Society Related-Answers

Here, all relevant research results will be collected and are open to learn more about the world of WiFi.

Society

What is the current "modern" lifestyle? How much technology is involved in forming everyday life?

Today’s life seems to be nearly impossible without the whole range of technical gadgets available. Mobile phones, laptops, PDAs and multifunctional all-in-one devices are every day’s facilitators and companions. Digital communication nearly outperforms human interactions. SMS, eMail and Chats become the new way to interact within society, while internet and mobile phones become human’s best friends. The change in human interaction and relationship building began with the advent of the internet. The possibility to access worldwide information and to bridge the most distant places fascinated first only geeks. But soon families and teenagers followed. With the invention of eMail the communication mania started. Now, nearly 15 years later, eMail become the standard for business and private mail and has received legality. Chat programs and SMS later fulfilled the growing need of interaction and dialog, becoming a substitute for human conversation. The human need for interaction already drives people into a new kind of addiction – techno-addiction. But not only new diseases develop – the possibilities for crime increase as well. The paradigm of round-the-clock reachability and anonymous concersation led to stalking, never ending advertisement and spam. With the development of wireless transmission data theft is made even easier than before. But technology has as well its positive sides. While bridging distances between families and enabling the spread and access of information 24 hours and 7 days a week all around the globe, it has contributed to the convergence of cultures. One might even call it the internationalization of communication! Connecting with strangers from all around the globe has never been that easy. And while chatting becomes a global sport, they develop their on language. Appreviations like "cu, lol and rofl" become part of everyday vocabulary. Today, WiFi is entering the communication into a new stage of even more flexible and mobile societies. The permanent connectivity and access to information seems to add to the attractivity of technology and to the fact, that Communication and Information seem to become the drug of the 90’s and 21th century.

Check the following links:
Internet changes communication methods
English - the universal language on the Internet?
A Wireless Revolution: Part 1 (Describes the impact of WiFi on society and industry.)

Which role plays WiFi today?

In recent months/ years WiFi networks developed all around the worlds. San Francisco, New York and Leiden are only some examples. WiFi imposes international Telcos to increased competition from free internet telephony. The impact of WiFi on communication increases.

Check the following links for more information:
Links to Wireless Networks all around the world
Wireless Leiden
Wireless Seattle
Wireless New York
Wi-Fi Threatens Wireless and Broadband Providers

Are there any alternative technologies at hand? How attractive is WiFi compared to those?

G3, UMTS and Bluetooth are the main competitors of WiFi. While G3 and UMTS are the main substitutes to wireless data transmission and communication, Bluetooth is designed to basically link devices of different kinds. But, while these standards are in the centre of commercialization and distributed by service providers, the WiFi standards are basically still free of charge.

Are there any reported health implications of wireless technology?

A major health issue, which is widely known but as well highly debated is Eletro Smog caused by mobile phones. The direct contact with the ear and the short distance to the head might have an impact on the occurence of brain cancer. <<!Link!>> Questionable is still if there are equivalent problems with WiFi emissions. But up to now, no implications on body and health are known. As the coverage of hotspots and the load/effect on human health will not increase. This is open to future research. Biggest problems may come from psychological implications. As we have already seen with Mobile Phones, a whole new range of diseases develop. While the new technology developments add a great deal to mobility and flexibility, they also impose a new pressure on humans. The strive for ever new information and all encompassing reachability puts an immense pressure on the psychic of today’s users. The technology of today adds and restricts flexibility and freedom at the same time. Addiction among youths and adults are common and treatment is not yet easy to achieve with the necessity today to use the new communication means.

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