Types of Wireless Devices

By Jedadiah Casey, eHow Contributor Print this article Share

Wireless devices are prevalent in different types.

Wireless devices have been available to consumers for many years, starting with the first infrared remote controls. Wireless technology is still prevalent in many forms. Within the past 15 years, the other primary types of wireless devices created for the consumer market have been 802.11-based wireless computer networking components and Bluetooth peripherals. Have a question? Get an answer from Online Tech Support now!

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List of Wireless Devices

Wireless Communication Devices Used in Network

1. 802.11
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Wireless devices based on the different 802.11 standards--including wireless cards and routers--are typically associated with computer networking. Many other types of devices use 802.11 wireless technology, however, including Blu-Ray players and smart phones. As of December 2010, the most common 802.11 wireless standards are A, B, G and N. 802.11 technology runs on both the 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) and 5 GHz range of radio frequencies, depending on the sub-standard. 802.11b and 802.11g use 2.4 GHz, while 802.11a uses 5 GHz. 802.11n uses both sets of frequency ranges. The different sub-standards utilize different connection speeds. 802.11b connects up to 11 megabits per second (Mbps). 802.11a and 802.11g connect up to 54 Mbps, while 802.11n connects up to 300 Mbps.

Bluetooth
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Bluetooth is the market name given to 802.15-based technologies. Bluetooth operates in the 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) range of radio frequencies and is designed for short distance point-topoint connections of up to 30 feet. The most common device associated with Bluetooth is the headset designed for cell phones. Many other devices are designed to use Bluetooth, however, such as wireless keyboards and mice.

Infrared
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Infrared is one of the oldest wireless technologies associated with the consumer market. Infrared is primarily used for remote control devices and requires a direct line-of-sight connection for proper operation.

List of Wireless Devices

Print this article Share By Michelle Strait, eHow Contributor

Wireless devices keep you connected without tying you down.

Wireless technology has come a long way since 1880 when Alexander Graham Bell and Sumner Tainter invented the photophone. The photophone was an early wireless telephone device that transmitted sound over a beam of light. Unlike the photophone, modern wireless technology relies on the use of radio frequency signals. Wireless technology makes it possible for consumers worldwide to use several types of devices. Have a question? Get an answer from Online Tech Support now!

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Types of Wireless Devices

Home Wireless: Types of Devices

1. Comunication Equipment
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The modern world has several type of wireless devices that allow humans to communicate. The singer at the last concert you attended probably sang into a wireless microphone. Your children might spend hours running around playing with walkie-talkies. Perhaps the most widely used of all wireless communications devices is the cell phone. It's almost impossible to go anywhere in America without seeing at least one person using a cell phone. However, wireless communication first received worldwide recognition in 1949 when Al Gross, the inventor of the walkie-talkie, invented the telephone pager. A telephone pager has a wireless receiver inside that responds to certain signals. When a person dials the pager number, whomever is wearing the pager hears a sound.

Computer Peripherals
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Computers play an important role in modern society. You see computers in schools, homes and business establishments. When it comes to wireless devices, many of them fit into the computer-peripheral category. A computer peripheral is a device made for a computer, but it's not a part of the computer. A wireless printer is an example of a wireless computer peripheral. It works like a traditional printer, except you print without having to physically connect the printer to the computer. Other wireless computer peripherals include the wireless keyboard and mouse.

Household Items
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Wireless devices aren't only for computers and communications. You probably use several wireless household items everyday. Most American households have at least one television remote control. If you have a DVD player or cable box, those usually have a remote control as well. You might even have a remote garage door opener which, according to Montclair State University, is one of the oldest wireless devices in common use. Some parents also use wireless baby monitors, which make it possible to monitor activity in a child's room from a distance.

Security Concerns
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Wireless technology makes life easier in many ways. However, it also poses a threat in some situations. According to Internal Auditor, wireless technology makes use of a broadcast medium. Anyone with the proper device can intercept information you might think is private. For example, some households have wireless networks that allow multiple computers to share one Internet connection. If the network isn't password-protected, any computer within range with wireless connectivity can connect to your network.

What Are Some Wireless Devices in a Classroom?

By Mandy Slake, eHow Contributor Print this article Share

Laptops can be a useful classroom tool or a distracting time waster.

Students bring their phones and sometimes even their own computers into class. While wireless devices can be teaching tools, they can also negatively impact student test scores and facilitate cheating in classes. Some schools have banned wireless devices entirely.Have a question? Get an answer from Online Tech Support now!

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1. Cell Phones
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Many students and teachers have cell phones for emergency use. Some schools have banned students from using or even possessing cell phones on the school grounds, but students continue to bring them. While parents may agree to give a student a cell phone for safety reasons, cell phones can be disruptive in class. They also can facilitate cheating, as students text answers to one another or browse the Internet on their phones during tests.

Wireless Computers
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Laptop computers are useful in classrooms because they can be transferred from one classroom to another. They can also be picked up and moved around the room without having to disconnect cumbersome wires. Many schools have Wi-Fi connections, allowing teachers to stay connected to the Internet even while walking around. Some courses have online tests or quizzes, and older students can use personal laptops to take notes and record lectures.

