The U.K.’s Guardian reports on a study by British media regulator Ofcom that eventually everyone will be living in a wire-free world of sensors and high-tech car. The study, “Tomorrow’s Wireless World,” highlights several areas in health and transportation where wireless technology could have a significant impact.
The report suggests, for example, that body-area networks which monitor vital changes in the body and send a stream of information back to hospitals or doctors could transform the health care industry. In transportation, Ofcom predicts there will be widespread deployment of in-flight broadband services, as well as the use of new wireless technologies on trains, buses, and cars, including an intelligent transport system that will allow cars to communicate with each other to improve safety. “This technology is currently being developed by many of the major car manufacturers around the world and could be fitted to vehicles by 2015,” the report says.
The report also predicts that RFID technology and use will become increasingly complex. Many of the technologies in the report have already been deployed. Engineers at IBM have developed a system that uses the human body as a conduit for data, and General Motors is working with researchers at Carnegie Mellon University to develop a fully-automated car.
What does this have to do with ham radio? Everything, of course! Where do you think companies are going to get the engineers and technicians they’re going to need to design and produce these products? Ham radio operators are perfect in these positions. By indulging in a very enjoyable hobby, ham radio operators can prepare for the technology of the future.
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