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Coined in the 19th century, the term wireless communications has left a huge impact on the world and over the years, the technology has undergone several major changes which have, in turn, made it even more developed. When it comes to transferring information from one device to another, the importance of the wireless medium is indispensable and it has also acquired the position of being the most important medium of transmission as well. As you must already know, in wireless communication, the information is not transferred with the help of any physical object but through air and no electronic conductors are required. Astonishing, right? The only thing that is used is the electromagnetic waves like RF, IR, and satellite.

In today’s era, wireless communication is not limited to a few devices but has expanded itself over a plethora of items from computers to smartphones, laptops, tabs and so on. Bluetooth technology is also a part of it. In this chapter, you will get an overview of the various applications of the wireless network in today’s world and how hugely it has impacted our day-to-day work. When it comes to communicating from remote operated areas, wireless communication comes of great help.

Being one of the most advanced forms of telecommunication infrastructure, satellite communication is a self-contained technology. With this technology, you can be connected to anyone you want and also anywhere on this planet. This is a type of communication that operates universally. Those who rely on this type of communication usually take the help of a commercial vendor who has a geostationary satellite in his or her reach. Now you must be wondering what geostationary satellites are. Well, they are a type of satellite that matches the rotational velocity of the earth thus having the same orbital period. It is because of this that the satellites always remain at the same point in the sky.

A beam of modulated microwave acts as the signal in this type of communication and when the signal comes in proximity to the satellite, it gets amplified. Then that amplified signal will be sent to the respective antenna whose location is somewhere on the earth. Thus there are two main segments of the satellite communication. One is located on the ground and the other in the space. Mobile or fixed transmission, ancillary equipment, and reception are all a part of the ground segment whereas the space segment consists mainly of the satellite. The pace and pattern of world communications have undergone a complete change after the advent of satellite communications.

Next, we come to infrared wireless communications whose basic component is the IR radiations. For those who are not aware of what IR is, it is a type of electromagnetic energy whose wavelength is more than that of red light. The communication of this category can happen between a fixed device and a portable device and also between two portable devices. There are two basic types of infrared communication which are explained below –

Do you want to know what the first wireless communication technology was? Well, it was open radio communication. It was quite widespread and even nowadays has its own audience. The multichannel radios allow short-distance communication between users whereas there is a different category of radios known as band and maritime radios which are used by sailors for communication services. Then there are ham radio enthusiasts who, during disasters, can share emergency communication aids by implementing their strong broadcasting gear and they can even send digital information through their system.

Radio waves are what carry the sound of radio through air. A transmitter is used which sends the data to the receiving antenna. Radio waves are also categorized as electromagnetic signals and they belong to an entirely different set of frequency segments. If you want to obtain a particular audio signal, then you have to change your frequency segment accordingly.

This type of communication also uses the help of radio waves and these waves are measured in the range of centimeters. There are two methods through which information or data can be transferred in this type of communication. One is the terrestrial method and the other is the satellite method.

In the case of the satellite method, as you might have already guessed, the satellite is used which performs the task of receiving signals sent from stations on earth. The frequency of these signals ranges between 11-14 GHz. The transmission speed ranges anywhere between 1 to 10 Mbps. Then there is the terrestrial method. Here, a clear line of sight is a prerequisite between two microwave towers. You should be guaranteed that there is no obstruction between these two towers. The range of frequency for this type of microwave communication usually ranges between 4-6 GHz and the speed of transmission is the same as the satellite method. But there is a major disadvantage in the case of microwave communication and that is, they can be hugely impacted in case of bad weather conditions.

One of the biggest advantages of Wi-Fi is that it is a type of low power communication in the wireless category. Various types of devices can use Wi-Fi and all these devices are commonly used in the day-to-day life of people. For example, laptops, mobile phones and so on. The role of the communication hub in this category of wireless communication is played by the router. But in order to stay connected to the router, you have to be in close proximity to the system and you cannot engage in transmission over long distances as was the case in the types of wireless communication mentioned above. For the purpose of security, wireless networks need to be properly secured by setting appropriate passwords.

With each generation, the growth of mobile communications has increased by leaps and bounds. With the help of mobile phones, people can communicate across a single frequency band. Cordless and cellular phones are the two common examples in this category. The coverage of the mobile communications system is huge owing to the various networks available. But in the case of cordless phones, the range is, however, limited. Also, you will find certain devices that use satellites to connect to other devices.

This is also a form of wireless communication system that allows you to transfer files between two devices. The most common application of this is today’s world is when the different devices like earphones, wireless keyboard, and mouse are connected to the mobile phone with the help of this same Bluetooth technology. There are various functionalities associated with this particular technology.

Among all other viable reasons for which you should get a wireless communication, the most compelling and important one is that it will allow you to access the internet and also share that high-speed internet with others. Thus, all the members of your family or your company can share the same high-speed internet connection. Thus, it will save you a lot of money and is also highly convenient. Everybody will then be able to get access to that high-speed internet and also roam about the building without worrying about losing the connection.

The flexibility also increases because you can go on adding workstations without having to sort the problems related to cables which, in turn, could have created a lot of mess. Also, you can relocate any of your devices anywhere you want without any wires interfering in the process. This also enables the relocation of servers and printers and any other accessory device and makes the entire process hassle-free.

There is another benefit that comes with wireless communications. For example, you have a guest or any client visiting you at your office. Then you can allow him/her to quickly connect to the internet connection without having the need to go through any elaborate configuration settings. Thus, productivity is enhanced to a great extent. Any visitor to your property can simply turn their device on and connect to your network in order to do some work on the web or access their email.

