The Bluetooth Wireless Technology and the Radio Frequency Identification Technology - Thesis Example

Comparison of the Bluetooth Wireless Technology and the RFID Technology When Used to Improve the Museum Visitor's Experience: Report from the Top-Byte Solutions (Information Technology Company) to Ambleside Art Gallery I. The Bluetooth Wireless Technology and the RFID Technology Systems A. Description of both Systems Bluetooth wireless technology is intended for low power consumption and short-range communications and is designed to eliminate the need for cables connecting devices while still sustaining a high level of security. It is an industrial design for wireless personal area networks (PANs) and affords a means of connecting to and trading data between gadgets such as personal computers, laptops, printers, mobile phones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants (PDAs), video game consoles, and the like over a secure, globally-available-and unlicensed short-range radio frequency. Bluetooth allows these devices to communicate with each other when they are within each other’s range. A radio communications system is utilized which enables the receiving of transmission even if the devices are not in sight or are in separate rooms. This is possible as long as the transmission is strong enough. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group, the association that supervises the development of Bluetooth, has licensed and developed the specifications for Bluetooth technology. The significant features of Bluetooth are that it is strong, relatively low-cost (an inexpensive transceiver microchip can be found in each Bluetooth-enabled device) and does not require much power. Also, the specifications for Bluetooth allow for use with a broad range of devices to hook up and communicate with each other. Bluetooth technology has become so well received internationally that almost any Bluetooth-enabled device, almost anywhere in the planet, can connect to any other Bluetooth-enabled device near it. Devices that make use of Bluetooth connect and communicate wirelessly using short-range networks called piconets (Bluetooth SIG, Inc., 2007). A Bluetooth-enabled device can connect and communicate with up to seven other Bluetooth-enabled devices all at the same time within a single piconet. Consequently, a device may belong to several piconets all at once. Piconets are created automatically whenever a Bluetooth-enabled device comes into radio proximity with another Bluetooth-enabled device. A key strength of Bluetooth wireless technology is its capacity to concurrently handle both information and voice transmissions. This gives users the ability to make use of and enjoy an assortment of groundbreaking innovations such as new and useful mobile phone applications, hands-free headsets for voice calls, wireless printing and fax, and the synchronization of laptops, mobile phones, personal computers and PDAs. B. What the Bluetooth Wireless Technology and the RFID Technology can Offer to the Visitors Bluetooth technologies have enjoyed great use and attention from the communication industry appearing as wireless file sharing devices or as wireless networks where communication and even gaming is supported. Lately, it has also been applied to display systems in museums and galleries. A Bluetooth based audio tour system was successfully demonstrated at the Melbourne Museum in 2003. The system tries to combine the best of CDs, tapes and other electronic or digital audio recording devices and tries to eliminate their clutter. Through the system, visitors can customize their own museum tours that need not be dependent on linear audio recording. Further, each part of the commentary is complete on its own and always starts at the beginning for every user. Bluetooth links the user device. Bluetooth Wireless technology is a short-range radio technology, which makes it possible to transmit signals over short distances between telephones, computers and other devices. It eliminates wires and cables between both stationary and mobile devices, facilitate both data and voice communication, simplify communication and synchronization between synchronicity between all your personal devices http://www.ericsson.com/technology/tech_articles/Bluetooth.shtml. Microsoft products with 2.4 GHz Bluetooth wireless technology let you work and play with freedom and with no interference. With this technology, even if you are 30 ft. away, that is almost 5 times further than standard wireless, the product can achieve top performance. With Microsoft First Connect Technology, you can use the device quickly and easily without complicated set up. Microsoft first connect solves the problem of using typical Bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse products. These products do not work without their operating system running and software proper configured. This requires you to keep a spare wired keyboard and mouse for certain programs and to troubleshoot connectivity issues. Microsoft First Connect solves this problem by introducing a limited Bluetooth wireless connection so that you can finally use your Bluetooth wireless product anywhere, anytime. By using encrypted signals and constantly changing frequency, Bluetooth devices work more safely than most typical wireless devices. By using Bluetooth you do not have to use computer nearby, it provides extra wireless freedom. RFID offers exciting opportunities for organizations to improve their efficiency, customer service and safety. RFID transmitter (tags) can transmit and send information over ranges varying from a few millimetres to a hundred meters. Whether it is simple or complex, it can send information depending on their purpose. Tags are communicated by using RFID readers. It can send info about location and status of objects, people and vehicles. This information is used to help track and manage a wide range of objects from microscope slides to railway trains. RFID can be vied as the next step towards ubiquitous computing where every object has the potential to communicate with every other object as part of collaborative network. C. Explanation of the Technologies that Underpin Them In an article written by Jonathan Collins, entitled “Dexit turns RFID cards into Cash” Dexit has turned RFID to underpin its cashless payment system, to create a service that lets consumers quickly purchase goods. According to Dexit, compared to other payment technologies, such as mag stripe, dynamic barcode, contact cards and others, only RFID was easy for consumers to use and had a price point that was low enough to be manageable for both consumers and merchants. D. What is Required for their Installation and Operation? RFID system requires three main components. These are the radio-transmitters known as tags, reader, and computer networks. Radio-transmitters fall into two categories, the passive and the active tags. Passive tags have no battery, small and cheap. They have short range of under 3m. and