MIMO Technology in Development Stages
ETH Zurich has successfully tested a WLAN network using MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology that makes transmission speeds of 216 Mbps possible on conventional networks. The MIMO technology lets several transceivers communicate with each other at the same time all while using the same bandwidth.
The use of multiple antenna technology sounds great but comes with some limiting disadvantages. Take into account that WLAN networks means that there will most likely be more than one user at a time sending and receiving data. This can become quite a task for a computer to not only send a lot of packets of information but it will have to receive and decode the incoming signal to its original base-band signal. Here’s a good example, imagine a room full of cubicles and now every individual is looking over their cubicle throwing handfuls of paper every direction. To simulate computing speed, there is one guy going through all of these papers in the corner of the room. This can get messy and very slow when many users are involved, obviously. The models using MIMO technology need to be built using the most cost effective solutions, which means cheap chips will be used to decode all of the data back to base-band and that basically spells out that it will have a slow computing speed. All in all, until better and more effective chips are found/developed this transfer speed can not be properly used to its fullest capabilities.
Currently there are limitations but we can always count on time and future developments to give us an idea when it will be commercially available.
Flash Everything
Let’s face it; the compact disc’s time is up. All make way for the mp3 revolution! Alright, alright it’s been here for a while and most of us are used to it by now. Then came the construction of handheld devices comparable to portable CD players, the mp3 player. Since their release, the market for mp3 players has risen sharply from $532 million in the year 2000 to $1.3 billion in 2005. This is hardly a slight increase in sales and explains why we are bound to run into someone with headphones in their ears no matter where we go.
Following this trend of development our favorite musicians are now offering us the chance to own their music, not on a CD but a flash drive instead. The flash drive concept is not a bad idea but just like anything it has its pros and cons. For one thing, an USB flash drive can hold a lot more songs than a CD ever could, and you never have to worry about a scratched flash drive ruining your music. While those are pure advantages over CDs they still have flaws such as data loss. By not removing your flash drive properly from the computer you risk the chance of losing your files or corrupting them. “Oh, bye new music…” Expect that to happen to you forgetful ones at some point. Also how many times have you left your flash drive in a computer you were using and walked away? Exactly, a flash drive is small and easy to lose. If it’s not left in a computer at work, school, or anywhere else you have access; it’s lost in your purse, car, house, or worse stolen.
Of course, this is not enough to stop things now; people have chosen and I can’t say it is a horrible decision. Overall it’s easy and convenient what more can you ask for? Soon our movies will arrive in a DVD-shaped case sans DVD and in its place, a neat little flash drive. Although, they are still in the idea stages of flash drive food, it’s only a matter of time. I can taste it now.
