial automation and telecommunication industries. The name "Bluetooth" was inspired by Harald Bluetooth, a Danish King who ruled during the 10th century. At first, the name "Bluetooth" was used as a code name for the technology, but eventually became the official name. SIG decided to stick with the name since Bluetooth technology is designed to unite multiple industries, the same way King Bluetooth united Scandinavian Europe during the 10th century despite the region being engulfed in war and violence. Bluetooth technology also originated in Scandinavia, another reason the name stuck (Shankel).
What is Bluetooth technology? Bluetooth is more than just an earpiece you can connect to your phone through a wireless connection. Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances using short-wavelengths from fixed and mobile devices, and building personal area networks (PANs). PANs are a computer network used for data transmission among devices such as computers, telephones and personal digital assistants (Maughan). Bluetooth sucks up very little energy, it's low-cost, and it's interoperable, even if your stuff is made by different manufacturers (DMV.ORG). It’s a chip or receiver that is put into various devices allowing them to communicate with each other. Such as, headsets, printers, wireless game controllers, laptops, GPS systems, PCs, digital cameras. These devices can then be link to any other Bluetooth-compatible equipment. Each device sends out its own radio signal in the 2.4 Mhz band and can pick up other Bluetooth signals within a 30-foot area. The signals are sent out on a set of frequencies (79 in all) and hop from one frequency to another, faster than 1,600 times per second. This allows multiple devices to send out signals and operate on different frequencies without interfering with each other. It also prevents people from intercepting the data sent between two Bluetooth devices (Maughan).
This is a breakthrough for our society because it allows us much more freedom in the way we communicate and transfer information. It sets us free and empowers us to accomplish amazing things, on our own terms. It streamlines your work space by getting rid of the wires that clutter up your home and office; it allows you to be mobile making it more convenient because you are not tied down with wires holding you back but most important it can make some devices safer by allowing your hands to be free. Many cars today are being built with Bluetooth-enabled stereos that can sync with your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone. While you're in the car you can link your phone to your stereo and talk through the stereo speakers with the vehicle's built-in microphone. It's an instant hands-free way to talk so you can use your cell phone while driving, without ever having to touch your phone (DMV.ORG). This technology has the ability to save countless lives. Hands free devices like Bluetooth earpieces allow you to talk and do other activities like work, make dinner, give your kids a bath and so much more. This technology has influenced our society by changing the way we do things; it simplifies the way we communicate, work and play.
References
Bluetooth SIG. http://www.bluetooth.com/pages/history-of-bluetooth.aspx
DMV.ORG. http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/bluetooth.php
Jackson, Josh. http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/11/the-20-best-gadgets-of-the-decade-2000-2009.html
Maughan, Jaceson. http://www.life123.com/technology/home-electronics/bluetooth-headset/how-does-bluetooth-work.shtml
Shankel, Noel. http://www.ehow.com/info_8468535_history-bluetooth-technology.html