Wireless Routers
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Routers in the classroom can give educators the option to switch off Internet usage at certain times. For example if students are taking a test on the computer but the teacher doesn't want to allow access to the Internet. The teacher can use a router to disconnect the Internet connection for the duration of the test.

Issues with Wireless Devices

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Setting up a wireless classroom can drain school budgets, especially if the computers are owned by the school rather than the student. The Internet can be a compelling distraction. Some instructors find that their students are focusing on using sites like Facebook and My Space rather than focusing on their studies. Sometimes, students can be disruptive to others by talking on their phones during class.

What Is a Wireless Device?

A wireless device is anything that can transmit signals using an internal radio, such as cellular phones, laptops, wireless cards and wireless routers. Find out how wireless devices function with information from a certified computer technician in this free video on computers.

What Are Different Types of Wireless Devices?

By Gregory Hamel, eHow Contributor Print this article Share

Wireless technology describes electronic devices that communicate without cords using radio frequency signals. Wireless technology is used in a variety of modern device to provide convenience and greater mobility, and wireless devices play an important role in voice and Internet communications.Have a question? Get an answer from Online Tech Support now!

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List of Wireless Devices

Types of Wireless Devices

1. Wireless Router
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A wireless router is a device that accepts an incoming Internet connection and sends data as RF signals to other wireless devices that are near the router. Wireless routers are used to connect wireless-enabled computers and other devices to the Internet. A network set up with a wireless router is sometimes called a wireless local area network (WLAN.). Many routers have built-in security features such as firewalls which help protect devices connected to the router against malicious data, such as computer viruses.

Wireless Adapters
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Wireless adapters are hardware devices installed inside computers that enable wireless connectivity. If a computer does not have a wireless adapter, it will not be able to connect to a router in order to access the Internet. Some computers have wireless adapters built directly into the motherboard while it is also possible to install stand-alone wireless adapters to add wireless capability to a computer that did not come with an adapter built in.

Wireless Repeater
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A wireless repeater is a wireless networking device that is used to extend the range of a router. A repeater receives wireless signals and then re-emits them with increased strength. By placing a repeater between a router and the computer connected to the router, signal strength can be boosted, resulting in faster connection speeds.

Wireless Phones
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Cellular and cordless phones are two more examples of device that make use of wireless signals. Cordless phones have a limited range, but cell phones typically have a much larger range than local wireless networks, since cell phone providers use large telecommunication towers to provide cell phone coverage.Satellite phones make use of signals from satellites to communicate, similar to Global Positioning System (GSP) devices.

Other Devices
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Anything that uses radio signals to communicate can be considered a wireless device. Common devices, such as garage door openers, baby monitors, certain video game consoles and walkie-talkies, make use of wireless technology.

Name Five Types of Mobile Devices

By Jason Artman, eHow Contributor Print this article Share

Since the invention of the microprocessor, miniaturization has made computer-like devices so small that they can fit into a pocket. Today, powerful mobile devices are more powerful than ever, and are becoming increasingly important for software developers and websites. There are several common types of mobile devices. Have a question? Get an answer from Online Tech Support now!

A PDA has some of the features of a full computer.

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Types of Mobile Computer Devices

List of Mobile Internet Devices

1. Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)

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A PDA is a small handheld computer with a touch-screen interface. A small pen-like device called a stylus is generally used to interact with the screen. Some of the activities that a typical PDA can perform include browsing the Web, working with office documents and spreadsheets, reading email and playing games. In the late 2000s, most PDA models without mobile phone capabilities were phased out in favor of "smartphones," mobile phones with PDA features.

Mobile Phone

A mobile phone is a telephone that uses cellular radio networks to send and receive communication rather than physical phone lines. In addition to being used for telephone communications, most mobile phones have the ability to send and receive short text messages called Short Message Service (SMS) messages. Many modern phones have touch screen interfaces and can run software like a PDA.

Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) Receiver

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GPS uses a network of satellites orbiting around the Earth for navigation and location finding. A GPS receiver has a small internal antenna and searches automatically for signals from GPS satellites when the user turns it on. Once a GPS receiver has signal from at least three satellites, it uses triangulation to determine your location. Many GPS receivers have screens and mapping software that you can use to find directions while driving. Others connect to laptop computers and PDAs via USB or Bluetooth.

Portable Game Console

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A portable game console is a mobile device designed primarily for playing games. Portable game consoles use cartridges, memory cards, optical discs and downloaded files for game storage, and have buttons, directional pads, thumb sticks or touch screens for control. Although games are the primary use for portable game consoles, many have other functions such as Web browsing and viewing movies.

Media Player
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A media player is a mobile device that is primarily used for playing music and videos. Increasingly, manufacturers have added functionality to media players to make them more like PDAs. Some media players might include cameras or have the ability to run applications and games.

In conclusion, WAP is suitable for the creation of mobile learning training course material. The optimisation of WAP and the handling of the design challenges makes it feasible to use mobile handheld devices for distance learning in real-time. The application developer must always be aware of the user and take into account the usability issues if the application is to be a success.