Exam Time for IT. Ч.2. Практикум

Topic 9. Wireless technologies

The term wireless refers to the communication or transmission of information over a distance without requiring wires, cables or any other electrical conductors. Wireless communication is one of the important mediums of transmission of data or information to other devices. The Communication is set and the information is transmitted through the air, without requiring any cables, by using electromagnetic waves like radio frequencies, infrared, satellite, etc., in a wireless communication technology network.

At the end of the 19th century, the first wireless communication systems were introduced and the technology has significantly been developed over the intervening and subsequent years. Today, the term wireless refers to a variety of devices and technologies ranging from smart phones to laptops, tabs, computers, printers, Bluetooth, etc.

Types of Wireless Communication Technologies.

In recent days, the wireless communication technology has become an integral part of several types of communication devices as it allows users to communicate even from remote areas. The devices used for wireless communication are cordless telephones, mobiles, GPS units, ZigBee technology, wireless computer parts, and satellite television, etc.

Satellite. Satellite communication is one of the wireless technologies, which is widely spread all over the world allowing users to stay connected virtually anywhere on the Earth. The Satellites used in this mode of communication, communicate directly with the orbiting satellites via radio signals. Portable satellite phones and modems have more powerful broadcasting abilities than the cellular devices as they have high range, apart from being more expensive in terms of cost, than their counterparts.

For example, for outfitting a ship through satellite communication, a traditional communication system is linked to a single satellite, which allows multiple users to share the same broadcast equipment.

Wireless Networking. Wireless Networking technologies connect multiple computers, systems and devices together without requiring wires or cables: a wireless local area network or WLAN comes under Wi-Fi.

WiMAX. There are wireless broadband systems that offer fast Web surfing without being getting connected through cable or DSL (Example of wireless broadband is WiMAX). Although WiMAX can potentially deliver data rates of more than 30 Megabits per second, yet the providers offer average 0 data rates of 6 Mbps and often deliver less, making the service significantly slower than the hard-wired broadband. The actual cost of the data available using WiMAX widely varies with the distance from the transmitter. WiMAX is also one of the versions of 4G wireless available in phones as Sprint’s 4G technology.

Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is a form of low-power wireless communication used by many electronic devices such as laptops, systems, smart phones, etc. In a Wi-Fi setup, a wireless router serves as the communication hub. These networks are extremely limited in range due to low power of transmissions allowing users to connect only within close proximity to a router or signal repeater. Wi-Fi is common in home networking applications which provides portability without any need of cables. Wi-Fi networks need to be secured with passwords for security purposes in order not to be accessed by others.

Wireless Networking (Wi-Fi):

Ease of Integration and Convenience – Wireless LANs may not be desirable for a The wireless nature of such networks number of reasons.

allows users to access network resources Radio Frequency transmission and wireless

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malicious data such as computer viruses. A wireless router is used in many houses to connect their computers to the Internet.

Wireless Adapters. Wireless adapters are hardware devices that are installed inside computers which enables 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 standalone wireless adapters to add wireless capability to a computer that doesn’t have a built-in facility.

Wireless Repeater. A wireless repeater is a wireless networking device that is used to extend the range of a wireless router. A repeater receives wireless signals and amplifies the strength of the signals, and then re-emits them. The strength of the signal can be increased by placing a repeater between the router and the computer connected to the router.

Microwave. Microwave is an effective type of wireless data transmission that transfers information using two separate methods. One method which is used to transmit data through the wireless media of a microwave is the satellite method that transmits information via a satellite that orbits 22,300 miles above the Earth. Stations on the ground send and receive data signals to and from the satellite with a frequency ranging from 11 GHz to 14 GHz and with a transmission speed of 1 Mbps to 10 Mbps. Another method is a terrestrial method, in which two microwave towers with a clear line of sight between them are used ensuring no obstacles to disrupt that line of sight. For the purpose of privacy, it is used often. The frequency of data transmission for terrestrial systems is typically 4 GHz to 6 GHz or 21 GHz to 23 GHz, and the speed is usually 1 megabit per second (Mbps) to 10 Mbps.

Infrared (IR). Infrared is a media transmission system that transmits data signals through light emitting diodes (LEDs) or Lasers. Infrared is an electromagnetic energy at a wavelength which is longer than that of the red light. The information cannot be travelled through obstacles in an infrared system, but can be inhibited by light. One type of infrared is the point to point system in which transmission is possible between two points limited to a range and line of sight.

