Bluetooth technology means you don’t have to lug around cables and wires to transfer data. Instead, you can do it wirelessly, meaning you won’t have to worry about getting it tangled up in your house, office, or vehicle. Bluetooth was created by Ericsson Mobile Communications in 1994, looking for an alternative to cables. Nokia, Toshiba, and IBM joined forces and formed the Bluetooth Special Interest Group in 1998. The group published the first version of the Bluetooth standard in 1999. There have been three versions of Bluetooth since then: the 1.2 standard, the 2.0+EDR standard, and the 3.0+HS version, which offers up to 24Mbps data transfer. The latest version is Bluetooth 4.0, which is compatible with Bluetooth-enabled devices. So, what are the benefits of bluetooth technology?
Elimination of wires and cables
Bluetooth allows two devices to communicate wirelessly. This technology can greatly reduce the clutter of wires in a computer room, as fewer cables are required to connect portable devices. In addition, Bluetooth-enabled devices require less space and time for installation than cables with similar features. With Bluetooth technology, you can pair any device within 30 feet of the first. Bluetooth devices are also much more affordable than their wired counterparts because they are manufactured using fewer materials.
Bluetooth technology is available in many forms. PC cards, radios, headsets, and dongles are just a few. It is commonly used in laptops and other internet-enabled equipment. Stereo headphones are also popular Bluetooth products. Bluetooth devices eliminate the need for tangles of cables. Wireless devices also reduce radiation exposure for users. Another benefit of Bluetooth technology is its ability to be used in various applications, including audiometry, otoacoustic emissions, fitting systems, and live-speech mapping.
Energy efficiency
The evolution of Bluetooth technology shows that the energy required for transmission decreases with every version. Figure 10 shows the decrease in energy consumption with each successive Bluetooth version. It is important to note that Bluetooth 5 will not be the first Bluetooth version to include long-range wireless capabilities. Instead, the Bluetooth SIG will keep the technology as a short-range data-transfer protocol. There are several reasons for this change. These reasons are summarized below.
The main reason for this reduction is that Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) devices are designed to use as little energy as possible. As a result, they are put into sleep mode most of the time and wake up only when an event triggers a signal. As a result, it reduces the active power consumption to a fraction of the power of classic Bluetooth. Bluetooth Low-Energy devices can also operate on button cell batteries, lasting for about five to ten years.
Reduced cost
One of the most compelling features of Bluetooth Low Energy is its lower power consumption. This new standard is expected to make Bluetooth wireless technology more accessible and affordable, especially for small devices. Bluetooth Low Energy also supports a variety of consumer and industrial applications, including remote controls, health and fitness trackers, automotive, and consumer products. The reduced cost of Bluetooth Low Energy allows more manufacturers and device makers to introduce this technology into their product lines. In addition, its reduced power consumption and small size make it an excellent option for various applications.
Another benefit of Bluetooth Low Energy is its ability to use highly integrated silicon. As a result, Bluetooth Low Energy allows for very low power consumption and is ideally suited for Internet of Things applications. Furthermore, it can be used in scenarios where power is limited, or energy harvesting is desirable. The enhanced range and reduced power consumption are other benefits of Bluetooth Low Energy. Future advancements will make Bluetooth Low Energy more practical for Internet of Things applications. In addition to its cost-effectiveness, Bluetooth Low Energy offers a range extension capability using mesh topologies.
Faster data transfer
Bluetooth technology can help you share most types of files wirelessly. However, larger files may take longer to transfer. For example, a 10MB MP3 file can take seconds, while a larger file may take minutes. When using Bluetooth, it is important to pair two devices to transfer files efficiently. Bluetooth can even work with 3G or 4G networks, depending on the devices’ capabilities. To use Bluetooth to transfer data, turn on the Bluetooth feature on both devices.
To test the efficiency of Bluetooth technology, researchers developed a hardware platform with specific cards that communicate using Bluetooth. The cards form networks and data is transferred from one end of the network to the other and returned to the device. Data passes through more than one node, increasing the speed and efficiency of data transfer. This hardware platform was tested and tweaked to determine how well the devices functioned over time. Researchers also developed two methodologies for collecting information.