are often flat. Active tags, on the other hand, have batteries. They are larger and more expensive. They have long range, of up to 100m. and can offer a wide range of additional functions. Reader is also required which communicate with the tags. These vary widely in size and shape from small handheld devices to a large readers built into doorways. Computer networks to which the readers may be attached to a fixed network or communicate wirelessly using WiFi or GPRS in order to send data to business systems. A mini USB Bluetooth transceiver, is included with Microsoft Bluetooth devices. Using the Microsoft Mini Bluetooth transceiver, one can connect computer with cell phones, pocket PCs, camera, printers and many other wireless products. II. Issues that might Arise from the Deployment of each of these Systems A. Cost Privacy and Security Cost privacy and security issues are the most predominant issues that might arise regarding RFID. It will cost millions of dollars to implement the RFID system. By the demand of the customer, these investments are usually driven, hoping that the system will reduce costs down. However, most experts expect the technology to accomplish much more in terms of efficiency and cost savings. Companies are hesitant to allocate more resources for IT systems that are controlled by the CIOs office. Every company has recently invested millions and is not necessarily prepared to continue directing their profits towards more IT. RFID appears to be a production and distribution technology, but immediately beneath the surface is an It system for data collection, storage, analysis, and distribution. Specific costs for the system include tags, readers, tag printers, middleware, IT infrastructure, consulting, R&D, changes to internal business system, training, third-party licensing, facilities changes, and labor (Shutzberg, 2004). B. Availability Both Bluetooth and RFID technologies have been available and used in many forms for some time now. They are used in many applications and devices that cover a wide range of services. These services range from communication applications to toll collection systems in high traffic areas. Bluetooth technologies have enjoyed great use and attention from the communication industry appearing as wireless file sharing devices or as wireless networks where communication and even gaming is supported. Lately it has also been applied to display systems in museums and galleries. A Bluetooth based audio tour system was successfully demonstrated at the Melbourne Museum in 2003. The system tries to combine the best of CDs, tapes and other electronic or digital audio recording devices and tries to eliminate their clutter. Through the system, visitors can customize their own museum tours that need not be dependent on linear audio recording. Further, each part of the commentary is complete on its own and always starts at the beginning for every user. Bluetooth links the user device to the various access points scattered around the premises. They’re also used to channel the streaming audio. Further, Bluetooth allows for high quality audio and even multiple languages. For the venue administrators, this arrangement offers centralized storage of audio. This makes for easy management and allows in house staff to update the system. Also this allows the administrators to monitor visitor routes and length of time spent in one area of the exhibit. As of this year, telecommunications companies such as Nokia and Sony-Ericson have offered applications that use Bluetooth in video streaming in wireless gaming. It can be expected that further applications can be discovered with the technology and continue to be available. C. Human–Technology Interaction Few examples of new technologies that have significantly affects various aspects of our lives are computers, mobile phones. Office environments, internet, an home entertainment. Advancement of technology provides us of a wide range of opportunities, enjoyment and comfort. Unfortunately, these new products and systems are also becoming complex and difficult to operate. Moreover, they may be unsafe or detrimental to health. To study these issues on the problems raised by the introduction ofnew technologies, Master’s Degree Program in Human Technology Interaction offers unique opportunity by applying knowledge from the social sciences, especially psychology (http.www.humantechnology.international.nl). . III. Comparison of the Two Systems Bluetooth Technology compared with other technologies is helpful when deciding which technologies to implement or products to purchase. Bluetooth Wireless technology is geared towards voice and data applications. It operates in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz spectrum. It can operate over a distance of 10m. or 100m. depending on the Bluetooth device class, (the peak data rate with EDR is 3Mbps) It able to penetrate solid object. Bluetooth technology is omni-directional and does not require line of sight positioning of connected devices. Bluetooth specification allows three modes of security. The cost of Bluetooth chips is under $3. For broad range of applications, there are over 140 different ISO standards for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). A passive, or unpowered tag can be powered at a distance by a reader device. The receiver pulls information off the tag and then looks up more information from a database. Some tags are self powered, active tag that can be read from a greater distance. RFID can operate in low frequency, less than 100 MHz, high frequency, more than 100MHz, and UHF, 868 to 954 MHz. RFID ca be use in tracking inventory both in shipment and on retail shelves (http://www.bluetooth.com./Bluetooth/learn/Technology/Compare) IV. Recommendation Bluetooth technology compared with other technology is helpful when deciding which technology suitable to implement or products to purchase. Bluetooth is strong, cheaper, and does not require much power. It allows broad range of communication. It eliminates the need for cables connecting devices. It is more convenient to use, you can use it anywhere, anytime. It allows high quality audio and multiple languages. It can able to penetrate solid objects. IT does not require line of sight positioning of connected devices. Despite RFIDs capacity to transmit and send information over ranges varying from a few millimetres to a hundred meters, and the capability to send information about location and status of object, people and vehicles, it is hard to implant the RFID system. It will cost millions of dollars to implement the RFID system. However, most experts expect the technology to accomplish much more in terms of efficiency. REFERENCES: Bluetooth SIG. Inc. 2007 Shutzberg, L. 2004. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in the Consumer Goods Supply Chain”. Industry White paper. Rock-Tenn Company. http//www.bluetooth.com./Bluetooth/learn/technology/compare http//www.humantechnology.international.nl Read More