The Future of Wireless Internet

The future of the internet, wireless internet in-particular, is one that has much room for improvement still. The IEEE commission which creates standards for many networking technologies is currently developing a new wireless standard known as 802.11p (the current mainstream one is 802.11b and is slowly transitioning to 802.11g). This standard allows for communication at as much as 100mph and is being created to bring internet to cars. Now you ask why does this even matter? Well read this, its an excerpt from an article about the new standard,

"802.11p will be used as the groundwork for DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications), a US Department of Transportation project � which will be emulated elsewhere - looking at vehicle- based communication networks, particularly for applications such as toll collection, vehicle safety services, and commerce transactions via cars. The ultimate vision is a nationwide network that enables communications between vehicles and roadside access points or other vehicles."

the entire article can be viewed here: www.theregister.co.uk...

This would be horrible! The government could monitor your car far better with this than with onstar. With the advent of the new OBD3 car system, the government could see the PSI in all your tires! Tolls would be automatically deducted from your account. Sure, its convienent but are we ready for a Minority Report type society? How could you run if your car is trackable?

A brave new world is coming soon....

[edit on 17-7-2004 by lockheed]

The biggest issue is not so much the speed, but the distance that this new spec will allow-up to 30 miles between repeaters-this will make it a reasonable alternative to wired internet.