Wireless technology is everywhere. Whether it’s buzz about something new or a product currently available, I cannot go through a day without reading or bumping into something related to wireless technology.There are seven built in wireless technologies that make the world go round. When I say “built in” I’m talking about products which have wireless technology inside the device. Most familiar to most people are Wireless USB, Bluetooth and RFID. However, there are four more technologies you should at least know about. So here are all seven technologies: WUSB, Bluetooth, RFID, WiMedia, UWB, NFC and ZigBee.
WiMedia – WiMedia refers to the Ultra Wide Band radio platform which enables high data transfer rates. The goal of WiMedia is to standardize the protocols or code used in wireless devices. For example, WiMedia standards are used in Ultra Wide Band (UWB), Bluetooth and WUSB technology products. The end result for a consumer is that WiMedia guarantees wireless devices work together without an end-user knowing about set-up procedures or configuration options. I guess you could say plug-n-play, but we are talking about wireless.
UWB or Ultra Wideband – UWB is wireless technology operating in a radio frequency greater then 500MHz. What this means is that UWB is excellent for sending a lot of data wirelessly.
The transfer of data on this radio frequency works as a pulse. Due to the extremely low emission levels allowed by the FCC, UWB systems tend to be short-range and indoors. With the short duration of these pulses it’s easier to transfer high amounts of data, but can also be engineered to transfer less data over a longer distance. It’s the give-n-take of UWB.
An example of high data transfer rates using the UWB technology would be wireless computer monitors or digital camcorders playing video without the need of a host computer or wired connection to the TV.
WUSB or Wireless USB – Wireless USB is the combination of high speed data transfer rates with the ease-of-use of USB connectivity. WUSB takes USB one step further and removes the cable from the connection.
WUSB uses the Ultra Wide Band radio frequency technology and standard. What WUSB has done to the UWB is adopt the necessary protocols to have it work with USB connectors (or ports). As with Bluetooth, wireless USB is ideal for short range networks – usually called personal networks.
WUSB has become very strong in personal networks around the office, for example networking your PC together with mouse, keyboard, printer and camera is usually done via WUSB. Bluetooth has become very popular for personal networks in relation to mobile devices, such as cell phones, headsets and PDAs.