Chapter 7 - Week 9

1. Identify common wireless devices and their application to business

Common wireless devices include:

• Mobile phones-which are used to reach people when not in the office to discuss business matters
• Wireless Internet- which allows you to be online at all times, able to both and a receive emails.
• Bluetooth-which is used to sync calenders from PCs to mobile phones or to use hands free devices when driving.
• GPS-which is used to help locate businesses or other places of interest.

2. Describe the various types and general characteristics of wireless transmission media/technologies - microwave, satellite, infrared and radio waves.

Microwaves are used in conjuction with satellites for high volume, high bandwidth line. To work they need a clear line of sight with no obstacles. The signal can be distorted by environmental interference or other objects blocking the line of sight. Microwaves and satellites are used to transmit Television signals, GPS signals and Mobile Phone signals just to name a few.

Infrared transmission is the cheapest and easiest way to communicate wirelessly. An LED is used to send the signal(pulses of on and off) to another device. It is most commonly used in remote controls for electrical devices.

Radio waves are used in the transmission of signals by electromagnetic waves. Radio waves don't need a medium and can be reflected or refracted around objects. Radio waves are used to transmit Audio, Video, GPS and Radar.



3. What is bluetooth/how is it used?

Bluetooth is wireless radio communication that allows close range connectivity between devices eg mobile and bluetooth headset or send files from one computer to another wirelessly.


4. What are WLAN's, Wi-Fi, WWAN's, WiMax?

WLAN is a Wireless Local area Network-which uses radio waves to transmit data to and from computers on the same network

Wi-Fi is a wireless Ethernet technology that allows people with laptop computers to connect to the Internet while out and about at hot spots" where Wi-Fe is enabled.

WWAN is Wide Area Wireless Network which allows users to connect over a a very large geographical network.

WiMax is the successor to Wi-Fi it is a new wireless broadband technology with a range of up to 80km.

5. What are the drivers of mobile computing and m0bile commerce

Drivers include

• Widespread availability of mobile devices
• No need for a PC-can use mobile phone now eg blackberry or iPhone
• declining prices of technology
• Bandwidth Improvement eg 3G networks

6. Be able to explain how mobile technologies can be applied to business solutions

Mobile technologies can help business in many ways such as

• Mobile banking which allows fast and easy payment for goods online
• Mobile wallets allowing people to make purchases with a click of their phones.
• Location based services and advertising which allows businesses to target a segmented market eg advertise car parts at a F1 Race.
• Cellphone culture has allowed almost everyone to have a phone on them at all times making everyone always contactable.

7. Explain the nature of RFID

RFID is Radio Frequency Identification Technology. It was invented to replace barcodes but wasn't as successful as first conceived due to its high cost over a barcode and its larger size. It can be used in stores to speed up the transaction process and also be used in warehouses to faster count inventory coming and going out of the warehouse.


8. Identify the 4 main security threats that arise from the use of mobile technologies

4 Main security threats include :

1. Rouge Access point which is an unauthorised access point into a wireless network
2. Ware Driving is the locating of WLANs whilst walking or driving around a destination with wireless networks, allowing users to access free Internet
3. Eavesdropping refers to unauthorised users access to data that is travelling over a wireless network
4. Radio Frequency jamming is intentionally interfering with wireless network transmissions.