The future of our lives will be centered on technology. It is just a reality at this point. Things are evolving and changing in our lives with the help of these new technologies. Our jobs, the way we conduct ourselves socially, and even our cities are affected by changing technology. Wi-Fi and the overall accessibility of the Internet have provided us with the opportunity to be connected to one another at all times. Wireless mesh networks will take advantage of that in future cities. It will help to keep us connected and change the way some things are done. This article will give you an idea of how wireless mesh networks work and what changes to expect.
Wireless Mesh Networks 101
A wireless mesh network uses a series of small radio transmitters known as mesh nodes. These nodes work much like a wireless router you might find in your own home. However, a wireless router does still require some wiring. Wireless mesh networks are truly wireless. Only one of the nodes needs to be physically connected and the rest can communicate wirelessly. These networks are very efficient for larger networks, such as those located in a city.
Changes to Come
If cities begin to use these networks, as some already have, there is potential for major technological changes. For instance, some cities have begun to use mesh networking to allow electric meters to communicate with one another and eventually funnel all of the information back to a central location. This can eliminate the need for a person to actually go and physically read the meters. Plus, the meters will no longer have to be hard wired to one another.
Schools can also implement these technologies to aid students. Often, students are required to work with one another on projects and will need to be able to communicate in order to accomplish these projects. With wireless mesh networking, students would be able to communicate at all times and could share files without having to be physically connected to the Internet.
Also, many cities have started providing Wi-Fi in certain spots. With mesh networking, all of these small networks can be connected and will allow commuters, citizens, and visitors to access the Internet anywhere within the confines of the much larger network. Of course, many people can do this using the data on their cell phones, but with tablets becoming more and more popular as a form of mobile computing, this larger network can help citizens who are on the go accomplish more without having to use cell phone data or purchase extra plans.
These networks can also help city services, such as police officers or fire fighters, communicate and access vital information without cell phones or radio. If there is ever some sort of outage, these networks will still be active and allow communication, which could potentially save lives.
Wrap Up
With these new forms of networking and the progress we are making with technology, the possibilities are truly endless. More and more cities are using these wireless mesh networks, and as they expand, so will the possibilities.
About Author:
Ryanne Scrivens is a tech blogger and urban dweller, currently residing in Houston, Texas. She writes with Bend-IT Inc. about hot oil vaporizer coils, pipe-bending application, and other unique engineering projects.
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