The first part of a series of blog posts intended to help the absolute beginner break free from the bondage of RJ-45-cabled Internet.
Let’s start this off with a fun fact: Wi-Fi was originally the name of the trade group responsible for the early development of wireless networks. To this day, the Wi-Fi Alliance owns the trademark to wireless Internet - an interesting tidbit of information considering the widespread use of the service.
Indeed, charging money for Wi-Fi is like billing people for their oxygen use. In many cities, from Paris to Philadelphia to Tucson, Wi-Fi networks have been openly integrated by city governments to upgrade the surrounding technological infrastructure. City-wide wireless frameworks aren’t always perfect and often depend on the lowest common denominator (you’ve got to own a computer first), but it’s a sign of the growing link between civic society, digital media and the technological world in general.
Wi-Fi was first developed for use in mobile computing devices, which we might immediately associate with laptops. That’s true, but in recent years wireless Internet has become the domain of PDAs, phone services, and televisions. Wi-Fi is even a part of the Intelligent Transportation System, or ITS, which seeks to increase driving safety by rerouting vehicles from congestion and safety hazards.
Gaming is now headed in the wireless direction
It’s also a central part of the gaming industry, which is embracing online play and international tech communities through services like Xbox Live.
Wi-Fi is largely based on access points. Quite simply, if you’re near an access point - usually within a block - you’ll have access to the Internet. Whether you’re allowed to connect to such a network depends on the provider and whether or not they’ve protected themselves. Since defending the air can be as tricky as it sounds, protecting wireless Internet service is a popular topic and one we wouldn’t think of leaving out.
Come back next week when we’ll discuss a few important details every interested consumer should know before launching themselves into the wireless world. Here are a few:
· *How to connect[Wi-Fi Installation Guide]
· *Security[Protecting Wi-Fi]
· *Wireless gaming[Wi-Fi Gaming]
There are a number of reasons to buy into wireless Internet. Just looking at the wires behind the average computer or home theater system can often drive people up the wall. For many, it’s like looking at tangled barbed wire, and providing any adjustments to such a messy network is like crossing “No Man’s Land.” No fun, no sir.
There are a number of disadvantages to wireless service, however, and we’ll discuss them as well. It’s important to be informed about being connected.
July 27th “How to Connect”
