WHAT IS BLUETOOTH?

Bluetooth is a wireless standard aimed at providing seamless interconnectivity between different devices. Original work on the Bluetooth standard began in the late 1990s, when Ericson mobile communications launched an initiative to study wireless alternatives to the cables that link the mobile phone with accessories such as headsets.







Bluetooth is named after a Danish king, Herald Bluetooth, who is remembered for uniting Denmark and Norway. This name is appropriate because it shows the role of the standard in uniting devices that otherwise are isolated from each other.

Bluetooth operates in the unlicensed Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) band (2.4GHz). It uses pseudorandom frequency hopping spread spectrum transmission scheme to minimize interference, since its band of operation is crowded (wireless LAN and microware ovens also operate at the same band).

The band is divided into 79 channels, with frequency spacing of 1MHz each. The Bluetooth system is able to switch frequency 1600 times in a second. A different frequency is selected after each packet transmission, if a packet is lost through interference; the packet is retransmitted on a different frequency channel. By the way, a packet is a chunk of information.

There are three classes of Bluetooth based on the level the radio output power.

CLASS I DEVICES

This class of Bluetooth devices is used for wide coverage networks. They emit up to 100mw of power and can transmit at a range of up to 100 meters

CLASS II DEVICES

These are medium range devices. They emit up to 2.5mW of power and can transmit at ranges of up to 20 meters.

CLASS III DEVICES








This is the most popular Bluetooth class. It is used in devices like computers, printers PDAs, mobile phones, and so on. They emit about one milliwatt and can transmit at ranges of about 10 meters.

Note that the range of operation of any Bluetooth device can be limited by obstructions, such as walls, furniture and human bodies.

The bandwidth of a Bluetooth device ranges from 1Mbit/s to up to 10Mbit/s.

INTERNET EXPLORER 7 OUT SOON

Microsoft internet explorer version 7 (ie7) will be released soon. However the Beta Version can now be downloaded to test the new browser.Ie7 comes with an orange button on the toolbar. This button glows when a really simple syndication (RSS) feed is detected on a site. Users of ie7 will click on a “plus” button to subscribe to the site’s feed.

The ie7 promises better security features, which is necessary because past versions of the Microsoft internet explorer has left a lot to be desired in the area of security. A more secured ie7 will restore confidence on browsers, as internet explorer remains the most popular browser software on the internet.

The ie7 will look a bit strange for people who have not used other internet browsers, especially the open source browser fire fox. Firefox is more advanced than current versions of internet explorer. Already firefox lets users of the internet to subscribe to feeds of websites like Weblogs, podcasts and news sites.

It is my hope that the ie7 will live up to expectation.Click here for a quick tour or download.

WHAT ARE RFID TAGS?

AN RFID TAG

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are data carrying devices suitable for attachment to other objects. The Data stored in these tags are used to store basic information about the object to which it is attached. RFID tags are silicon-based transponders, which replaces the lines in the popular barcodes with a low cost processing unit and a radio link.

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The data or information on the tag is downloaded into it during manufacture or with special devices for writing on the memory. The information on the tag is read via its radio link using a special device called an RFID reader. Information about an object is written on the device, after which it is attached to the object. This information stored in the tag can be easily read by bringing the object within the range of the RFID reader.










RFID readers

RFID tags operate at three frequency ranges these are low frequency (125 KHz or 134 KHz), high frequency (13.56MHz), and the ultra-high-frequency (UHF) tags (300MHz to 1GHz). So far, most RFID applications have used low frequency or high-frequency tags. According to suppliers, Philips and Texas instrument, in 2004 high frequency tags were ordered the most.

RFID have grown in popularity over the years because of their applications in inventory management and tracking of objects (asset management). It allows rapid inventory of bulk items, thereby making it very vital in distribution centers and supermarkets.

However, numerous applications for this device have emerged over the years. These devices can now be implanted inside the human tissue, like under the skin of the arm; this can be used as identification at work or in a nightclub. It can also be used for authenticating payment, and much more.

RFID tags implanted under the skin can also be used to store medical records, which can help medical personnel in identifying the patient and in having a proper knowledge of his medical records or history. Access to such information can enable doctors administer medication even when the patient is unconscious.


Many organizations use these devices because it helps in the tracking of supply and distribution chain. European aircraft manufacturer, airbus uses these tags on replaceable parts like brakes, seats, and lifebelts of the plane it builds. Retail giants such as Wal-mart in the United States and Tesco in the United Kingdom are already using this asset identification and tracking device. These investments help these companies efficiently manage their supply and distribution chains.










A passive RFID tag


In 2004, the United States military mandated all its suppliers to start using passive RFID tags on packages by January 2005. This was to ensure that meals and vital supplies could be constantly tracked and assets efficiently managed.

RFID tags are expected to become ubiquitous as prices fall. In addition, the news of the organic radical battery (ORB), which will improve processing power, will help in making this tags mainstream.

However, RFID tag has its problems. One of this is the privacy concern. Consumer protection groups are claiming that these tags will lead to an invasion of privacy if used in supermarkets because it can be used in tracking individual’s buying habits. In addition a tag implanted under the skin can be read by anybody with an RFID reader, which will take identity theft to the next level.

Malicious hackers can use the tags to distribute viruses in a network. This was demonstrated in 2006 by a group of security researchers. Virus can infect a tag during manufacture. These devices can also be compromised by taking advantage of their limited processing ability. An infected tag when read can transfer the virus onto the RFID reader. Since most readers will be connected to a network, the virus can easily infect the network. This they say can cause many problems for companies in the future.

Despite these set backs RFID tags take up have been very high as the pros out weighs the cons.