The Creation and the Phenomenon of the Personal Computer: Wi-Fi - Term Paper Example

WIFI” Introduction: With the world developing newer technologies are evolving every day. These technologies are being introduced in the society so that the society can progress and develop. Things which were difficult previously have been made easier by these technologies. An example here can be considered of the microwave oven. Previously food could not be warmed as easily as it can be now because of the introduction of the microwave oven. Similarly to make things easier for the society computers and information technology had been developed. Now with more modern and complex inventions computers and information technology are further developing. One such development in the field of information technology has been the introduction of wireless fidelity. This wireless fidelity has progressed in the world now and has made things easier for computer users which previously were impossible (Aime et al 2007 & Korzeniowski 2008) Wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) is a term widely used for a technology which helps to connect computers with each other on a mobile network without the use of wires. Wi-Fi is a technology developed on the standards of IEEE 802.11. Through the usage of Wi-Fi it has become easy for the users of the computers to connect with other computers and devices without the usage of wires. In other words Wi-Fi has created wireless networks for computer and devices which possess the service of Wi-Fi (Aime et al 2007 & Korzeniowski 2008). WIFI Wi-Fi falls under the category of wireless network protocols and it uses its specific protocol of 802.11 standards. The standards of IEEE 802.11 refer to a network protocol which helps the computers connect to it and this protocol is 802.11. This 802.11 protocol is further segmented in three forms which are 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g respectively. All these protocols are segmented according to their different designs and functions. 802.11a is a technology of Wi-Fi which has almost disappeared from the market because of its counterparts which have progressed nowadays. 802.11a has a radio frequency of 5 Giga Hertz. This shows that the speed of 802.11a is quite fast and because of this it can transfer data up to 54 megabits per second. The data transfer speed of such a protocol is very high and because of the radio frequency emitted by it, the cost of such a protocol is very high. Not only this, the 802.11 protocol also has a very short range of signals in which it can transmit data and because of this individuals do not prefer such type of a protocol. Usually the signal range of 802.11 can vary up to the mark of 60 feet. Secondly the protocol 802.11 b has a radio frequency of about 2.4 Giga Hertz. Because of the much smaller radio frequency this protocol can only transmit data at the speed of 11 megabits per second. Although the speed transmission of such a protocol is low but the area covered by this protocol is very high as compared to that of 802.11a. The signals till which the 802.11b can respond vary up to the mark of 300 feet and such a protocol also does not get obstructed because of minor impediments. The most important advantage of such a device is that it is very cheap to manufacture and thus this can be found as common in the society today. Lastly the protocol 802.11 g is almost the same like 802.11b. The radio frequency emitted by such a protocol is 2.4 Giga Hertz and the area covered by it is also 300 feet. It can be noted here that the radio frequency of 802.11b and 802.11g are the same whereas the radio frequency of 802.11a is different. This is the very reason of many mobiles not being compatible with some Wi-Fi devices. The Wi-Fi protocol used by either the computer or mobile could be different i.e. the one with 802.11b cannot be compatible with that of 802.11a. However a mobile or computer with the Wi-Fi protocol of 802.11b is compatible with that of 802.11g. Another interesting point to be noted here is that the signals emitted by Wi-Fi devices can be easily obstructed if impediments are present (Aime et al 2007, Kwan 2009 & Korzeniowski 2008) Popularity of WIFI Nowadays the popularity of the device has increased so much that it is included in every new technology that is being introduced. With the introduction of these devices it has been easy for every user of the internet to connect from anywhere he wants to. In order to connect to the internet through wireless network it is necessary that the Wi-Fi device is present well under its reach. For example a computer or mobile cannot connect to the internet if it is out of the range of the signals. Because of the advantages of Wi-Fi the popularity of the device has increased and the device is practically found in almost all the devices which need to connect with remote networks. These devices include computers, mobiles, video games, or even music players (Korzeniowski 2008). Uses of WIFI The use of WIFI has increased so much that it can be found in almost all important places. It can be seen that WIFI is found throughout the world in many airports so that travelers can easily access internet while being on the airports. Similarly WIFI devices can also be found in some cities all over the world that tend to provide a free network connection to all the citizens of the city. WIFI can also be found in restaurants or coffee