| There are some new and exciting technologies | | | | These devices operate in the 2.4 GHz ISM |
| for printers that we will allbe enjoying in the very | | | | (industrial, scientific, medical)band. An advantage of |
| near future. Actually the technology is available | | | | Bluetooth over IrDA is that close proximity |
| right now but many people do not understand it | | | | between the communicating devices is not |
| or know how to use it. | | | | required and distances of up to 40 feet are |
| The technology that I will focus on here is IrDA | | | | allowed. Also, Bluetooth does not suffer from any |
| and Bluetooth interfaces. | | | | line of sight restrictions. |
| Gone will be the wires which extends a lot of | | | | A fascinating aspect of Bluetooth-enabled devices |
| possibilities for placing yourprinter in your home or | | | | is their ability tocommunicate with each other |
| office. | | | | spontaneously when they come within each |
| IrDA is an acronym for Infrared Data Association. | | | | other's range. A Bluetooth-enabled cell phone can |
| IR devices work by using infrared technology, and | | | | be configured so that it can automatically print out |
| hence don't require any cables to connect them | | | | all its stored messages and photos using a |
| to the printer. Actually this is old technology | | | | Bluetooth printer as soon as you enter your |
| revisited. It was used widely in TV remote | | | | office without any manual intervention. |
| controls. IrDA will be replaced by Bluetooth | | | | Another advantage of using Bluetooth is its |
| eventually because of it's restrictions. | | | | support for point-to-multipointcommunications. This |
| Using such printers, one can print directly from a | | | | means a single printer can simultaneously connect |
| mobile device, such as a PDA, cell phone or even | | | | to both your cell phone, as well as your computer |
| a video camera, which supports an IrDA interface | | | | and any other Bluetoothenabled device within its |
| without the need of any cables or even a PC. | | | | vicinity. |
| The only shortcoming is the line of sight | | | | The HP 995c Bluetooth printer is one example of |
| restriction. As the devices work using infrared | | | | an inkjet printer withbuilt-in Bluetooth support. |
| rays, any obstacles between the communicating | | | | Here is an excerpt from a review of the HP 995c |
| devices will block the signal. | | | | done by PC Magazine: |
| Some HP printers with IrDA support are HP | | | | "We found we could print wirelessly from as far |
| DeskJet 340, HP LaserJet 5MP, HP LaserJet 6MP, | | | | away as 40 feet. And wefound no significant |
| HP 2100M and HP4050N. | | | | difference in output speed between printing via a |
| Bluetooth is another addition to the new | | | | USB connection and printing wirelessly with |
| interfaces available for printers. | | | | Bluetooth." |
| Bluetooth is a low-cost, low-power, wireless radio | | | | Bluetooth is still in its infancy but from what I've |
| frequency technologythat allows various devices | | | | seen so far it looks like itwill be the dominant |
| to communicate with each other. | | | | wireless technology in the future. |