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Be warned this is a long thread but please read it as I'd like to hear your opinions.
I only joined the forums a couple of days ago but Id like to share some information and ideas that I picked up while doing my AVCE work at 6th form. The topic that I want to talk about is Bluetooth. Now all you tech boffins out there will already know plenty about this subject so I don't mind if you click the overused back button on your browser and go to find a topic which at least interests you, if you want to stay then fair enough.
Now, all of you who haven't heard of the Bluetooth technology this is a quick description of what it is and what it can do. My knowledge is basic on the subject but it has inspired me into thinking about its future impact on the gaming world.
Basically Bluetooth creates a wireless network in which radio waves are used to send data back and forth between various devices. Now at the moment the technology is only present it prestige equipment, like the Ericsson mobile hands free kit which when used creates a crystal clear connection between the device and phone. As you can expect at the moment the technology is very expensive and due to the cheap nature of consoles the gaming world won't feel the impact for quite some time to come. But here are my ideas.
The radio wave technology is unlike infrared in the fact that it does not require line of site to create a stable network. And once connected it can produce download speeds of 732.2 KBPS, uploads of 57.6 KBPS and a symmetric data transfer rate of 433.9 KBPS. Its capable of handling both voice and data so provides endless areas of development and opportunities. As it stands it could be huge and if companies pick up on its abilities and integrate the technology into their devices we could be seeing it used to great effect pretty soon. This is wear my ideas started to appear.
Why not use this type of connection in, say, link up games. A Playstation 2 could be set up in one room upstairs with another downstairs and between these two consoles a stable network connection could be established. Strategy games like command and conquer rely heavily on tactical manoeuvres and with this set up each decision could be made without the opponent getting the slightest hint of what's going on.
How about this. With the new Game Boy Advance out and Game Cube on the way everyone knows or has guessed that many games will feature link ability between the two, the most eagerly anticipated being Pokemon, love it or hate it, this game will be huge and the ability to link the GBA version with the GC bigger brother will add an extra twist to the gameplay. At the moment a wire connection is in production for the device's but what's not to say that in the future Bluetooth or a similar technology will be connecting the two. That way downloads and uploads between them would be instant and even gaming could occur in real time on the Game Boy and Game Cube bringing all walks of the gaming world together.
Think about the above situation for a minute, imaging walking past someone's house and instantly receiving a mail on your Game Boy telling you that a person is in the area who owns another Game Boy. All the details of the other person are handed to you and then both of you are given the choice to meet up, if both agree then a map pops up on the screen guiding you to the other owner. This could easily be another feature in upcoming gaming devices if the development in Bluetooth type technology continues.
Continuing on the handheld front here is another idea. Plans are in progress to implement Bluetooth into laptops and mobile phones to create an instant link up to the Internet, the same idea could be used for portable gaming but with certain twists.
Special servers with Bluetooth technology could be present in game shops, these servers would in turn be connected to a network through a special link (Maybe a DSL line) within the shop. This way if you owned a portable gaming device you could stop outside the shop in a special meeting area and in a matter of seconds your gaming device would establish a network connection between itself and the shops server. As a result, your handheld device would be joining you into the network of shops around the country and linking you with hundreds of gamers instantly. This would bring amazing prospects, online surfing, gaming and chat between hundreds of users all over the country. I mean this would be a long way off but imaging the interest that it would generate. Off out shopping? Just pop your handheld gaming device in the bag and stop of at your local link station for a quick go at say Phantasy Star Online, or maybe download some mod's, chat with friends, swap game saves... the possibilities are endless.
So here we have it, with the creation of the Bluetooth wireless technology comes amazing prospects for future gaming devices. My ideas above are very distant as the technology would need to be advanced and altered to suit the needs of the gaming devices, but simple ideas like stable wireless controllers for new consoles could well happen fairly soon.
Now the point of this thread was not to show my knowledge of Bluetooth but to show you how it could influence the gaming world. These are just my certain ideas of what could happen but by reading this text I hope that you too are now pondering what possibilities lay ahead for wireless technology in the future.
In reply to the topic I have created, please post your ideas as I would be interested to hear any you have or in fact, any advancements on my own.
I only joined the forums a couple of days ago but Id like to share some information and ideas that I picked up while doing my AVCE work at 6th form. The topic that I want to talk about is Bluetooth. Now all you tech boffins out there will already know plenty about this subject so I don't mind if you click the overused back button on your browser and go to find a topic which at least interests you, if you want to stay then fair enough.
Now, all of you who haven't heard of the Bluetooth technology this is a quick description of what it is and what it can do. My knowledge is basic on the subject but it has inspired me into thinking about its future impact on the gaming world.
Basically Bluetooth creates a wireless network in which radio waves are used to send data back and forth between various devices. Now at the moment the technology is only present it prestige equipment, like the Ericsson mobile hands free kit which when used creates a crystal clear connection between the device and phone. As you can expect at the moment the technology is very expensive and due to the cheap nature of consoles the gaming world won't feel the impact for quite some time to come. But here are my ideas.
