In this chapter
Where is Wi-Fi going?
Wi-Fi and digital photos
Wi-Fi and home entertainment systems
Wi-Fi in the kitchen
Using Wi-Fi voice badge systems
A proposed Wi-Fi irrigation system
Game consoles and Wi-Fi
Ubiquitous Wi-Fi: Imagine a future in which wireless connectivity is everywhere. Wi-Fi connects your computers, printers, refrigerators, home entertainment systems, burglar alarms, and more. This imagined future is very real and is just around the corner. But it's not quite here yet: Some of these applications are still the province of bleeding-edge people for whom technology is a hobby. These people want the latest and greatest. They want to have it first, and are willing to go to great lengths to be the first on their block with new technology "toys."
So a bit of caution is in order. Not all Wi-Fi applications are ready for prime time.
Bearing today's reality in mind, this chapter takes a look at the Wi-Fi home of tomorrow from two perspectives:
What Wi-Fi applications can you use and enjoy today?
A little further out on the curve, how is Wi-Fi likely to shape our lives tomorrow?