The signal frequency to transmit in a point to point system is 100 GHz to 1,000 terahertz (THz), and the speed ranges from 100 Kbps to 16 Mbps. Another method of transmission of infrared includes the broadcast system – and, in this method, a reflective material or a transmission unit amplifies and retransmits a data signal to several other units. The normal frequency of an infrared broadcast system is 100 GHz to 1,000 THz with a limited speed of 1 Mbps.

Types of Wireless Devices.

Radio. The radio system is one type of wireless data transmission, and it is a wireless media that transfers data by carrying electromagnetic waves with low frequencies to distant locations through an electrical conductor and an antenna. Ham radio enthusiasts share information and serve as emergency communication aids during disasters with their powerful amateur broadcasting equipment and can even communicate digital data over the radio spectrum.

Citizen’s band and maritime radios provide communication services for truckers and sailors. The transmission frequency for information transmitted through a radio system ranges from 10 kilohertz (kHz) to 1 gigahertz (GHz), and the frequencies are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Wireless Phones. The evolution of cellular networks is enumerated by generations. Many different users communicate across a single frequency band through Cellular and cordless phones. Cellular and cordless phones are two more examples of devices that make use of wireless signals.

Cordless phones have a limited range but cell phones typically have a much larger range than the local wireless networks since cell phone use large telecommunication towers to provide cell phone coverage. Some phones make use of signals from satellites to communicate, similar to Global Positioning System (GSP) devices.

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Exercises:

1. Match the pictures with the works in the box:

Tablet - Writing Tablet - Scanner - 3D printer - Power Bank - Charger Solar Charger - Charging Dock - USB Drive - USB Hub - Gaming Console Wireless Headphones - Bluetooth Speaker - MP3 Player - Splitter - Router

2. Match the pictures with the works in the box:

Microphone - GPS Navigation - Webcam - Vlogging Camera - Video Camera Action Camera - Handheld Console - Arcade Game - Arcade Controller Surround Sound - VR Glasses - Smart Glasses - Laptop eBook Reader - Car Charger - Surge Protector

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3. Match the pictures with the works in the box:

TV Box - HD Television - HD Monitor - Remote Control - Smart TV Dangle Gaming

Headphones - Bluetooth Headphones - Gaming Mouse Wireless Mouse - Gaming

Keyboard - Wireless Keyboard - Projector Speakers - Desktop Computer - Computer

Tower - Gamepad

4. Write the technology words under the correct pictures:

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Topic 10. Smart devices

A smart device is an electronic device, generally connected to other devices or networks via different wireless protocols such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, NFC, Wi-Fi, LiFi, 3G, etc., that can operate to some extent interactively and autonomously. Several notable types of smart devices are smartphones, smart cars, smart thermostats, smart doorbells, smart locks, smart refrigerators, phablets and tablets, smartwatches, smart bands, smart key chains, smart speakers and others. The term can also refer to a device that exhibits some properties of ubiquitous computing, including—although not necessarily—artificial intelligence.

Smart devices can be designed to support a variety of form factors, a range of properties pertaining to ubiquitous computing and to be used in three main system environments: physical world, human-centered environments and distributed computing environments.

Smartphones are a class of mobile phones and of multi-purpose mobile computing devices. They are distinguished from feature phones by their stronger hardware capabilities and extensive mobile operating systems, which facilitate wider software, internet (including web browsing over mobile broadband), and multimedia functionality (including music, video, cameras, and gaming), alongside core phone functions such as voice calls and text messaging. Smartphones typically contain a number of metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) integrated circuit (IC) chips, include various sensors that can be leveraged by their software (such as a magnetometer, proximity sensors, barometer, gyroscope, or accelerometer), and support wireless communications protocols (such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or satellite navigation).

Early smartphones were marketed primarily towards the enterprise market, attempting to bridge the functionality of standalone personal digital assistant (PDA) devices with support for cellular telephony, but were limited by their bulky form, short battery life, slow analog cellular networks, and the immaturity of wireless data services. These issues were eventually resolved with the exponential scaling and miniaturization of MOS transistors down to sub-micron levels (Moore's law), the improved lithium-ion battery, faster digital mobile data networks (Edholm's law), and more mature software platforms that allowed mobile device ecosystems to develop independently of data providers.

In the 2000s, NTT DoCoMo's i-mode platform, BlackBerry, Nokia's Symbian platform, and Windows Mobile began to gain market traction, with models often featuring QWERTY keyboards or resistive touchscreen input, and emphasizing access to push email and wireless internet. Since the unveiling of the iPhone in 2007, the majority of smartphones have featured thin, slate-like form factors, with large, capacitive screens with support for multi-touch gestures rather than physical keyboards, and offer the ability for users to download or purchase additional applications from a centralized store, and use cloud storage and synchronization, virtual assistants, as well as mobile payment services.