shops so that individuals who want to access internet there can do so easily. Colleges have also provided this facility to its students as it has introduced WIFI networks in their campuses. These networks help the students to connect the student from wherever they want to inside the campus. But here again the fact about the signal emission should be kept in mind. Individuals belonging to the offices can be said to be the main group which makes the most out of this technology. These individuals previously could not access internet so easily at their workplace as they can now because of the introduction of WIFI. Not only this WIFI is also being found in residential places now so that people can access net from wherever they want to inside their homes. It has made things easier which were previously impossible and further development is yet to be seen regarding the WIFI devices (Aime et al 2007 & Lee 2008). The way WIFI works WIFI acts in a similar way like a two way radio communication. Firstly signals are transmitted through the computers own device to the router which can be kept anywhere. Here the router decodes the signals into its own language and transmits it to the Ethernet connection. This Ethernet connection then responds in a similar manner back to the router. This router then has the capability of sending back the signals to the WIFI device in the computer. This whole process occurs only because of the signals which are being sent forth and through both the device and router (Kwan 2009). Advantages of WIFI The main advantage of using WIFI is to use local area networks without the usage of wires. This process helps to reduce the overall cost incurred by deploying different local area networks for every computer. And as mentioned above the previous expensive devices for WIFI have kind of disappeared from the market. This has given way to the cheaper ones to develop in the society and because of these cheap prices WIFI can be easily found in almost all devices which need remote connections to the internet. These devices include mobiles, laptops, personal computers or music players. Moreover the speed provided by the device is much more than other devices which provide such a service. Similarly the device also has been developed with such technologies that it is almost compatible with every new device which is being developed. This is also helping in the expansion of the WIFI Alliance industry as a whole. Like in other devices a complex process is involved WIFI is a device which is very easy to install and is being installed at homes too for this very reason. WIFI is being used globally because of its number of advantages and easy to use feature (Health Care Strategic Management 2006). Disadvantages of WIFI WIFI has many advantages but like any other technology WIFI also has its own disadvantages. Although WIFI device can transmit signals which cover a distance of almost 300 feet but these signals can be easily blocked if some impediment is present. Because of this the Ethernet connection or LAN would work in a distorted manner. The consumption of power by the WIFI devices is much more than other normal devices. The main disadvantage of WIFI can be said to be the lack of security that the device provides to its users. The device sends signals in forms of an encryption to other devices but these signals can be easily decoded if the correct source is used. This might lead to the loss of important information of the user which he does not want to disclose to any other individual. Moreover it can also cause loss to government agencies that might use these devices to transmit data which is very confidential. However a solution has also been provided to this problem but this solution can only be implemented by an individual who has gained expertise in the field of information technology. The person can enhance the security features provided by WIFI and protect his/her information (Personal Computer World 2003). With the progress of the WIFI device new concerns are arising regarding the signals that it transmits. Individuals argue that these signals may pose a threat to the life if one is highly exposed to the rays. But it has been found that generally only 0.1 Watt is emitted from this device which is a very low frequency for waves. And this frequency further gets lowered down as it travels from the router or from the antenna of a computer. Studies have shown that the radiations emitted are not lethal to an individual if not exposed highly. However these studies also state that these radiations might be harmful for children if they are exposed to these radiations highly. But generally it can be said that the use of WIFI is quite safe than other devices which might emit more radiations (Personal Computer World 2003). Comparison of WIFI with other devices WIFI is not the only device which helps in connecting wireless networks but another technology known as Bluetooth has quite excelled in the very same arena. The main aim of Bluetooth is to connect two devices without the use of wires. Like WIFI, Bluetooth also operates with the frequency of 2.4 Giga Hertz. However it has been known that Bluetooth is not much affected by the impediments like WIFI. The reason for this is that Bluetooth sends only weak signals of about 1 mill watt. If both WIFI and Bluetooth are compared it can be seen that both the devices have their own uses which can be helpful at one