Wireless Technology

Network Topic - Wireless

Wireless technology is a booming business that is finding far reaching benefits on a global level. Corporations, schools, homes, and cafes are implementing wireless solutions as individual organizations and users seek more freedom and constant access. Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) is the latest buzzword to capture the market in our individual quest for access anywhere at any time. All of this comes at a price. Security is a major concern moving forward, as well as having too much access that does not lead to needed personal downtime. In the end what is more valuable, access or secure access at the right time?

Wireless Technology Overview

According to VoiceandData.com (2005), wireless "refers to communications, monitoring or control systems in which electromagnetic or acoustic waves carry a signal through atmospheric space rather than along a wire". In short, wireless access is a means in which one can connect to a Wireless Access Point (WAP), or WiFi spot without needing physical access.

Although there are more and more installations of wireless access going on every day in our businesses and homes, I would guess that many of us do not know the underlying layers of wireless access, including myself. That said I was able to find, but not validate, the following information that describes the layers of the wireless access protocol and the origin of WAP.

According to Chris Bennett's, Building Dynamic WAP Applications with MobileDev (2001), the layers of WAP consist of Wireless Application Environment (WAE), Wireless Session Layer (WSL), Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS), and Wireless Transport Layer (WTP). WAP was invented by four companies: Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, and Unwired Planet (now Phone.com) in June 1997. The Wireless Markup Language (WML) was developed to tackle issues related to protocol mismatch, device limitations, and usability.

In corporate environments, wireless access is being used to perform all sorts of tasks. Wireless applications ranging from wireless Wide Area Networks (WAN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and blackberry's are being used to facilitate constant access to the level of enterprise access. In today's market, connectivity to and from corporate offices and outbuildings, to hotels and conferences is an absolute must.

Wireless in my world

Wireless, as it applies to my life, consists of a wireless home network that allows me to sit on the couch and do my homework. The freedom of connecting via a laptop and sitting on the couch to do homework and browse the internet is exactly the reason that wireless access continues to grow throughout our homes and businesses.

Wireless access has a strong market base, as is evident by the continued advances and inventions that will continue to make our lives more convenient. Case in point, I recently purchased a WAP to use for my XBOX, to be able to connect to XBOX live via my router upstairs. The WAP allows me to connect my XBOX to my wireless network and play online games. The sheer freedom of movement is what wireless is all about.

I feel I have done a good job of securing my wireless connection but there are those who would probably not agree with me. Simple settings such as not broadcasting so my neighbors can see my wireless router to using password enabled encryption should help to keep my network secure.

Disadvantages and the Article

The article I have chosen, On the buses - the next WiFi Hotspots, from Macworld Daily News (2005), encompasses the addition of wireless devices to create WiFi Hotspots on public transportation networks. The problem I have with continued spreading of wireless access is that we, as a public, are becoming more distracted by the day.

Do we really need to have access 24 hours a day? I realize that communication in all forms is a necessary evil of our society, but I also believe that we are growing more estranged from the general public. We all have a time and place where we must have access to the internet, email, etc. but there is also a time when we really need to pay attention to our surroundings. We need to not get so overly involved in ourselves that we are missing life that is going on around us every day.

When is enough access really going to be enough? When is security going to be such a risk, not only to the network devices and our personal telecommunications devices, but also to our personal health that we become more cognizant of all that is happening on the bus, train, or metro? As terrorism threats climb, do we really want everyone having their heads buried in their laptops, pda's, cellphones, and blackberry's?

In the end, any potential to profit off of the public's need for ready access in all locations, at all times of the day will lead to further development in products that will allow constant access. I just saw a commercial by IBM for their "ON DEMAND" Business solutions. My point was just proven, market to the masses and produce revenue because everyone else is doing it and more is just not enough.

Advantages and the Article

On many levels I am just as endeared by wireless as many others. As I said before, I have a wireless network set up in my home that is used to connect laptops and my XBOX. Therefore I can see exactly why WiFi Hotspots would