Your dealership can suffer a bad hit if you are not up to date with your equipment inventory data. But if you are using wireless network technology, it will be a highly convenient and mobile solution to integrate into your company. You will gain better control over the various sectors of your inventory the moment you integrate the wireless network inventory control services. One of the major benefits that you will enjoy is that this will considerably lower your overall costs. When you establish a LAN connection, your main control systems are connected with your manufacturing equipment through a wireless mode. Thus, the assembly process can then be reconfigured at any point of time and from any place you want.

You can update your inventory and also track it any time you want. This increases accuracy and efficiency to dramatic levels. If you are considering a retail environment, whenever a product is stocked or purchased, the inventory can be updated in real-time with a wireless management solution. If you consider the manufacturing setting, all the statistics that are related to the finished products, as well as the raw materials can be kept up-to-date. If you give your employees the wireless-enabled bar code scanners, then they can change or check the prices or even find out the number in stock.

There is literally a chain reaction of benefits associated with implementing a wireless network in inventory management. If you think about it with a clear mind, you will understand that the clerks possess the handheld scanners and thus the information is being directly inputted into the system. So, there is no paperwork to deal with. Thus, you can steer clear of the chances of human error in the process. Your financial records will become way accurate than before. This aspect of a business is highly important because if you do not have correct financial records, you would not be able to pay your taxes accurately and keep fines to a minimum.

Wireless networks are now being deployed by more and more hospitals and other healthcare institutions because of one sole reason and that is – convenience. Whenever hospitals have a high patient traffic area, the deployment of a wireless LAN network makes everything more manageable. This includes critical care wards, emergency rooms, doctor’s offices, nursing stations and even waiting rooms. Better care for patients is synonymous with better communication and for that installing a wireless network is necessary. Patients can be diagnosed and treated more accurately and faster when communication is clearer.

The use of a wireless network ensures that the clinicians can get access to the lab results as soon as they are ready and they do not have to wait upon someone else to bring it to them. They also get access to the vast medical database through their mobile devices, smartphones or laptops. All of this together improves patient outcomes.

The quality of communication between a doctor and a patient can be considerably improved by using suitable videos. Then there is mobile video conferencing which is really a boon for patients who seek treatment from the comfort of their own house.

When it comes to healthcare, the importance of accurate records cannot be explained in words. Mistakes, no matter how small or big they are, can sometimes even cost a patient’s life and so no mistake can be tolerated. But in the absence of a wireless network, everything from recording pharmaceutical orders to keeping test results has to be done through paper and all that paperwork can easily get messy increasing the chances of error. This entire process is overwhelming too and takes the maximum time away from the day. But when you install a wireless connection, everything can be directly logged into the central database and can be wirelessly transmitted. This also enhances the visibility of the data to everyone and thus anyone in need of particular information can access it without disturbing someone else.

Nurses and doctors have to cater to the needs of so many patients in a day and they constantly keep running from one room to the other. When there is a wireless network, they can view, input or edit any patient’s records from where they are standing. Thus the speed of delivering health care is highly increased. The tracking of pharmaceuticals also becomes hassle-free. Scanning devices and handheld bar code printing have proved to be a boon in this respect. Drug transactions become more accurate and you can keep a proper track of the expiration dates as well. Also, whether the right drug is being administered to the right patient at the right time or not can be easily monitored.

When it comes to school education systems, the importance of wireless networks is quite obvious. Faculty members, students and staff are wanting boundless access to the network starting from the general classrooms, meeting rooms, and even auditoriums and common hallways. Installing wireless LANs in elementary schools and colleges can be quite beneficial to the students. Students are, thus, able to do a lot of things like surfing the web, accessing their emails, checking grades, accessing the various school applications or even view the transcripts from anywhere they want. This increases the overall efficiency of the students. They can make much better use of their time.

On the other hand, if you want to establish a computer lab, it can not only be expensive but the students also often have to wait in line to get access to a single computer. This cuts off their time from other activities. But when you start a wireless LAN, the students are then able to get access to the network from anywhere in the campus by using their own laptops. They can do this even after the computer lab has closed. Thus the network can then be distributed among all students equally and evenly. This increases the efficiency of teaching too and the school can cut off some considerable costs of setting up a huge computer lab.

Salespeople in the world of real estate do a large amount of work while they are out of their physical office. They spend half of their time talking with the various buyers and sellers of the property in question that is being sold or rented. Now, before the salesperson meets the potential buyers, he/she has to get the MLS or Multiple Listing Service printed which will have a few sites on it which can be shown to the buyer. But in case the buyer is not satisfied with the sites that are present on the MLS, the salesperson will then have to again drive back to his/her office and then get more listings, which have no guarantee of being approved once again. Also, even if suppose the buyer agrees with one property, then the salesperson will have to again come back to the office to complete the rest of the paperwork which again is quite extensive. Thus, the entire process wastes a lot of time.

But, if you implement a wireless network with a central database, then the process becomes efficient. So, the real estate agent can then access that database no matter where he is simply by using a laptop, mobile or tablet. In order to produce contracts or other such documents, the agent can take the help of a portable printer.

Thus, as you must have understood by now, the location of any person can be shown in a central location and thus location-based services become way easier to handle. There are several corporate applications to wireless networks being used to build a public network. Users can enjoy a constant mobile connectivity irrespective of the place they are in. This ensures a high level of performance. These systems are very common in railways stations, airports, restaurants, and hotels. Thus, the need to stay connected to the internet has risen over the years and rightfully so because almost all types of work are now somehow related to the web.

So, if something can ensure your constant connection to the web without the hassle of any dangling wires, then it gives you freedom and mobility as the network is no longer dependent on your location. So, the application of wireless network has completely changed the face of all sectors.