The adoption of wireless computing and networking technologies in the office is growing at an ever-increasing pace. So it`s no surprise that wireless systems are becoming popular in the home as well.
What kind of systems? The home network is the most appropriate use for wireless technology. No messy wires and unsightly cables as you connect dad`s PC in the study with mom`s in the kitchen, daughter`s PC in her bedroom and son`s games station.
What`s more, personal devices, such as handheld computers can also be linked to the network that can - together with a wireless Internet gateway - link all family members to the Web.
What technology to choose? With the increasing use of WiFi - or 802.11b as it is also known - infrastructures in the corporate world, it is logical that this robust, reliable option will find increasing acceptance in the home.
This is because WiFi is an attractive proposition for telecommuters or corporate staff working from home. If you have a WiFi network interface card (NIC) that you use in your laptop at work, you don`t want to have to change it when you come home. Unlike its earlier rivals, such as Bluetooth, WiFi is also ideally placed for the day when high bandwidth applications will be available at reasonable cost to home users, allowing them to take advantage of live video streaming, interactive video conferencing and other new-generation, Internet-based systems.
Already more than five million home users have adopted this technology in the US, and this number is climbing exponentially.
In fact, some industry watchers are predicting that home use of wireless networks will exceed business use somewhere between 2003 and 2004.
Where to start? This Christmas fill the stocking with some interesting wireless goodies such as wireless network cards, a wireless Internet gateway and start to link your PCs in a network - a wireless network. You won`t look back.
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