FREE ESSAY ON CORDLESS TECH

CORDLESS TECH

A Cordless Future 
Wireless technology, from cell phones to business networks is revolutionizing the world
we live in. Now we can access the Internet while in our cars, on the beach, and even at
dinner. This wave of technology will soon be felt in full force as we begin to travel
with the assistance of a computer, run businesses with high quality networks, and check
last nights game on our digital phones and personal digital assistants (PDA).
Advancements made by wireless technology are allowing us greater degrees of freedom,
security, and efficiency. 
Cars are feeling the wave of wireless technology as we speak. "General Motors Corp.'s
navigation systems subsidiary, OnStar Communications, will provide drivers voice access
to the Internet, starting with 30 of its 2001 models. The OnStar service provides airbag
deployment notification, remote door unlocking, location services, stolen-vehicle
tracking, and remote diagnostics" (Wallace). It is easy to see why this technology is
sought after, authorities will arrive on the seen faster, thieves will be detoured, and
locking one's keys in the car wont incorporate the vandalistic approach once used. Also
it is figured that 50-80% of all cellular phone calls are made from vehicles, with this
new technology voice activated technology, users can expect to have both hands free while
talking. "With the new services, drivers will set up profiles from their desktop PC that
are then kept on servers in OnStar's service centers. With a hands free, voice-activated
interface, OnStar subscribers will use voice prompts, such as "Start my E-mail" or "Start
my stock quotes" to receive information via the Internet. The service will convert
Internet text to speech and read the information via synthesizes voice" (Wallace). And if
that isn't enough, the price ranges from $199 to $399 a year, a great buy, as it will cut
one's insurance bill down to size.
Trucking companies are also using wireless connections to the Internet. "Wireless
Internet access is just fine with ePaccar, a division of truck maker Paccar Inc. in Mt
Vernon, Wash. The unit is building a package that will let truck driver's access more
than weather and directions using a wireless Windows CE device in their cabs. The
commercial transportation industry is working on razor-thin profit margins and is
fiercely competitive, so the ability to provide the fastest and most fuel-efficient route
saves truckers time and money. And providing them with wireless access to load-brokering
sites lets them pick up more cargo and make more money without deviating much from their
original route" (Wallace, "Wireless Everything"). This technology will revolutionize the
way trucking, and driving is done. Getting lost would become a thing of the past, so
would getting stuck in bad weather. The possibilities are virtually endless. 
Wireless hotels are also on the rise; they have several uses of wireless technology, from
basic Internet access to transferring an important call to the closest phone. "Comdial
has a product called Tracker, which is ideal for typical hotel and motel environments.
This is a paging service integrated with our Impact Concierge hotel communications
system. With Tracker, any employee can be sent a message from the switchboard. Our latest
enhancement is Quiktrak. This allows operators to scroll Tracker users from a PC screen
to send them messages or alert them to a held call. Since the pagers have LCDs with
scrolling, detailed messages can be typed from the PC and sent to any or all pager users.
If an important call has arrived, the call can be parked at any system telephone and
retrieved by dialing a code. The code is automatically displayed on the pager screen"
(Adams). This isn't the only advancement they are making though, a growing number of
hotels now offer T-1 connections to the internet, as a growing number of business people
need to stay connected to the office all the time. In a few cases they have gone a step
further, now offering wireless connections to the Internet. This allows the guest to work
while killing time in the lobby, or while eating breakfast (Kahaner). 
There are also advances in wireless local access networks (LANs). These networks are now
offering high-speed performance, with the additional benefit of not having to wire the
building. This means that a company can invest in a quality LAN even if expecting to move
in the future. Take the $4 Billion BJ's Wholesale Club Inc., they now use a LAN for
customer service. "With facilities averaging 115,000 square feet, chasing down a customer
request is no small matter, with a wireless LAN they are seeing significant savings in
time, now all that is needed is the nearest laptop" (Kahaner). Also the newer wirelesses
LANs no longer require an FCC license, a significant savings for the consumer.
With all the great technology making our life easier, the wireless access is truly making
the technology more accessible. Within a short time we are sure to see all of our
connections to the internet wireless, making it that much easier to use the internet and
it wealth of resources. As well as the access we have to each other, and our offices.
There is only one way this technology is going, and as it is good, there is nothing wrong
with it. 
Bibliography
Works Cited
Adams, Bruce. "Telecommunications Opportunities," Interview. 19 June 2000. 
InfoTrack: Expanded Academic Index/ASAP. Information Access. 20 Sept. 2000. 
Kahaner, Larry. "Clear Signals For Wireless LAN's." Industry Trend 11 Oct. 99. 
InfoTrack: Expanded Academic Index/ASAP. Information Access. 20 Sept. 2000. 
Wallace, Bob. "Wireless Everything." Information Week 3 July 2000. InfoTrack: 
Expanded Academic Index/ASAP. Information Access. 18 Sept. 2000.