instance. The speed of Bluetooth is quite low if compared to the speed of WIFI. The maximum speed of data transfer is 720 kilobits per second. The frequency used by WIFI and Bluetooth is the same but Bluetooth uses a technique known as Digital Spread Spectrum Technique because of which interferences do not impede the signals transmitted by these devices. Bluetooth provides more security in general than the WIFI devices if the security protocols in WIFI are not activated by a user. Bluetooth is mostly used for connecting devices such as mobile phones and laptops whereas WIFI was designed only to connect devices to provide them with an Ethernet connection. Bluetooth is more easy to use than WIFI if considered generally as to use WIFI the general protocols of using it should be known. Bluetooth can be generally connected if the appropriate software is present in the mobile or computer. The distances covered by both the devices are different and here WIFI excels. WIFI can provide signals till the range of 1200 feet whereas Bluetooth can only provide signals up to the mark of 30 feet. Considering all these features it can be seen that both Bluetooth and WIFI have their own advantages for specific purposes. It can be noted that Bluetooth is easy to use and can connect users easily if they have the appropriate software whereas WIFI does not but here it can also be noted that WIFI provides signals to a longer distance than Bluetooth. This factor allows WIFI to excel and take over Bluetooth generally in computers and mobiles. But here again it can be noted that in the modern world both of these technologies are being used largely. Bluetooth is generally being used for data transfers from a mobile phone to another mobile phone or other devices whereas WIFI is being used in computers so that an Ethernet connection can be easily established (Bathmann 2009). Conclusion Wi-Fi is faster and feasible than the modems and Ethernet connections which were being used previously. The location at which the users can connect is known as the WIFI hotspot. This hotspot serves as the host for the client who is connecting to it. And through this hotspot the users can access the information that they require. On the other hand it can also be seen that if an individual keeps a longer distance from the source the strength of the signals would be reduced. And in this case the information being transferred would take longer than the usual transfer. But here again this can be corrected if a signal amplifier is used. An example of a signal amplifier is the Ermanno Pietrosemoli. WIFI has been launched in several different models and each of these models performs a different function. Some models are designed for operating systems such as XP and Vista whereas others are designed for Mac. It is essential for a WIFI user to have an adapter which would pass its signal to the WIFI device (Aime et al 2009). It can be seen that WIFI has proved to be an important source of connecting devices easily throughout the world. It is not only found in computers these days but is also found in mobile phones because of which individuals can easily access internet from anywhere. WIFI has allowed individuals to get rid of the problems which involved the usage of wires. It also allows a huge number of users to work on it on the same time thereby giving more space of connections. It is also noted that WIFI has no such negative effects on the health of an individual except when he is exposed heavily to the radiation. Moreover the other disadvantages are negligible if compared with the advantages of the device. However with the developing world it is necessary for more improvements in this device so that it can turn take over the markets of all such devices which are in line with it. The cost of the device should be further lowered down so that they can be massively used in the third world countries too. Further improvements to the device should also be made which should increase the distance covered by the signals and increase the rate of data transfer. Like Bluetooth the soft wares for WIFI should be made easier to use too so that every user can grasp the knowledge of how to use such a device. The security of the device should also be enhanced so that it is safer to use as nowadays it is being used in many offices also. The device should be further improved so that it can take over as a whole in the society filling in the gaps which it currently has (Smith 2003 & Aime et al 2007). Bibliography: Aime, M. D., Calandriello, G., & Lioy, A. (2007). Dependability in Wireless Networks: Can We Rely on WiFi? IEEE Security & Privacy. 5 (1), 23-29. Bathmann, R. (2009). A comparison of wireless network protocols from a simulation perspective. Thesis (B.S. Honors--Computer Science)--Bucknell University, 2009. Korzeniowski, P. (2008). Wireless Takes Over. Campus Technology. 21 (6), 30-32, 34-36. Kwan, R. (2009). IEEE 802.11 WIFI survey & visualisation experiments. Singapore: Prentice Hall. Lee, B. G., & Choi, S. (2008). Broadband wireless access and local networks: Mobile WiMax and WiFi. Boston: Artech House. Smith, R. J. (2003). WiFi home networking. New York [etc.]: McGraw-Hill. Technology: WiFi communication has host of benefits. (2006). Health Care Strategic Management. 24 (8), 14. Wireless worries: There are many limitations to Wifi technology - heres how to get round them. (2003). Personal Computer World. 26, 97-103. Read More