Introduction
Wireless technologies are attracting attention because wireless components can provide temporal connections to an existing cabled network, they can help provide backup to an existing network; extending the degree of portability hence taking the network beyond the limits of physical connectivity. There are vast ranges of wireless technologies being adopted by individuals and even cooperate companies, and the question is, “Wireless technology is here with us, what next?”. Therefore in this context, we specifically explain the importance and the issues surrounding two such technologies; Social media and Voice and Messaging.
Social Media
Following the advent of the Internet, individuals felt the need to extend the advantages of the devices interconnectivity through sharing information and social life experiences. In essence people use tools like social networks in order to see and to be seen in a social interaction design. The Social Media merges direct and urgent communication interests of people with the indirect or mediated means of production of media’s conceptual forms, thus presenting a good environment for wireless connectivity. Social media also promote the authenticity and truth that interpersonal communication posses, and which can only be imitated by mass media (Chan, 4)
In response to the consumer behaviors, preferences and acceptance, social software systems are different in their theme, user interface as well as their genre. For instance, dating sites such as afrointroduction.com and enharmony.com, deal extensively on personal information. Career connectivity sites like linkedin.com focus on individuals also, but presents only the professional details required. Both these networks are therefore biographical and representational. Facebook and Myspace deal dynamically with people as compared to other sites, for they produce social networks: groups, events, news and scenes. Blogging and discussion sites such as techrepublic.com also engage in the news generation, emphasizing different viewpoints, perceptions and expertise more than an individual’s personality. Social media such as YouTube engage users in their content by presenting clips, ripped movies and music posted by them. Chan asserts that the social media enables a two way communication as opposed to the mass media (5). Therefore social media can be used for marketing, advertising, entertainment, communication and playing social games.
However, the social media requires higher bandwidth because of a two way transmission of content. In regards to security, this kind of technology raises ethical issues in relation to privacy of individuals’ data. The advancement of network through this technology enables individuals or organizations to reproduce data from one location to another and accessing personal data from remote locations. This means that the social media has made some laws obsolete or severely crippled. Also many people in offices find it easy to watch internet video and chat with friends through these media; this affects the throughput of a company leading to unattained goals. Moreover, Social media is deemed to be a technology that will continue to enhance the communication and relationships among societies.
Voice and Messaging
Because of the need for faster and reliable transmission of information between distant locations, technologists came up with an easier way of conveying voice and message which takes advantage of wireless connectivity. Voice and Messaging technologies enable users to communicate through voice and messages. Examples of these technologies include pagers, phones and duplex business radios. Gupta outlines that, voice and messaging devices can be categorized as under, analog or digital depending on the way in which they encode and decode signals. Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) is an analog standard. And the digital protocols are Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). The operations of these devices are within networks which are operated by carriers.
AMPS standard is designed on the early electromagnetic radiation spectrum that assigns frequency ranges within 800 and 900 Megahertz (MHz) spectrum to cellular telephone. This enables the service providers of voice and messaging to receive and transmit signals between cellular phones by using the allocated frequency ranges (Gutpa). As a result of the pitfalls of analog systems, the digital systems were invented in order to support encryption, compression and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) compatibility. One of such is the GSM network which functions in the 1850 to 1990MHz frequency range. The CDMA converts voice into digital information; which is then transmitted over wireless network as a radio signal.
This technology offers choices to individuals, service providers and phone manufacturing companies. It is therefore difficult to enjoy the features of GSM if you have a phone which does not support the service; making choices are sometimes hard especially when it comes to cost. Though, mobile phones today have advanced features like camera, internet accessibility, games and even music at a reduced price hence making wirelessly affordable. Sometimes this type of is prone to transmission impairments such as noise and distortion especially in analog signals and more so people tend to lie on the phone and such like devices; this reduces the rate of loyalty to voice and messaging products among consumers. In essence, the voice and messaging technology is deemed to increase the dynamism of communications systems.
Conclusion
The inherent difficulty of setting up cable networks is a factor that will continue to push wireless environments towards greater acceptance. Wireless connectivity can be useful for networking busy locations such as reception areas, distant buildings having users who collaborate in some way, even historic buildings structures for which it is difficult to lay cables.
Works Cited
Chan, Adrian. “Social Media, Mass Media”. Social Integration Design Reading Notes. (2007): 4-11. 2009. Web.
Gupta, Ruchi. Wireless Technologies: Voice and Messaging. 1999. Web.