Wireless Technology
Ever wondered how words in our minds get instantly conveyed to our friends? Or how an email appears to reach thousands of miles away without being seen floating through air? Thanks to advancement in technology, all of this has become possible due to wireless systems. Otherwise the world would have been coiled in wires trying to work as a system of communication; one faulty point and snap, we are back to the seventh century waiting for our messages for months at a stretch.
German physicist Heinrich Hertz discovered electromagnetic waves. The first wireless conversation occurred in 1880 when Tainter and Bell invented the photophone, a telephone that conducted audio conversation over modulated light beams. In 1909, Marconi and Braun shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for the development of wireless telegraphy. During the 20th century, many types of wireless technologies emerged, for example the advent of satellites.
Wireless communication is the electromagnetic transfer of information between two or more points that are not connected by an electrical conductor. Wireless technology includes radio frequency and infrared waves. Wireless is a broad term that encompasses all sorts of technologies and devices that transmit data over the air rather than over wires. For eg: Wi-fi is a technology that allows tablets, video game consoles, printers, and smartphones to communicate with the Internet; Cellular networks allow electronic devices to communicate over long distances etc..
Wireless technologies work in many ways. Cellular communication systems work through bouncing radio waves from one cell tower to another. Bluetooth technology allows people to connect various devices through short-range low-energy radio waves which enable devices to use these waves to link with each other. Wi-Fi networks use routers to send radio frequency (RF) signals to other devices. A satellite communication technology allows satellites to connect to devices on earth, thus forming GPS.
This technology has been proved to be useful due to its immense benefits. Wireless networks allow mobile users to access real-time information while moving from one place to another thus increasing productivity. Installing such a system reduces cables, which require work to be set up and maintenance costs along with the presence of a safety risk. Wireless networks also help people connect with each other around the globe. The initial investment costs pay off in the long run with less maintenance costs in terms of time and money.
Though security risks to networks, difficulty in setting up and less stability depending on the circumstances might deter a few from using such a system, there is no doubt that the pros far outweigh the cons. This has enabled mass communication in ways that were unimaginable and the whole world is now a network where people are connected not only as humans but also as users of this technology. As quoted from Nikola Tesla’s wise words, when wireless is fully applied, the world will be converted into a huge brain, capable of response in every one of its parts.
