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The idea of having a wi-fi powered smart city does seem a bit disconcerting if one would look at previous portrayals of these types of cities in movies and games.
If you ever wondered what the new iteration of wi-fi connectivity will be like, then look no further and get ready to say hello to HaLow, the new type of wi-fi for IoT. The Internet of Things concept, consisting of all your smart home devices being interconnected, is getting constantly pushed by various companies with various marketing practices and advertisements, although the general public is still a bit wary in regards to it.
The main feature of this new HaLow is the capability of penetrating through previously hindering objects like floors, ceilings, and walls, without sacrificing any of its power. Besides this increased potential and range, this new wi-fi functions on a 900 MHz band, instead of the usual 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. This newly approached spectrum allows for faster data transfer, even though the payloads are smaller in size, without any excessive strain applied to the battery.
In layman’s terms, this wi-fi connectivity is meant for your smartwatch or any other smart device or appliance found in your home. This will not boost your laptop’s internet speeds if you connect it to a wi-fi source. Instead, if you have a smart thermostat in your basement, you will have no problem in controlling it from your 2nd or 3rd floor, with the signal easily passing through the floor in order to reach it.
The reason why this HaLow is better than Bluetooth connectivity is the fact that devices connect directly to the internet, instead of connecting to another device. This might seem a bit unimportant, but one must keep in mind the fact that wearable devices, for instance smartwatches or fitness bands, try to become as untethered as possible, removing the need of having a smartphone near them in order to function at 100% in terms of features.
The one behind this new piece of technology is the organization called the Wi-Fi Alliance, which calls the shots when it comes to setting the standards and advances in wi-fi technology. This company is also claiming that HaLow can be easily used in the foundation of a smart city hub or for industrial purposes because of its ability to connect thousands of devices to only one access point, without slowing the connection speed down. By doing this, industrial facilities can have multiple cameras or analysis devices linked to one central hub from which certified personnel can see and control everything.
But, taking into account the fact that HaLow will reach the public markets as early as 2020, leaving Bluetooth to improve itself as well, this new type of technology is still a rather long way off. The level of accepting a so-called “smart-home” must also increase, with only 13% of online US residents currently possessing an IoT-enabled device, even though smart light bulbs or thermostats have been on the market for almost two years.
Even if you are a fan of this concept or not, you must have to exercise a little more patience before you can say hello to HaLow, the new type of wi-fi for IoT. More information regarding its capabilities and HaLow-enabled devices will surface in 2018 after products will pass Wi-Fi Alliance’s certification tests.
Image source:www.pixabay.com
