2.1 Hacks #13-19
There is much talk in the
communications industry of providing "last
mile" connectivity. Think of Bluetooth as providing
connectivity for the last 10 feet. Bluetooth excels as a handy cable
replacement technology, helping to eliminate the need for cumbersome
wires that you might find on headsets, remote controls, PDAs, and
other small devices. Bluetooth aims to end the days of needing to
carry a three-foot piece of cable with obscure connectors on either
end everywhere you go, just to interface to your laptop. You can use
Bluetooth-enabled devices to talk to a laptop or a desktop, or even
have them talk to each other to exchange data almost effortlessly.
There are also a number of Bluetooth-enabled
input devices on the market,
such as mice and keyboards. While it does increase
one's dependency on batteries, Bluetooth can go a
long way toward cutting down on the rat's nest of
cables that comes with personal computing. This chapter demonstrates
some nifty directions people are taking with Bluetooth.
Also presented in this chapter are a couple of hacks about how to
interface with mobile data networks [Hack #8]. These
networks are particularly handy to use when Wi-Fi or other
connectivity just isn't available. Devices that
combine Bluetooth, mobile data networks, on-board storage, audio
capability, and even video cameras are just coming to market. These
advanced devices are just the beginning of the inevitable convergence
of consumer products with general purpose computers and the Internet,
creating an unprecedented level of connectivity for the average user.
Here are some hacks that push this concept of hyperconnectivity quite
far.
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