I would like to tell you about such a significant invention of the last years as Wireless Fidelity, widely known as Wi-Fi. The modern world is computerized practically in every sphere – everywhere you go, you will meet hundreds of devices constantly connected to the Internet. Even such habitual things as TV-sets, cameras, washing machines, even kettles are today equipped with Wi-Fi or WLAN adapters which add them many new features.
Wi-Fi was invented in 1996 in the CSIRO by John O’Sullivan in Canberra, Australia. John O’Sullivan is an Australian electrical engineer who works in the sphere of Fourier transforms to radio astronomy. The technology was patented by CSIRO and makes part of the 802.11a, 802.11g and 802.11n standards of WiFi connection. In 2009 the scientist was awarded for this invention. There are many kinds of Wi-Fi standards, like 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac, and ad. The standard 802.11n can ensure connection speed up to 600 Mb/sec. Wi-Fi technology helps to provide the Internet to the devices which are not far away from it. It can be used at home and in public places (cafes, airports, etc.) (WiFi Technology Invented in Australia).
Wi-Fi has many advantages which facilitated the access to the Internet, in particular, and many aspects of life, in general. You can create Internet access without any cables, so it takes much less time and effort. Moreover, since practically every person has a smartphone today, which often needs Internet connection for many options, Wi-Fi helps to use cheaper Internet than mobile one. Besides, you don’t get tied to one particular place in the room, as it was with desktop PCs – you can work, study, play, or chat with your friends from any place in your home/office/college. Finally, it is a very cheap way to connect a place to the Internet and it get more available each year.
Today we cannot imagine our life without the Internet. And we cannot imagine our devices without Wi-Fi.
However, WiFi standard has a few disadvantages for which it is usually criticised. The are of its work is quite limited - usually to one flat, house, or room. Besides, it needs much more power, so you can your mobile device much less. As a wireless technology, it can worsen the work of other devices in the room, especially those which use Bluetooth. Another serious disadvantage is that it can be hacked - you must only find the appropriate password, which is not a difficult task for hackers. And after all, it depends on weather much. You can hardly use Wi-Fi during bad weather - clouds, rains, blizzard - all these kinds of weather make WiFi connection very weak and the speed becomes very slow.
References
WiFi Technology Invented in Australia. (n.d.). Retrieved June 8, 2016, from http://www.onlycanberra.com.au/39792/wifi-technology-invented-in-australia#.V1hceNmLTIU
