Future Applications for Bluetooth Wireless Technology

From satellite communications to cell phones, to keyless entry in cars, wireless is rapidly becoming the most profound technology of our age. However, unlike other prominent new developments such as plasma-screen televisions and iPODs, wireless is a background technology. It is a basic fabric for how electronic devices work together and, by freeing us from cables and wires, it is changing the way we use these devices. Try to imagine for a moment the television-viewing experience without that ubiquitous wireless device which we all take for granted — the remote control. Whether we notice it or not, wireless technology is everywhere and is changing the way we live, work and play. One such wireless technology is Bluetooth which is already making waves in the tech world

As Bluetooth wireless technology is incorporated in more personal mobile devices, it enables new uses for those devices. Let us now explore new applications for bluetooth technology in future...

Retail and Mobile e-Commerce: Mobile devices in future can be used as a payment medium for goods and services. Any terminal that is used for retail transactions could incorporate Bluetooth wireless technology and thus connect to other Bluetooth devices to complete retail transactions.

For example,

•    A mobile phone could connect to a soda machine over a Bluetooth link to pay for a soda

•    Link to a kiosk at which you could buy a theater ticket.

•    A mobile phone, PDA, or other device could be used to pay for goods and services using Bluetooth communication links with a cash register.

•    Indeed, through the use of Bluetooth access points, entire shopping malls, arenas, grocery stores, restaurants, and other retail areas could allow customers to perform financial transactions throughout the building.

Medical: Three possible applications of Bluetooth wireless technology in the medical domain

•    Remote patient monitoring
•    Wireless biometric data
•    Medicine dispensers

Travel: With a personal device that employs Bluetooth wireless communications, a traveler might check in using this device, which could include personal identity credentials, thus eliminating the need to insert a card into a terminal. Moreover, an electronic boarding pass could be issued and stored in the Bluetooth device; that same device could then be used to wirelessly present the boarding pass when boarding the aircraft, eliminating the need for a paper boarding pass.

Home Networking:

•    A mobile phone could be used as a cordless phone via a Bluetooth voice access point (base station)
•    Portable computers could be used at home through wireless dial-up networking or a data access point

Futuristic as it might sound, it is already happening. Who would have believed even 15 years ago that just about everyone today would own cellular telephones? Wireless technology holds the promise of transforming hearing aids into multi-functional communication devices, turning hearing loss into hearing gain. So lot is yet to come!!!