For the uninitiated, “Bluetooth” is a funny word for an awkward device you stick in your ear. The moniker has thus become a non-assuming general descriptor for hands-free calling. That’s about to change. Bluetooth has grown into a disruptive wave that’s beginning to crest over the top of more than one industry.

“It’s the perfect storm: The technology has matured, the prices have plummeted, and the battery life is long enough to make many products disposable commodities,” Jack Corrao, managing director of Corrao Group, told TechNewsWorld.
How Long-in-the-Tooth Evolved to Wicked Fang

Bluetooth sharpened its competitive edge in two new versions. Bluetooth 3 introduced 802.11 and Bluetooth 4 introduced a low-energy (LE) mode.

“Today, Bluetooth is shipping over one billion chips every year,” Nick Hunn, Bluetooth expert and wireless evangelist for CSR, told TechNewsWorld. “Looking forward, the industry can see that growing by an order of magnitude.”

Bluetooth is set to become even more dominant as a short-range wireless technology with the release of the latest Bluetooth low energy specification, Hunn said.

“Where it stands to change the way that products are designed is that these devices will be able to talk to a new generation of mobile phones and gateway devices, which can forward this data on to a Web application, or to a downloadable app on that phone,” he explained. “So whenever you stand on your weight scales, swing a golf club, or go running, the information can automatically appear on your Web site.”
The 3 Flavors of Bluetooth

Besides enabling consumer products to automatically talk to a Web page, Bluetooth LE has the ability to determine the distance between devices.

“That can be used as an access lock for your phone, for entry to your home or office, or as a warning if you leave your phone or PC behind,” explained Hunn.

Although the uses vary, there are three basic forms.

“There are essentially three flavors of Bluetooth available: high speed, low energy and classic. depending on the application, one or all of these ‘flavors’ will be present,” Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director of Bluetooth SIG, told TechNewsWorld.

Lest you think this technology is somehow limited to the usual array of cellphones, laptops and PCs, take a look at the vast mix of industries that are adopting its use. They range from athletic shoe makers to hospitals.

“The Continua Alliance has already selected Bluetooth low energy as the low power wireless transport for their personal area networking devices,” said Hunn. The Continua Health Alliance is the official body that recommends standards and technologies for the healthcare industry.

“Manufacturers are looking at it not just for the obvious medical devices, like scales, blood pressure and glucose meters, but are also considering it for smart plasters and clothing with built-in sensors,” he added. “We also expect it to bring standardization to the growing number of sensors used in assisted living and medication reminders.”

Bluetooth is appealing to the growing smart energy market as well.

“With a range of over 50 meters, it’s ideal for smart meters and displays, especially where these are battery-powered,” said Hunn. “And as it will work with mobile phones, it brings phones even closer into an individual’s interaction — not just with the things they carry with them, but the environment around them.”

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