Wi-Fi is a family of wireless network protocols based on the IEEE 802.11 standards, commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet access. It allows nearby digital devices to exchange data using radio waves. Wi-Fi networks are the most widely used computer networks globally, employed in homes and small offices to connect devices and provide Internet access via wireless routers and access points in public places like coffee shops, hotels, libraries, and airports.
Overview of the Wifi
Wi-Fi is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance, which restricts the term “Wi-Fi Certified” to products that pass interoperability certification testing. Non-compliant hardware is simply referred to as WLAN and may or may not work with “Wi-Fi Certified” devices. As of 2017, the Wi-Fi Alliance included more than 800 companies worldwide. By 2019, over 3.05 billion Wi-Fi-enabled devices were shipped globally each year.
Wi-Fi uses multiple parts of the IEEE 802 protocol family and is designed to work seamlessly with Ethernet, its wired counterpart. Compatible devices can network through wireless access points with each other, as well as with wired devices and the Internet. Different versions of Wi-Fi are specified by various IEEE 802.11 standards, with different radio technologies determining radio bands, maximum ranges, and speeds. Wi-Fi most commonly uses the 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) UHF and 5 GHz SHF radio bands, with the 6 GHz SHF band used in newer generations. These bands are subdivided into multiple channels, which can be shared between networks but only one transmitter can use these within range at any given time.
The best line-of-sight performance for Wi-Fi’s radio bands. Common obstructions including walls and home appliances reduce coverage significantly; however, it also helps minimize interference among different networks when they are in crowded environments. The range of an access point is about 20 meters (66 feet) indoors, while some access points claim up to a 150-meter (490 feet) range outdoors. Hotspot coverage can vary from a single room to many square kilometers using overlapping access points with roaming capabilities. Over time, Wi-Fi speed and spectral efficiency have increased, and as of 2019, some versions can achieve speeds of 9.6 gigabits per second (Gbit/s) on suitable hardware at close range.
History of Wi-Fi
In 1985, a ruling by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission released parts of the ISM bands for unlicensed use for communications. These frequency bands include the same 2.4 GHz bands used by equipment such as microwave ovens, which can cause interference.
NCR Corporation and AT&T invented 802.11’s predecessor in Nieuwegein in The Netherlands in 1991 for use in cashier systems under the trademark WaveLAN. Vic Hayes from NCR, who chaired the IEEE 802.11 committee for ten years, together with Bruce Tuch from Bell Labs, played key roles in designing the initial specifications of both 802.11b and 802.11a. They are now members of the Wi-Fi NOW Hall of Fame.
A team of scientists in Australia started working on wireless LAN technology back in 1989. By 1992, researchers led by John O’Sullivan at the Radiophysics Division CSIRO had created a prototype test bed for a WLAN. A patent lodged by CSIRO for Wi-Fi was made public in 1992.
This is how the first release of 802.11 came about in 1997, enabling up to 2 Mbit/s link speeds. In 1999, however, it was replaced by another version known as 802.11b which allowed for link speeds of up to 11 Mbit/s. Besides, the Wi-Fi Alliance was created in the same year as a trade association that claims the Wi-Fi trademark that most IEEE 802.11 products use.
Apple Inc.’s adoption of Wi-Fi in their iBook series of laptops in 1999 under the name AirPort was a major commercial breakthrough for the technology. This was done with cooperation from some of those who helped develop the standard such as Vic Hayes, Bruce Tuch, Cees Links, Rich McGinn, and others from Lucent.
Radiata, a group of Australian scientists connected to CSIRO, was the first to use chips incorporating a Wi-Fi network using the standard called 802.11a in 2000.
Wi-Fi uses multiple patents held by different companies. There is no consensus between Australia, the United States, and the Netherlands, all claiming to have invented Wi-Fi at the same time. Meanwhile, the Australian CSIRO won $200 million from a patent settlement with fourteen tech companies against the backdrop of legal proceedings involving twenty-three other enterprises during the period running from 2009-2012.
In addition to this development, Australia’s contribution towards “A History Of The World In One Hundred Objects” held at the National Museum of Australia in 2016 was made by CSIRO through its WLAN prototype test bed.
Etymology and Terminology
The name Wi-Fi has been used on a commercial scale since August 1999 when it was picked by brand consulting company Interbrand. Interbrand was engaged by The Wi-Fi Alliance to come up with a name that would be more interesting than IEEE Direct Sequence 802.11b. According to Phil Belanger, one of the founding members of The Wi-Fi Alliance, among ten names proposed by Interbrand, ‘Wi-Fi’ was chosen as the best. In addition to this, Interbrand designed the Wi-Fi logo featuring a yin-yang sign, which indicates that a product has been certified for interoperability. It is common to also see the name written as Wifi or wifi, which are not approved by the Wi-Fi Alliance.
Nonetheless, it is commonly believed that “Wi-Fi” stands for “Wireless Fidelity.” However, even though it was called “Wireless Fidelity” in various ads by its creator and WWAI was sometimes referred to as Wireless Fidelity Alliance Inc., “Wi-Fi” itself does not stand for “Wireless Fidelity.” Sometimes, IEEE under its name has declared on the website that “Wi-Fi is a short name for Wireless Fidelity.” The choice of name was influenced partly by its similarity in sound with hi-fi whose quality consumers associate with high fidelity or just high quality.
Conclusion
Wi-Fi, a term first used by Interbrand and subsequently popularized by the Wi-Fi Alliance, has changed how we connect to the internet and transmit data without wires. Despite common misconceptions, “Wi-Fi” is not an abbreviation for “Wireless Fidelity”; it was chosen because it sounds like “Hi-Fi.” Since its inception in the late 1990s, Wi-Fi has become a part of our daily lives, allowing us to wirelessly connect billions of devices globally. In cooperation with IEEE 802.11 standards, these organizations have ensured that Wi-Fi remains a dependable and vital technology for personal and professional uses. Notably, advancing Wi-Fi technology will surely be a crucial aspect of future global communication and networking.