Bluetooth has been around for about 15 years. Named after Denmark’s King Harald “Bluetooth” Blatand, who reigned in the 10th Century AD, it is a technology that is rapidly gaining in importance, connecting devices and simplifying everyday tasks; from hands-free calling, to streaming live music, Bluetooth will soon be in nearly every device.
“It’s a very flexible, low power, and predictable technology,” says Professor Roch Guerin, Chair of Computer Science and Engineering at Washington University, St. Louis. “Bluetooth targets lower transmission ranges and data rates than wi-fi, and as a result has lower cost and lower power consumption.”
Healthcare has seen several advances due to Bluetooth-enabled technology. The growth of medical sensing technologies has accelerated this past years, with such devices as the “medical tricorder” from Scanadu making headlines. This device measures biological statistics, such as: heart rate, blood pressure, core body and skin temperature, and other vitals. This data is then transmitted to the users phones or tablets via Bluetooth.
“With recent advances in technology such as Bluetooth, we are now able to build medical devices that weren’t possible just a decade ago…. at an affordable price [using] existing infrastructure of smart phone telecoms” says Scanadu’s CEO Walter de Brouwer. “For people who live far from hospitals, in places like Africa, this could be life changing.”
Other researchers are successfully pioneering devices such as BlueCell; a half-inch long device embedded under the ski that monitors information such as glucose and cholesterol so that chronic diseases like diabetes can be monitored.
Although we have been discussing the more innovative applications of Bluetooth, its original purpose has been in consumer electronics and workplace applications. A more recent contender to workplace efficiency, Bluetooth has enabled hands-free talking and better conference technology.
Bluetooth was initially developed as a cord replacement technology, connecting peripherals like headphones, printers, keyboards, and cameras over wireless. Most Bluetooth devices have a range of 30 feet. This technology is ideal when interconnecting peripherals, such as cordless earpieces, keyboards, and cameras.
Bluetooth has the potential to let staff use their mobile phones as cordless phones linked to the PBX, as well as their headsets. Although the short range makes it difficult for hackers to break into such a link, it is possible.
Therefore, Bluetooth is a great solution for all of office telecom needs. With an ability to connect to different mediums wirelessly, Bluetooth-enabled communication systems are the best option for an integrated office environment.
