In your opinion, how can bluetooth technology best be used in the future?

Answer 1

Bluetooth technology is a great system for transfering data from one place to another in a small setting. However, it is to be considered that the public in general will always revert back to old ways out of familiarisation.

Camera phones were gimmicks when they started out, but are now mainstream product features. However, most people wanting to take photos on holiday will revert back to a standard camera (digital or otherwise).

Likewise, a remote controlling mobile phone would help, but the idea of business is to make the customers want more. Many companies create remote controls to thrust logos and design ideas into people's hands. They wouldn't want one TV remote being used alongside a DVD remote with a different brand. Hence why the mainstream manufacturers don't make multi-brand, universal remote controls. This is left up to the independant manufacturers who have to work out the signals being sent.

However, the Bluetooth technology is already vastly useful in the realms of headsets and extended, wireless contexts. Such ideas could be extended further to TVs using Bluetooth to receive signals from the DVD player or set-top box instead of a Scart lead or aerial. Maybe a future lies in simple data transfer from routers connected to the internet to a device for automatic updates without wires.

I see the near future of Bluetooth being in small, close-range wireless techology, and the longer term being used to transfer data from one area to another. However, at this rate, there is very little difference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. So therefore I predict a battle, such as Betamax/VHS and Blu-Ray/HD-DVD.

Answer 2

Due to its 10m + transmission distance, it would be unsuitable as a source of secure money transaction. Bluetooth security is very weak and so a lot of work would have to be done with third party encryption programs. This would rule out cheaper handsets unless it could be run native to the phones OS (which would have to be a standardised feature across all platforms). Private information would also need to be stored on the handset in much the same way as Chip and Pin. You would still have to manually verify your transaction to reduce fraud.
Bluetooth would however work as a 'pass by proximity', using existing technology. You can purchase automated driveway gates that open to registered Bluetooth handsets on detection. Why not have Pre-Pay Subway and Train passes that use your Mobile instead of a card. That way the gate would just allow you through. Detectors could be "Tuned" down to create a lower reception distance. As no information other than your phone ID would be transferred, no extra security or applications would be required for its implementation. All hardware and software would be installed and maintained by the provider. As the phone itself would not contain any information other than the instruction to pair with the hardware it would not pose an identity problem if lost or stolen. Just simply have your details reset with the service you are using and re-register a new handset.

Answer 3

Bluetooth may still seem like a cutting-edge popular culture technology, but the truth is that even after 9 years it has barely touched its potential. I think it's fair to say that it never will.
It's dated, it's slow and it is power hungry (relatively speaking).

One thing I would like to see, though, is the conception of a general purpose Bluetooth Remote Control. I used an old P800 mobile phone as a remote, via the PC, some funky HTML, AJAX, and infra red transmitters to control my TV, VCR, DVD player, CD player, amplifier and HTPC. If the phone still worked it'd control the Robosapien too. ;-)

Infra red remotes are sooooo last millennium, and a decent touch screen, adaptable, skinnable bluetooth remote control - with associated support in domestic appliances - would get my vote.

...And so would decent bluetooth earphones for my MP3 player. (Cables are soooooo last millennium.)

All we'd then need are inductive loops to power everything over an airgap and we'd be sorted. (But our carbon footprint wouldn't approve.)

As for motorbikery's suggestion, while Bluetooth can offer the communication medium, it'd need power and processing. But there are other possibilities out there that offer intrinsic communication and biometric security (put to some use by the body's magnetic field), using kinetic energy as a power source.

As for other respondant's fears of Bluetooth's insecurities, that's typically a result of bad implementation or bad user configuration. Bluetooth is a medium for transfering information and, as with all mediums - whether telephone, satellite, internet or whatever - it can be secured using existing and proven protocols and infrastructures.

Ali - that's a decent idea. Payment would be made directly from the phone's tarif. Watch somebody go and patent it now. ;-) Alas, the most prominent reason why Bluetooth is popular with phone manufacturers is the licensing and fabrication costs - it's quite cheap. You can build a Bluetooth transceiver using off-the-shelf components for only a couple of quid.

Answer 4

This bluetooth technology can be best used in future if you use it wisely by using bluetooth technology on PSP, Gameboy, and many more so that you can bluetooth games from one device to another since there is a memory can and you dun have to waste time downloading games and stuffs like how a cell phones work for bluetooth the songs and stuffs.


GoOd LuCk .. ..

Answer 5

Bluetooth is the most popular Personal Area Network technology available right now whether the users know it or not.
Some of the new ways we can use this is as a digital wallet where we can use it to transfer payments. Of course there has to be adequate security for this to happen.
Also, we can use it to store digital IDs and passes, or for exchange of contact details.

Answer 6

This is a fairly small and affordable bluetooth headset. I have been using this for about 2 months and find it very comfortable. The sound is clear on both sides. I am an active user of my phone and the charge on this headset lasts a full day for me. It re-charges pretty fast also(about 90mins). I also like this headset because it just sits outside the ear canal and doesn't go into it.

Answer 7

Bluetooth needs new security standards. As it stands it is ok for headsets and transfering small files between devices, but I wouldn't trust it for handling important data.

The speed of bluetooth needs to be improved. I like the simplicity of connecting devices using bluetooth, but prefer the speed of wi-fi.

There is something scary about the idea of transferring money by wireless. It seems like a perfect opportunity for electronic pick pockets.

Answer 8

Given the inferior and primitive numeric design put onto telephones, replacing the 'Dial' used on such famous artifacts such as 'The Lobster Telephone' and other old phones glamorised by TV game-shows such as 'Deal or No Deal' and my own personal favourite 'The Mint' (Bev is by far the hottest presenter, even though I'm a red!). My own 'Fast Dial' design, invented as a response, in my own time, to a complaint from an administration supervisor at my old office means I find this question meaningless.

My own 'Fast Dial Telephone' invention can be viewed, upon request, at The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.

NB: I have issues with the BBC which is why I have avoided approaching their TV show 'Dragons Den', 'Dragon Fruit' is just one product that I refuse to buy as I don't recognise its country of origin and I reassert that 'Israel' is merely the 'Internet' spelt incorrectly.

Answer 9

It's like anything these days, as long as there is a common sense about things and people protect themselves, then bluetooth would be able to do all sorts. Its like any wireless system. No cables grrrrrrreat , a code only you know for security, then why couldn't one do money transactions. Maybe as an identity like fingerprint is on some lap tops, blue tooth could do the same for us electronically. Some phones already have remote control on them for various electronic devices, so maybe in future we might be able to tell more things how to function through blue tooth. Maybe to be able to programme through codes with blue tooth for better quality pictures on television instead of using a remote control. Wouldn't it be great if we could use our mobile phone instead of our remote control for all electronic devices in our homes.

Answer 10

At train stations or airports, you could use your phone to select a train or plane, whereby bluetooth would automatically send your phone a message to tell you when it's leaving (or - more likely - how long it has been delayed by.) This would eliminate the need to keep getting up to check the monitors.

Another use would be that in real world shopping, consumers could have product information sent to them via bluetooth, allowing them to purchase that product online when they got home.