Bluetooth’s potential to revolutionise the workspace by wirelessly linking digital devices may breathe new life into older buildings. But the technology still has bugs to be worked out, says Nigel Almond
Bluetooth is grabbing the headlines as another technology that will influence our lives in the future – even though it is still only halfway through its five year development cycle. But what is it, and why should anyone in real estate take notice?
Bluetooth is the new global standard in wireless technology, developed by Ericsson and its partners, that is set to revolutionise connectivity by replacing the wires linking devices with the Bluetooth chip. This will be able to communicate with similarly enabled devices within a 10-metre range, or, where powerful base stations exist, up to 100 metres. Unlike infrared technologies, barriers such as walls do not pose a problem.
In this way networks move away from the traditional local or wide are networks towards a personal area network, in which individuals communicate directly with each other, creating various ad-hoc networks.
Although a final product standard has yet to be agreed, a number of devices using it are emerging: mobile phones and wireless headsets, with PC cards for laptops and similar hand-held devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs). Products such as printers, scanners and digital cameras will come to the market later. But there are still problems associated with interference, battery life and configuration still to be resolved.
Practical uses for surveyors
Its use will benefit businesses, particularly those who frequently operate out of the office because it will enable users to remain in contact with the office from anywhere, including the home. It therefore has practical benefits for surveyors. For example, during a site inspection you could take photographs using a digital camera, upload these onto the laptop and integrate them within a report. The report could then be sent directly to the office or client via a mobile phone – all without wires.
In the office, schedules could be updated, with data transferred from the PDA to the local office network and vice-versa. Simultaneously, the phone could detect the presence of the new phone network and reconfigure itself to this. The laptop, too, connects tot he local server, providing free movement around the office.
Advantages for smaller businesses
The advantages will accrue to small and medium-sized enterprises, given the limited range of the devices and the bottlenecks that could occur because of the limited number of users each device can handle simultaneously. The technology is therefore suited towards older buildings or those without raised floors – enabling them to be brought back in to use. Wireless connectivity also places a question mark over the need for raised floors in certain situations.
Bluetooth is not the only wireless system. DECT (digital enhanced cordless technology) has diversified from purely cordless phone systems to other electronic devices. For wireless local area networks, the latest standard (802.11b) offers higher levels of bandwidth compared to Bluetooth. BT has already developed a wireless office system, called Futurespace, now under trial with John Laing Property, which reduced it office space by 50%.
Bluetooth’s success relies upon the widespread use of third-generation networks and consumers’ still unknown desire for the wire-free environments promised by Bluetooth. Until these and the current problems are ironed out, Bluetooth will remain marketing hype.
