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Vlad Patrascu Wiki user id: v_patrascu_MGCR331                                                Student number : 260335256

Laptops and the Growth of Wireless Internet

Laptops are more than just a convenience for modern computer buffs. They have become such an integral part of today’s technology that new paradigms have been built around them. Mobile professionals, the military, law enforcement agencies, schools and governments use them in ways that desktop computers could never support. Computers confined to ivory towers are a thing of the past; today’s mobile agencies can access computer technology at the site where it is most needed. Since laptops can be taken virtually anywhere, they can support lab and office technology right in the field. They can be hooked up directly to probes to gather data, evaluate that data, and help determine a course of action on the spot. Immediate access to reference data and the ability to communicate in real time have transformed the way business is done in today’s world. All this is of course related to the spread of the wireless data technology known as Wi-Fi, which has reshaped the way millions of people go online, letting them tap into high-speed Internet connections effortlessly at home and in many public places. Mobile professionals are the most visible users of laptop technology. Professionals such as sales representatives, insurance adjusters, and field technicians can use laptops for communication from the field and real-time reporting as well as immediate computing at the remote site. Business executives can much more easily access large bodies of corporate data by laptop than by lugging around hard-copy ledgers. This translates into better business performances, quicker access to important data, and lets’ not forget the fact that the laptops  give us the opportunity to multitask just as a CPU does on a computer. The typical example is using a laptop anywhere and combining its use with our daily activities in order to save time; during lunch or breakfast, even at the coffee place where you can relax and socialize. Another important detail is that laptops prices have considerably decreased over the years which contributed to their popularity. However, every convenience has its cost. In the wireless technology one of the down sides is the security and the vulnerability of a Wi-Fi network. Federal and state law enforcement officials say sophisticated criminals have begun to use the unsecured and vulnerable Wi-Fi networks of unsuspecting consumers and businesses to help cover their tracks in cyberspace. In the wired world, it was often difficult for lawbreakers to make themselves untraceable on the Internet. In the wireless world, with scores of open Wi-Fi networks in some neighborhoods, it could hardly be easier. Experts say most of those households never turn on any of the features, available in almost all Wi-Fi routers. Failure to secure the network in those ways can allow anyone with a Wi-Fi-enabled computer within about 200 feet to tap into the base station's Internet connection, typically a digital subscriber line or a cable modem. Another inconvenience that was discovered in recent times is the heath issues associated with the usage of wireless communications. Questions of safety have been raised, citing that long term exposure to electromagnetic radiation of the sort emitted by wireless networks may someday prove to be dangerous. Poor concentration, memory loss, nausea, premature senility and even cancer have been discovered to be caused by the WI-FI technology usage. This is in part true with cellular phones but how about laptops? Well, laptops are often used extensively in environments which do not have suitable lighting. Additionally, laptops often have screens that are not as clear, stable or bright as normal monitors and it is possible that users may be exposed to a greater risk of developing vision fatigue as a consequence. Furthermore, laptops and their accessories are typically in excess of 5 kilograms of weight. Although this comes within the accepted normal load, often it has to be carried along with other loads for a long time. Laptops are often used on laboratory benches, unsuitable desks and tables at home, on trains or in hotel room with limited legroom, poor seating and incorrect screen positions. Therefore, there is a considerable amount of risk involved of developing a wide range of health problems from poor ergonomic environments. One solution for the security issues that occur very frequently with the wireless networks and especially when using a laptop is to make sure that the security settings are turned on which means to change the system's default settings, conceal the connection from others and encrypt the data sent over it. Also setting secure password combinations on the "BIOS" or "boot time" in order to lock the system before Windows even starts and setting a complex administrator password is also a must. As far as the health hazards goes, one has to inform itself on the consequences of using a laptop or any WI-FI technology and how it can affect them if it’s used during long periods of time. This is very important especially to the Mobile professionals as they are more at risk than the casual user. What the future holds for the laptop technology? One thing is for sure; it will get more popular every year. Arimasa Naitoh, the father of the ThinkPad and Lenovo's worldwide VP of Development, provided some useful insights into the future of laptop computing. Fuel-cell battery technology isn't mature. Battery life will also be of supreme importance as we move closer towards laptops that can run for a full working day on a single battery. Naitoh promised that, within the next two years, Lenovo will have a notebook that runs for eight hours using Lithium Ion technology as fuel-cell technology still has a long way to go, particularly in terms of longevityy. As far as the design goes, ThinkPad concept designs with innovations such as raising displays and removable keyboards. It will also continue to roll out WWAN support (allowing users to connect their notebooks up to 3G mobile networks for Web surfing on the go) across its notebook range. This is already available on Lenovo's T and X series of products. Another very improved feature on a laptop will be the storage drive. With traditional magnetic-based hard drives hitting a storage ceiling, the next quantum leap will involve the use of nanotechnology and organic materials. The main advantages: Terabytes of data literally at the tip of your fingers and no more worries about mechanical failure. The conclusion will be a citation from an article published on October 2nd, 2008 http://www.digitalhome.ca/content/view/2923/280/ , which reflects the future tendencies of laptop usage: “Currently, 43% of all online Canadians have a laptop computer in their home. One-third (31%) of current laptop owners plan to upgrade their machines in the next two years. Among those online Canadians who do not currently own a laptop computer, slightly more than one-quarter (27%) plan to purchase one in the next two years. Study author Mark Laver notes: “Laptop price points have been dropping rapidly in the last few years—a basic laptop is currently lower than $550 and some laptops in the sub-notebook category come in under $350. These prices bring a basic model within reach of many online Canadians. Perhaps not surprisingly, a similar percentage (45%) of online Canadians also owns a wireless router. Wireless router ownership in the next two years is predicted to rise by 10%, with 55% of all online Canadians having one in their household”. Bellow you can find references on how to secure your laptop and the wireless connection and safety tips and regulations concerning the Wi-FI health hazards Ref: http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/security/howto/2007-02-16/basics.html https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/tn-archive/cc500474(v=technet.10) http://www.truecrypt.org/ http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/technology/security/how-to-protect-your-laptop-from-thieves.aspx# http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/19/technology/19computer.html?8bl http://www.cnet.com.au/laptops/laptops/0,239035649,240091400,00.htm Ref: http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety/ http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/58354/ http://www.laptopxl.com/laptop/health-issues/