| Wireless: To Be, Or Not To Be? That Is The | | | | The Independent newspaper reported that |
| Question Facing Schools Across The Country. | | | | according to some estimates, more than half |
| There has been a lot of hype in the media about | | | | England's primary schools, and about four-fifths of |
| concerns wireless Internet connections (Wi-Fi) are | | | | their secondary schools, have Wi-Fi technology |
| harming children. But is there a basis to these | | | | installed. |
| concerns, or are these fears unwarranted? | | | | In several European countries, provincial |
| Probably the most concerning information to | | | | governments have banned or limited the use of |
| come out of these stories is that these wireless | | | | wireless technology in their schools. And back |
| connections emit radiation with a similar frequency | | | | home in Britain, Stowe school has removed part |
| to microwaves and mobile phones. And that fact | | | | of their Wi-Fi technology after a teacher began |
| has got people worried that it might cause cancer, | | | | having headaches and nausea as soon as it was |
| brain damage and heart disease, not to mention | | | | installed. |
| headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness and memory | | | | However there is a chance this teacher was just |
| problems in the short term. | | | | "electrosensitive", a condition that affects three |
| A BBC Panorama investigation caused panic when | | | | out of one hundred people according to the World |
| they claimed that the radio frequency radiation | | | | Health Organisation. |
| levels of some classes that have Wi-Fi | | | | In addition to this theory, James Rubin from the |
| connections are up to three times more intense | | | | Institute of Psychiatry has stated that people can |
| than the levels found in the main beam of | | | | develop headaches if they believe such |
| intensity of mobile phone masts. However, The | | | | technology gives people headaches, even if the |
| Guardian then quoted various scientists who | | | | signal is not present. What are the advantages |
| refuted this claim, and essentially discredited the | | | | and disadvantages of Wi-Fi Internet Connections? |
| investigation. | | | | Advantages of Wi-Fi |
| BBC News reported that while the heating effects | | | | The main advantage of Wi-Fi is users can connect |
| of high exposure to electromagnetic radiation | | | | to the Internet without being plugged in. As long |
| could be damaging, mobile phones and microwave | | | | as the computers are within range of a host |
| ovens have a much higher power level than | | | | network, users can log on to this network from |
| wireless connections. The report then pointed out | | | | anywhere. |
| that there is no evidence that suggests | | | | What this means is that students can be outside, |
| electromagnetic radiation at radio frequencies has | | | | or in areas where cables cannot run, and still be |
| any impact on health when the energy levels are | | | | able to use the Internet. |
| at such low levels. In other words, there is no | | | | In addition, in some circumstances Wi-Fi can be |
| proof that Wi-Fi connections are bad for our | | | | cheaper to set-up and expand than a cabled |
| health. | | | | network, especially as many Laptop or Notebook |
| In fact, The Times stated that a | | | | computers now come with inbuilt wireless |
| wireless-connected classroom in Norwich was | | | | technology. Disadvantages of Wi-Fi |
| tested, and the levels of radiation were found to | | | | Wi-Fi connections can be unreliable, especially when |
| be 600 times lower than the levels considered | | | | working at a distance from a base station as the |
| dangerous by the Government. The classroom | | | | signal strength drops. Technology with similar |
| was tested using the International Commission's | | | | frequencies, like mobiles and microwaves, can |
| NonIonizing Radiation Protection processes, which | | | | disrupt the connection, which means students |
| determines how strong radiation is based on how | | | | may be disconnected from the Internet, or at |
| much heat is produced. Do the negative | | | | least the speed of the Internet will be greatly |
| arguments stand-up? | | | | minimised. |
| Despite the articles above, Sir William Stewart, | | | | Browsing and downloading speeds can also be |
| the chairman of the Health Protection Agency | | | | much slower than a cabled connection simply |
| who pointed out in 2000 that mobiles phones | | | | because the speed of the Wi-Fi device is slower. |
| could be detrimental to people's health, has been | | | | Wi-Fi networks in schools are made to be easy |
| quoted in a number of newspapers warning of | | | | for students to connect to, but by making them |
| the potential dangers of Wi-Fi technology. He has | | | | easy for the school children to log on, they also |
| issued a plea that students who come in regular | | | | make it easy for Internet hackers. These hackers |
| contact with Wi-Fi technology should be monitored | | | | can put viruses onto the schools network and the |
| for any ill effects. | | | | computers logged onto the network, and they |
| Labour MP Ian Gibson, who was interviewed by | | | | can also steal information from student's and |
| Sir William Stewart for an upcoming programme, | | | | school computers logged onto the Wi-Fi server. |
| backed the statements made by Sir William | | | | Finally, battery life is minimised because of the |
| Stewart, and called for an official inquiry into Wi-Fi | | | | extra power needed to connect to the network |
| connections. Gibson is MP for Norwich, a city that | | | | and Internet without cables. Final Verdict |
| has recently been set up as a wireless city. | | | | BBC News reminded the public of Karl Popper, |
| These sentiments have been echoed by Mike Bell, | | | | one of the great philosophers of science, who said |
| chairman of the Electromagnetic Radiation | | | | science is about falsification. You can prove |
| Research Trust; Alasdair Philips, director of | | | | theories and hypothesis are incorrect, but you can |
| Powerwatch, an information service; and the | | | | never prove they are correct. So, theories are |
| Professional Association of Teachers, whom are | | | | innocent until proven guilty. And with no hard |
| currently pressuring Education Secretary Alan | | | | evidence to suggest wireless technology does |
| Johnson to call for one such inquiry. | | | | negatively affect our health and the health of our |
| Dr Olle Johansson of Karolinska Institute in | | | | children, the technology can only be considered |
| Sweden has been studying radiation similar to that | | | | safe. |
| being given off by wireless connections and found | | | | Further to this, BBC News pointed out that the |
| there are biological implications. However, when he | | | | television and radio modulated frequencies that |
| was asked if it was right to limit Wi-Fi usage | | | | come into our homes are just as powerful as |
| based on thermal effect, he refuted the idea. | | | | Wi-Fi technology. If the journalists were so |
| The Government believe the technology is | | | | worried about the negative effects of Wi-Fi, |
| perfectly safe, taking the advice from the World | | | | should they also be worried about the effects of |
| Health Organisation, and have not yet set up any | | | | their own medium. |
| official inquiry. Are our children safe? | | | | However, the "fact" is that when it comes to |
| One of the greatest concerns is that of our | | | | children many parents and school staff will be |
| children. Children are more vulnerable to radiation | | | | concerned about the potential effects of the |
| because their skulls are thinner and their nervous | | | | "electronic smog" created by Wi-Fi and will choose |
| systems are still developing and because they will | | | | to play it safe by minimising, or even eliminating, |
| be exposed to more of this radiation during their | | | | the use of Wi-Fi within schools until more hard |
| lives. | | | | evidence is available. |
| Although there is no evidence yet supporting the | | | | And while there are many other advantages for |
| notion that wireless connections emit harmful | | | | using cable technology over wireless (see the |
| radiation, the thought that children may be | | | | 'What are the advantages and disadvantages of |
| exposed to dangerous radiation, especially | | | | Wi-Fi Internet Connections?' section), perhaps |
| considering how many schools use the technology, | | | | schools should be using cabling over wireless |
| has some parents up in arms. | | | | technology even if it is in theory perfectly safe. |