Our wired world is about to become a little less wired.
A new technology promises the connections we count on — and ones we probably never even thought of — without the hassle of wires, cables and connectors.
It’s an idea insiders say will revolutionize the way we live, even though most of the applications for Bluetooth technology have yet to hit the market.
“I think what you’re going to see is a very substantial impact,” says Peter Ackermans, vice-president of engineering at Zi Corporation. “We may not be totally conscious of the word Bluetooth, but it will definitely change how we lead our lives.”
Calgary-based Zi Corp. has just signed a deal to develop a Bluetooth headset for Fujikon, a leading electronics player in Asia. The headset, a wireless device enabling users to operate a cellphone hands-free without having to plug into the phone, is one of a multitude of applications for what many are calling the technology of the future.
“Bluetooth will be like the universal glue,” explains Dr. Tom Keenan, Dean of the Faculty of Continuing Education at the University of Calgary. “It breaks the annoyance of having to hook things up, and it will mean all kinds of new applications are possible. We’ll be able to connect devices we don’t even think of connecting.”
The technology is basically a low power, low range radio solution that enables devices in the same room to communicate with each other. For instance, a laptop computer could send presentation information to a projector without the two being hooked-up or even being the same brand. Minutes for meetings could also be done on the spot, wirelessly sent to all laptops or palm pilots in the room.
The universality of Bluetooth is at the core of its appeal. What started at Ericsson Mobile Communications as an idea for a wireless alternative in 1994, has become a consortium of over 1,300 companies worldwide.
The heart of the Bluetooth family is the founding five — Ericsson, Nokia, IBM, Toshiba and Intel — who formed a special interest group in 1998. They are now joined by industry giants including Microsoft, Motorola, 3 Comm and Lucent Technologies.
“These are the very largest players in the market,” Ackermans says. “Most were developing something like this separately, for their own needs, when they realized for quick market acceptance they needed a world standard — that was their motivation for coming together.”
It is that world standard, that universality, that makes Bluetooth different. According to the experts, it is also what will make Bluetooth an instant hit.
“I think it will become standard equipment in the next few years,” predicts Keenan. So much so, he says we “won’t even know what products (Bluetooth chips) come in.”
One of the main reasons for such a quick assimilation is the cost. Bluetooth is cheap. At approximately $10 US for a pair of chips, everyone from telecommunications companies to fridge manufacturers and auto makers can afford to build Bluetooth into their products.
Conceivably, that means your cellphone could talk to your car, your palm pilot could give instructions to your wallet and your home computer could make a list of what food you need in your fridge.
Expanding on the technology, it is possible Bluetooth chips may one day even be able to tell if the milk in your fridge is sour. While that may seem a little far-fetched, the realistic possibilities are endless. So too, are the concerns.
“Do you want your neighbour knowing what’s in your fridge,” Keenan asks. “If they have Bluetooth and their house is close enough, it’s possible.”
That’s because Bluetooth chips have two nominal standards — close range (10m) and extended range (100m). At extended range, experts say it is conceivable someone outside your home or office could gain access to devices with Bluetooth chips.
However, the concern is also present at close range. Keenan says it’s possible someone in the audience could “hijack” a presentation by using Bluetooth chips to send their information to the group, or even the projector being used for the presentation.
“Bluetooth will open up all kinds of security risks,” Keenan says. “So people need to think of ethical, moral, and security concerns before it comes out.”
The first Bluetooth product is already out — an Ericsson R520 cell phone was launched in September. However, for those developing new Bluetooth products, security is being taken seriously.
“Security features are part of Bluetooth specifications and have to be implemented,” says Zi Corp.’s Ackermans. “You have to instruct your device to not divulge information for some things and more freely to others.”
Yet, for Bluetooth developers and many experts, the benefits of this technology far outweigh the risks. From making our lives easier to helping people apply technology who normally would not, Bluetooth is bursting onto the market.
“The prediction is that hundreds of millions of these devices will be on the market in two years,” Ackermans says. “The expectation is that it will explode.”
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