Under the skin: short-range embedded wireless technology

The number of computing, telecommunications and electronic devices in everyday life has been rapidly increasing over the past two decades. Typically, personal computers and related devices are connected with special cables, whilst wireless devices such as mobile phones use proprietary networks to communicate. Recently, technological developments have offered some new directions to such problems of connectivity by providing a convergence between wireless and computing technologies. Standards, such as Bluetooth, promise to allow unlimited connectivity between devices by embedding short-range wireless transceivers ‘under the skin’ of products. The commercial potential of these technologies is enormous, ranging from the wireless office or home to in-vehicle connectivity and location-based advertising. This paper examines the range of technologies available for short-range embedded wireless interactivity. It explores some of the key areas of application of such devices, including in the home, the workplace, in-transit, and for public spaces. The paper also evaluates the key benefits and problems associated with these applications. It concludes with reflections on the future penetration of such technologies.