Digital devices like laptops and PDAs are already mobile, but their mobility increases even further when connected to Wi-Fi. The growing trend of having Wi-Fi within the home raises the question: is this a sign that people increasingly desire a life with fewer constraints?
Home Hotspots
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Young people are increasingly using laptops and PDAs and want more mobility by connecting to Wi-Fi Internet. Photo: B.D |
Mai Quoc Khanh, a lecturer at the Military Technical Academy, does not have the habit of going to cafes with Wi-Fi to surf the web. His office has Wi-Fi Internet, and his home is also “wireless.” He has a laptop, two desktop computers, an O2, and an iPaq, all synchronized in the Wi-Fi space he wishes to create.
Nguyen Viet Ha, Deputy Director of a trading and service company, expressed on the Handheldvn.com forum: “I have a special interest in wireless networks, which is why I brought Wi-Fi home two years ago.”
According to Khanh and Ha, the investment cost for home Wi-Fi is not significantly different from the installation of regular ADSL. So why not reduce the messy wires in the house by making any spot in the home accessible to the Internet through Wi-Fi?
The mobility factor—being able to move around the house and connect to the network from anywhere—is the common reason why both Ha and Khanh are fond of Wi-Fi. Currently, without Wimax, Wi-Fi is the most optimal choice for providing this convenience.
| Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) is commonly understood as a form of wireless Internet connection. With Wi-Fi, we can connect to the Internet anywhere, whether at home, in the office, at Internet cafes, hotels, or airports, as long as there is a “hotspot.” The wireless technology emerged in June 2003 and has been widely implemented in developing and underdeveloped countries, especially in Africa. Advantages include low-cost terminal devices and high efficiency. The downside is that if you go outside the “coverage area” (about 100m) of the hotspot, the connection will be immediately lost. Many experts believe that Wimax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) technology, which is currently being implemented globally with a wider coverage area, will overcome this limitation of Wi-Fi. |
Home Wi-Fi users only need to invest in a few increasingly familiar and affordable devices. This includes a Wi-Fi network card (if the computer does not already have one) and an ADSL modem that supports wireless functions to serve as an Access Point (costing about $100-150) to connect to the ADSL line from the Internet service provider.
“Another reason is that I love technology. Since I teach telecommunications and network security, I wanted to take advantage of the benefits of wireless networks, bringing Wi-Fi home to use and learn from. Just imagine, I can move anywhere in my house with a laptop and still work online—so convenient, and many of my students also use this method.“, Khanh shared.
Ha noted that the downside of using Wi-Fi is the lower security compared to traditional wired connections, as it can be vulnerable to hacking during the connection process; however, “the convenience still outweighs the risks.”
Khanh is not worried about security because current wireless networking devices all have certain security features that can be configured. He jokingly said, “If my neighbor is using my Wi-Fi for free, it’s not a significant cost, and I don’t always keep the Wi-Fi connection on at home.”
Khanh uses an unlimited family plan for his Internet usage. His only dissatisfaction with home Wi-Fi is that “the signal drops more often than with regular ADSL.” Nevertheless, Wi-Fi remains the best solution for Khanh to transfer files and synchronize installations from desktop computers to laptops and PDAs conveniently.
Mobility or Replacement?
Using Wi-Fi at home is becoming an inevitable trend, and when asked, many laptop users expressed their need for this. This shows the synchronization as the number of laptops increases, along with the advancement from dial-up methods to high-speed Internet (ADSL) and now wireless Wi-Fi.
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As laptops and personal digital devices increase, the trend of accessing wireless Internet is becoming more common. |
The rise of home hotspots has added to the already mushrooming “wireless realm” in office buildings and especially in upscale cafes. The race to open Wi-Fi cafes, described as places for trendy young people, will no longer be a “fad.” Clearly, accessing wireless Internet at home is more convenient and cost-effective than frequenting cafes and incurring extra “charges.”
But will café Wi-Fi and home Wi-Fi face the threat of being “knocked out” by Wimax (which will soon be available in Vietnam)? Ha believes that “Wi-Fi will not be ‘retiring early’ with the advent of Wimax.” Meanwhile, Khanh asserts that “Wimax cannot completely replace Wi-Fi,” stating, “In environments like offices or at home, connecting via wireless LAN is still more effective. Using computers at home, the Wi-Fi coverage of 100m remains reliable.”
Thus, the continuous development of technology has helped eliminate barriers and foster a pursuit of a “digital life.” Some say that when we attach ourselves to technology, such as mobile phones and connected computers, we may feel more mobile and freer, but in reality, it can also be a form of attachment. Connecting to those devices means we are always under someone else’s watch. Don’t we sometimes need to turn off our mobiles or disconnect from the Internet to “escape,” seeking a few moments of freedom without being noticed by others?
However, Wi-Fi Internet users who are frequently online often see it as a way to “stay untethered and more autonomous.” So does high technology enhance or limit human freedom?!
It seems that the conversation about Wi-Fi revolves around having technology, which is one thing, and how we effectively utilize and exploit it is another. Racing to adopt the latest technology is meaningless if it is merely for show or vanity.
B.D