Improved hardware and faster wireless communication (due to standards such as LTE) have bolstered the growth of the smartphone industry. In the third quarter of 2012, one billion smartphones were in use worldwide. Global smartphone sales surpassed the sales figures for feature phones in early 2013.

Smart thermostats are thermostats that can be used with home automation and are responsible for controlling a home's heating and/or air conditioning. They perform similar functions as a Programmable thermostat as they allow the user to control the temperature of their home throughout the day using a schedule, but also contain additional features, such as sensors and WiFi connectivity, that improve upon the issues with programmable thermostats.

Like a connected thermostat, they are connected to the Internet. They allow users to adjust heating settings from other internet-connected devices, such as a laptop or smartphones. This allows users to control the thermostat remotely. This ease of use is essential for ensuring energy savings: studies have shown that households with programmable thermostats actually have

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higher energy consumption than those with simple thermostats because residents program them incorrectly or disable them completely.

Smart thermostats also record internal/external temperatures, time the HVAC system has been running and can even notify you if your air filter needs to be replaced. This information is typically displayed later on an internet-connected device.

A smart doorbell is an internet-connected doorbell that notifies the smartphone or other electronic device of the home owner when a visitor arrives at the door. It activates when the visitor presses the button of the doorbell, or alternatively, when the doorbell senses a visitor with its built-in motion sensors. The smart doorbell lets the home owner use a smartphone app to watch and talk with the visitor by using the doorbell's built-in high-definition infrared camera and microphone. Some smart doorbells also allow the user to open the door remotely using a smart lock.

A smart lock is an electromechanical lock which is designed to perform locking and unlocking operations on a door when it receives such instructions from an authorized device using a wireless protocol and a cryptographic key to execute the authorization process. It also monitors access and sends alerts for the different events it monitors and some other critical events related to the status of the device. Smart locks can be considered part of a smart home.

Most smart locks are installed on mechanical locks (simple types of locks, including deadbolts) and they physically upgrade the ordinary lock. Recently, smart locking controllers have also appeared at the market.

Smart locks, like the traditional locks, need two main parts to work: the lock and the key. In the case of these electronic locks, the key is not a physical key but a smartphone or a special key fob configured explicitly for this purpose which wirelessly performs the authentication needed to automatically unlock the door.

Smart locks allow users to grant access to a third party by means of a virtual key. This key can be sent to the recipient smartphone over standard messaging protocols such as e-mail or SMS. Once this key is received the recipient will be able to unlock the smart lock during the time previously specified by the sender.

Smart locks are able to grant or deny access remotely via a mobile app. Certain smart locks include a built-in Wi-Fi connection that allows for monitoring features such as access notifications or cameras to show the person requesting access. Some smart locks work with a smart doorbell to allow the user to see who and when someone is at a door.

Smart locks may use Bluetooth Low Energy and SSL to communicate, encrypting communications using 128/256-bit AES.

Smart refrigerator, also known as internet refrigerator, is a refrigerator which has been programmed to sense what kinds of products are being stored inside it and keep a track of the stock through barcode or RFID scanning. This kind of refrigerator is often equipped to determine itself whenever a food item needs to be replenished.

A smartwatch is a wearable computer in the form of a wristwatch; modern smartwatches provide a local touchscreen interface for daily use, while an associated smartphone app provides for management and telemetry (such as long-term biomonitoring). While early models could perform basic tasks, such as calculations, digital time telling, translations, and game-playing, 2010s smartwatches have more general functionality closer to smartphones, including mobile apps, a mobile operating system and WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity. Some smartwatches function as portable media players, with FM radio and playback of digital audio and video files via a Bluetooth headset. Some models, called 'watch phones' (or vice versa), have mobile cellular functionality like making calls.

While internal hardware varies, most have an electronic visual display, either backlit LCD or OLED. Some use transflective or electronic paper, to consume less power. They are generally powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Peripheral devices may include digital cameras, thermometers, accelerometers, pedometers, heart rate monitors, altimeters, barometers,

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compasses, GPS receivers, tiny speakers, and microSD cards, which are recognized as storage devices by many other kinds of computers.

Software may include digital maps, schedulers and personal organizers, calculators, and various kinds of watch faces. The watch may communicate with external devices such as sensors, wireless headsets, or a heads-up display. Like other computers, a smartwatch may collect information from internal or external sensors and it may control, or retrieve data from, other instruments or computers. It may support wireless technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS. For many purposes, a "watch computer" serves as a front end for a remote system such as a smartphone, communicating with the smartphone using various wireless technologies. Smartwatches are advancing, especially their design, battery capacity, and health-related applications.