The radio wave technology is unlike infrared in the fact that it does not require line of site to create a stable network. And once connected it can produce download speeds of 732.2 KBPS, uploads of 57.6 KBPS and a symmetric data transfer rate of 433.9 KBPS. Its capable of handling both voice and data so provides endless areas of development and opportunities. As it stands it could be huge and if companies pick up on its abilities and integrate the technology into their devices we could be seeing it used to great effect pretty soon. This is wear my ideas started to appear.
Why not use this type of connection in, say, link up games. A Playstation 2 could be set up in one room upstairs with another downstairs and between these two consoles a stable network connection could be established. Strategy games like command and conquer rely heavily on tactical manoeuvres and with this set up each decision could be made without the opponent getting the slightest hint of what's going on.
How about this. With the new Game Boy Advance out and Game Cube on the way everyone knows or has guessed that many games will feature link ability between the two, the most eagerly anticipated being Pokemon, love it or hate it, this game will be huge and the ability to link the GBA version with the GC bigger brother will add an extra twist to the gameplay. At the moment a wire connection is in production for the device's but what's not to say that in the future Bluetooth or a similar technology will be connecting the two. That way downloads and uploads between them would be instant and even gaming could occur in real time on the Game Boy and Game Cube bringing all walks of the gaming world together.
Think about the above situation for a minute, imaging walking past someone's house and instantly receiving a mail on your Game Boy telling you that a person is in the area who owns another Game Boy. All the details of the other person are handed to you and then both of you are given the choice to meet up, if both agree then a map pops up on the screen guiding you to the other owner. This could easily be another feature in upcoming gaming devices if the development in Bluetooth type technology continues.
Continuing on the handheld front here is another idea. Plans are in progress to implement Bluetooth into laptops and mobile phones to create an instant link up to the Internet, the same idea could be used for portable gaming but with certain twists.
Special servers with Bluetooth technology could be present in game shops, these servers would in turn be connected to a network through a special link (Maybe a DSL line) within the shop. This way if you owned a portable gaming device you could stop outside the shop in a special meeting area and in a matter of seconds your gaming device would establish a network connection between itself and the shops server. As a result, your handheld device would be joining you into the network of shops around the country and linking you with hundreds of gamers instantly. This would bring amazing prospects, online surfing, gaming and chat between hundreds of users all over the country. I mean this would be a long way off but imaging the interest that it would generate. Off out shopping? Just pop your handheld gaming device in the bag and stop of at your local link station for a quick go at say Phantasy Star Online, or maybe download some mod's, chat with friends, swap game saves... the possibilities are endless.
So here we have it, with the creation of the Bluetooth wireless technology comes amazing prospects for future gaming devices. My ideas above are very distant as the technology would need to be advanced and altered to suit the needs of the gaming devices, but simple ideas like stable wireless controllers for new consoles could well happen fairly soon.
Now the point of this thread was not to show my knowledge of Bluetooth but to show you how it could influence the gaming world. These are just my certain ideas of what could happen but by reading this text I hope that you too are now pondering what possibilities lay ahead for wireless technology in the future.
In reply to the topic I have created, please post your ideas as I would be interested to hear any you have or in fact, any advancements on my own.
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Missed it. What about Japs?
I saw that South Park as well!
Sony are planning to implement Bluetooth in the home using the PS2 and AIBO.
The OS2 will act as a central hub, controlling all input and output to the house. The microwave, TV, VCR, lights, even the blooming bathtub will be controlled by it using Bluetooth. The AIBO will be used to manage all this and will be the I/O interface for the user IE you. If you want to have a bath, instruct the AIBO and it will run it for you. When it's run, the AIBO will tell you.
It's a pretty grand (and expensive) idea and I don't know how likely it will all be. But then, you know what the Japanese are like with their gadgets...
The OS2 will act as a central hub, controlling all input and output to the house. The microwave, TV, VCR, lights, even the blooming bathtub will be controlled by it using Bluetooth. The AIBO will be used to manage all this and will be the I/O interface for the user IE you. If you want to have a bath, instruct the AIBO and it will run it for you. When it's run, the AIBO will tell you.
It's a pretty grand (and expensive) idea and I don't know how likely it will all be. But then, you know what the Japanese are like with their gadgets...
From what I've read, the Wavebird seems to be the first example of this (wireless controller)
I think that cables will suffice at home but being out (for example the Gameboy), link cables can be a real nuisance.
If your friend is sitting in another room or in another seat on the bus/car then you can still play them without messing things up.
As for dangers, if it's radio waves then there are none.
Mobile use Microwaves (the same used in a cooker although not as strong :-D) and the phones are also held closer to your head.
I think that cables will suffice at home but being out (for example the Gameboy), link cables can be a real nuisance.
If your friend is sitting in another room or in another seat on the bus/car then you can still play them without messing things up.
As for dangers, if it's radio waves then there are none.
Mobile use Microwaves (the same used in a cooker although not as strong :-D) and the phones are also held closer to your head.
Can I just say, that this topic was very well written. Well done vigilante, you're on your way to becoming a fine poster here.
I'm not sure what to say about the actual subject though, I've never heard of Bluetooth. It sounds good, but as someone said, it may cause a lot of problems as well.
I'm not sure what to say about the actual subject though, I've never heard of Bluetooth. It sounds good, but as someone said, it may cause a lot of problems as well.
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