History of Bluetooth
Bluetooth history
Bluetooth takes its name from a character in history called Harald Bluetooth. He was the king of Denmark born in 910AD and was responsible in 940AD of uniting Denmark and Norway which is where Bluetooth technology gets its conception from. The founders of Bluetooth took the name of Harald Bluetooth because of the way he united two countries together and in the same way Bluetooth unites two dissimilar components. Bluetooth technology can unite different technologies like mobile phones, computers, printers, headsets etc.
The brainchild of providing a low power, low cost wireless interface was first inspired by Ericsson Mobile Communications. In 1994 they started investigating linking mobile phones and computers wirelessly. In 1998, Lund Switzerland saw the formation of like minded companies who united into an association called the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). Coming from different backgrounds the group included market leaders in laptop manufacturing, the cell phone industry and digital signal processing. Included in this group where Motorola, Nokia, Intel, Toshiba, Agere, Ericsson, IBM, and Microsoft. These companies now promote development and research into the technology of Bluetooth.
Bluetooth specifications where developed by Jaap Haartsen and Sven Mattisson two employees of Ericsson Mobile Platforms. Enabling various components from different industries to Connect Bluetooth technology was developed in Scandanavia. Based on a frequency hopping spread spectrum it is a wireless technology that combines and simplifies multiple forms of communication into a common secure available radio signal.
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group made a firm commitment to have Bluetooth technology installed in various devices and by 2002 Bluetooth technology was installed in PC’s, notebooks, desktop computers and over 100 million mobile phones had the technology as well as millions of other communications devices.
Bluetooth definition?
Operating on a short-range radio frequency it is a wireless communications network. When connected to various devices such as mobile phones and computers it provides a way of exchanging information as well and the Bluetooth technology can be used on any other apparatus that is provided with it’s built in features. It is medically safe to use due to its low power use, and the information is carried over a short-range radio bandwidth, known as ISM which is secure, and scientifically sound.
To be able to connect to one another devices need to have Bluetooth profiles and need to be compatible with each other. You can use things like mobile phones, hands free headsets, printers with wireless network communications, keyboards and a mouse, provided the profiles have been enabled.
Versions of Bluetooth
Bluetooth has seen many improved qualities with many changes since version 1.0 in 1998 which had many teething problems, like most technology. The main problem being a lack of devices being able to communicate.
Version 1.1 became a truly operable product and was able to communicate properly due to great improvements.
Version 1.2 saw vast improvements with many new features and greater benefits, with improved voice quality, backward compatible and a generally better product.
Version2.0 saw more improvements and features and now version 3.0 is able to communicate with several devices using a Bluetooth master device in which the slave can become the master at any given time. The master has the ability to switch between devices very fast.
Wi-Fi is another wireless operating system and although it has a superior operating range it uses a different technology. The difference is Bluetooth technology is a lot cheaper as the Wi-Fi hardware is much more expensive. One big advantage Bluetooth has is its ease of setting it up between many devices, its better security and its automated system. Wi-Fi is more complicated to set up and needs to have devices configured to set up shared resources which are more for Ethernet networking. Wi-Fi is better suited for operating larger networks while Bluetooth has more power and better connections.
For operating Bluetooth on a computer it requires Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or higher. If you run an Apple computer it has been supported by Bluetooth technology since 2002. Nearly all computers now have Bluetooth installed but if not then if your computer has Windows XP with Service pack 2 then a device called a dongle can be purchased. The dongle device allows various devices to communicate with your computer.
The future of Bluetooth is bright and it has become the world wide wireless standard system. Bluetooth technology will see many improvements in the future such as audio and video data at a higher quality, an alternate MAC PHY, which enables transporting of Bluetooth profile data. Automatic configuration will be carried out by using Topology Management, and broadcast channelling, which will enable Bluetooth in other devises. The chain reaction is already in progress and as more components use Bluetooth technology, manufacturers of electronics will jump on the band wagon and become increasingly eager to make their products compatible. Bluetooth technology will be here for a long time to come.