Personally, I think a combination of genius and environment -- both social
and technological -- must be necessary for invention.
For example, wireless technology -- from home phones to cellphones to
computers -- has been developed (if not by geniuses, then at the very least
by people a whole lot smarter than me) in response to the unmet needs and
desires of those wishing to roam freely while staying connected. Wireless
phone handsets meet the needs of those who want to leave the kitchen or
bedroom while conversing; cellphones meet the needs of those desiring free-
dom of travel while maintaining their ability to reach out and touch -- or be
touched by -- someone. That's environment and genius coming together,
meeting the needs of the populace; so it is with Wi-Fi.
Exploring the advantages
I'm thinking that shortly after the first phone cord was connected to a computer
(tethering both it and the user to a small and specific radius), somebody --
possibly an ungrateful son or a meddling daughter-in-law -- began trying to
figure out how to cut the cord. When the first laptops hit the market, the
movement toward a wireless Internet connection hit high gear. Included
among the needs and desires that wireless Internet connection technology
strives to meet are the following:
Convenience: I think this is the most attractive of all wireless Internet
attributes. When using a dialup connection, it's sometimes difficult to
find a suitable spot from which to connect the cord. Because Wi-Fi does
away with the cord or cable, everyplace within range of the wireless
access point is suitable for use. (I explain wireless access points later in
this chapter.)
Privacy: To a certain extent, this attribute goes hand-in-hand with free-
dom and convenience. I've seen RV parks that require dialup computer
users to sit in the office or laundry room, and truck stops usually rele-
gate dialup users to a noisy coffee shop or noisier TV room. When using
Wi-Fi you can, if you choose, sit comfortably in the privacy of your own
home on wheels.
Speed: Download speeds for wireless broadband Internet connections
are typically as much as ten to twenty times faster than dialup. In
Chapter 2, I discuss Wi-Fi data-transfer speeds in greater detail.
Ease of use: Yeah, okay, I hear you: "If it's so easy to use, why do I need a
book?" Well, it really is easy to set up and use, but as with anything,
there's a learning curve. Besides, I've got to make a living somehow.
Reasonable cost: If you've already got a laptop or PDA, you can easily
and inexpensively adapt it for wireless Internet access. (I tell you more
about this in Chapters 3 and 4.) And Internet services, which I talk about
in Chapter 6, are usually reasonably priced, too.
Part I: The Wonderful World of Wireless Fidelity
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