Those who use technology today expect a high level of connectivity with the various devices that are available to them. Two tools for connectivity are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology. Both are established by radio bands. Wi-Fi works on UHF and SHF radio bands while Bluetooth works on UHF radio bands. The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) have established standards for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology. The IEEE standard for Wi-Fi is 802.11. The IEEE standard for Bluetooth is 802.15.1. Vendors that want their products to be certified as Wi-Fi must pass certification that is maintained by the Wi-Fi Alliance. In order to gain certification as a Bluetooth product, the Bluetooth SIG must certify the product.
A customer is a coffee shop who wants to use the shops Wi-Fi to access the web must have a Wi-Fi capable laptop, tablet or phone. The customer must also be given the password. Wi-Fi access is more convenient than a hard wired connection, but it is also more susceptible to a breach by an intruder accessing the radio band. “Hackers employ a whole range of ways to steal password.”
An athlete in a gym may want to listen to music while working out, but she doesn’t want to get tangled in the wires that are used to connect the head phones to her phone where all her music is saved. A Bluetooth enabled headphone allows her to connect to her Bluetooth enabled phone. She is able to listen to music without cords connecting her headphones to her cell phone.
In short, Bluetooth technology connects one device to another using radio band technology. Wi-Fi also connects one device to another using radio band technology. Wi-Fi, however, is a network that also connects to the Internet. Devices may have one or both technologies and passwords are recommended on both to maintain the highest level of security.
References
Parsons, J., & Oja, D. (2014). New Perspectives on Computer Concepts 2014. Boston: Course Technology Cengage Learning.
