| Have you noticed the giant leaps in technology | | | | the wireless router. |
| that have happened in just the past two | | | | With this small device, a person could connect |
| decades? In fact, twenty years ago, the World | | | | that wire and then broadcast a signal through their |
| Wide Web was virtually unheard of, computers | | | | home or office. Now, they are no longer tied to a |
| were large and bulky, and there was no such | | | | wire. They can enjoy browsing the net from |
| thing as wireless Internet access. I just the last | | | | anywhere within a small range. |
| two decades, technology has certainly come a | | | | However, this is not where the revolution of the |
| long way in all areas, including television, cellular | | | | wireless Internet stopped. Recently, new mobility |
| telephones, and computers. | | | | options have come about that allow a person to |
| In fact, ask anyone older than twenty-five and | | | | get online from a much larger range. The first |
| they will tell you about the days when cellular | | | | selection is called 3G, or third generation. This |
| phones came in bags and movies were only | | | | option makes use of a cellular signal and a small |
| available on VHS tapes. These days, cell phones | | | | card that is used with a laptop computer. This |
| fit in jeans pockets and movies are available in | | | | signal allows a person to use wireless Internet |
| 3-D and on DVD. | | | | access at dial-up speeds from a larger area. |
| Technology certainly has changed in the last few | | | | The second option is 4G, or fourth generation. |
| decades. Let us take a moment to look at what | | | | This option takes the idea of 3G and steps it up a |
| has happened for the world of the Internet | | | | notch. With this option, a person can connect to |
| service. Just a few years ago, the only way that | | | | the Internet at DSL speeds with the same style |
| you could get online was to wait while your | | | | air card used with a laptop computer. In other |
| computer modem dialed up and then you had to | | | | words, a user can get online with high-speed |
| hope that the connection would hold. In today's | | | | service anywhere in their area, and the coverage |
| time, connections work at blinding speeds, allowing | | | | area depends on the tower locations, but it usually |
| a person to watch television, download music and | | | | includes a whole city or county range. |
| play games with cutting edge graphics. Internet | | | | Yes, technology certainly has come a long way. |
| services and speeds certainly have changed. | | | | Instead of depending on cellular phones the size of |
| That change can most be seen in mobility options | | | | two liter soda bottles and television sets that |
| for getting online. Just a few years ago, a person | | | | weight forty pounds, we now have pocket sized |
| had to sit at a desk, using a computer connected | | | | phones and plasma television. With wireless |
| to the wall by a wire. This meant a person had no | | | | Internet services, the change is even more |
| choice but to stay at that desk for the whole | | | | obvious. |
| time they wished to stay online. Then, along came | | | | |