A smart speaker is a type of speaker and voice command device with an integrated virtual assistant that offers interactive actions and hands-free activation with the help of one "hot word" (or several "hot words"). Some smart speakers can also act as a smart device that utilizes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other protocol standards to extend usage beyond audio playback, such as to control home automation devices. This can include, but is not limited to, features such as compatibility across a number of services and platforms, peer-to-peer connection through mesh networking, virtual assistants, and others. Each can have its own designated interface and features in-house, usually launched or controlled via application or home automation software. Some smart speakers also include a screen to show the user a visual response.

A smart speaker with a touchscreen is known as a smart display. While similar in form factor to tablet computers, smart displays differ in their emphasis on a hands-free user interface and virtual assistant features.

As of winter 2017, it is estimated by NPR and Edison Research that 39 million Americans (16% of the population over 18) own a smart speaker.

Smart home technology is the use of devices in the home that connect via a network, most commonly a local LAN or the internet. It uses devices such as sensors and other appliances connected to the Internet of things (IoT) that can be remotely monitored, controlled or accessed and provide services that respond to the perceived needs of the users.

It stands for Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology. The technology was originally developed by IBM and was referred to as Predictive failure analysis. The first contemporary Smart home technology products became available to consumers between 1998 and the early 2000s. Smart home technology allows users to control and monitor their connected home devices from smart home apps, smartphones, or other networked devices. Users can remotely control connected home systems whether they are home or away. This allows for more efficient energy and electric use as well as ensuring your home is secure. Smart home technology contributes to health and well-being enhancement by accommodating people with special needs, especially older people. Smart home technology is now being used to create Smart cities. A Smart city functions similar to a Smart home, where systems are monitored to more efficiently run the cities and save money.

A Smart city is an urban area that uses different types of electronic Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to collect data and then use insights gained from that data to manage assets, resources and services efficiently. This includes data collected from citizens, devices, and assets that is processed and analyzed to monitor and manage traffic and transportation systems, power plants, utilities, water supply networks, waste management, crime detection, information systems, schools, libraries, hospitals, and other community services.

The Smart city concept integrates information and communication technology (ICT), and various physical devices connected to the IoT network to optimize the efficiency of city operations and services and connect to citizens. Smart city technology allows city officials to interact directly with both community and city infrastructure and to monitor what is happening in the city and how the city is evolving. ICT is used to enhance quality, performance and

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interactivity of urban services, to reduce costs and resource consumption and to increase contact between citizens and government.

Smart city applications are developed to manage urban flows and allow for real-time responses. A Smart city may therefore be more prepared to respond to challenges than one with a simple "transactional" relationship with its citizens. Yet, the term itself remains unclear to its specifics and therefore, open to many interpretations.

Major technological, economic and environmental changes have generated interest in smart cities, including climate change, economic restructuring, the move to online retail and entertainment, ageing populations, urban population growth and pressures on public finances. The European Union (EU) has devoted constant efforts to devising a strategy for achieving 'smart' urban growth for its metropolitan city-regions.

The EU has developed a range of programmes under 'Europe's Digital Agenda". In 2010, it highlighted its focus on strengthening innovation and investment in ICT services for the purpose of improving public services and quality of life.

Arup estimates that the global market for smart urban services will be $400 billion per annum by 2020. Examples of Smart city technologies and programs have been implemented in Singapore, Smart cities in India, Dubai, Milton Keynes, Southampton, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Madrid, Stockholm, Copenhagen, China, and New York.

Questions for self-check:

What is a smart device?

How can they be designed?

What is a smartphone?

What are smart thermostats?

What's a smart doorbell?

What's a smart lock?

What can smart refrigerator do?

What's a smart watch?

What's a smart speaker?

How does smart home technology work?

Exercises:

1. Choose the correct answer:

Smartphones have around for years, but the wireless gadgets that go with them are changing all the time. The smart bracelet / smart watch, for example, tells the time and shows you messages and other information from your phone. A wireless speaker / wireless headset allows your to listen to music from your phone in privacy, while a wireless speaker / wireless headset can play the music loudly, and with excellent sound quality. A wireless charger / wireless speaker can power your phone with electricity without the need for long cables. And a wireless bracelet / wireless watch can send information about your heart rate and how far you’ve walked. With gadgets like these developing so fast, the future of wireless technology looks exicting!

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