1. Identify common wireless devices and their application to business
· Mobile telephones: phone calls and text messaging can be made on the move, almost anywhere. Also internet and email access is possible with most new mobile phones. Internet and email access is crucial to any business.
· Digital Camera: photos can be taken, edited, sent, uploaded on the internet, deleted and developed using digital cameras. Applies to businesses as photos can be very useful for most.
· Digital music players: can play music and more recently videos. However some such as the Apple Ipod can be used to carry information which is relevant to businesses.
· Digital organizers: have been common for years, however some now have internet and email access, which is very useful to businesses.
· Laptop computers: common for years, however now thanks to the capabilities of Wi-Fi, internet and email access is easy and accessible in many places, making the duties of business personnel easier to carry out.
A diagram of major wireless devices, connecting to a server:
Photo: Compliments of CityWatch, accessed at: http://www.citywatch.com/images/deviceDiagram400b.jpg
2. Describe the various types and general characteristics of wireless transmission media/technologies - microwave, satellite, infrared and radio waves.
· Microwave transmission systems: uses 226 microwaves for high-volume, long-distance, point-to-point (line-of-sight) communication. This means transmitter and receiver must be in view of each other. Has a high-bandwidth and is inexpensive.
· Satellite transmission: uses communication satellites for broadcast communications. Has a high bandwidth and large cover area, however is very expensive. Line of sight must be unobstructed, signals experience delays and security is an issue, therefore encryption must be used.
· Radio wave frequencies used to send data directly between transmitters and receivers. This type of transmission has a high bandwidth, signals can pass through walls, and is inexpensive and easy to install. However electrical interference is an issue, and the signals must be encrypted to avoid snooping.
· Infrared uses a red light, not commonly visible to human eyes. It has a low-medium bandwidth, and used only for short distances. It must use a direct line of sight.
A diagram portraying a wireless transmission:
Photo: Compliments of SemCo Enterprises, accessed at: http://www.semcoenterprises.com/upload/wysiwyg/wireless.gif
3. What is bluetooth/how is it used?
Chip technology that enables short-range-connection (data and voice) between wireless devices. It is used to create small personal area networks.
4. What are WLAN's, Wi-Fi, WWAN's, 3G?
WLAN: Wireless local area network: a computer network in a limited geographical area that uses wireless transmission for communication.
Wi-Fi: Wireless fidelity: a set of standards for wireless local area networks based on the IEEE 802.11 standard.
WWAN: wide-area wireless networks: connects users to each other and to the internet over geographically dispersed distances.
3G: third generation: uses digital signals and can transmit voice and data up to 384 Kbps when the device is moving at a walking pace, 128 Kbps when moving in a car, and up to 2Mbps when the device is in a fixed location. It supports video, Web browsing and instant messaging.
5. What are the drivers of mobile computing and mobile commerce
Mobile computing was designed for workers who travel outside the boundaries of their organisations or for anyone traveling outside his or her home. As long as there is a need to move, mobile computing and commerce will be driven.
6. Explain the nature of RFID
Radio Frequency Identification technology: a wireless technology that allows manufacturers to attach tags with antennas and computer chips on goods and then track their movement through radio signals.
E.g. an E-tag uses Radio frequency identification technology:
Photo: Compliments of Radioactive Networks, accessed at: www.radio-active.net.au/web/technology/etag.html
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