There’s been a lot of publicity about Bluetooth 4.0, also called Bluetooth Smart Ready, and its technological advantages. In the past, Bluetooth has disillusioned users with its high battery consumption and pairing issues. Bluetooth Smart Ready is touted as a wireless connectivity tool that consumes very little energy. Data can be easily transferred from one device to another across different platforms and hardware. You can also transfer data to devices that have older classic versions of Bluetooth.
A new central nervous system
It appears as if version 4.0 has a new think-tank. The aim of Bluetooth 4.0 is to pair and maintain the connectivity between two electronic devices but with lower consumption of power.
Some of the areas where it will prove indispensable are:
- Connection between all your smartphones, tablets, notebooks, laptops and desktops,
- Connecting wireless computer peripherals like keyboard and mouse,
- Gaming device remote controls,
- Wrist watches and smartphones that track heart rate, blood glucose and other critical levels during sports activities,
- To use wireless apps like exercise and fitness programs,
- Proximity sensing in home and office security systems,
- Automation of automobile controls and navigation,
- Remote control of home appliances lighting, kitchen gadgets, TVs, etc,
- Remote manipulation of industrial machinery especially in hazardous sections, and many more.
Video Streaming
Where video streaming via Bluetooth 4.0 is concerned, the range has remained unchanged at 300 feet max but while doing so, the energy requirement will be less. A user will not have to recharge the mobile battery frequently despite heavy usage.
Phones and other hardware that have Near Field Communication (NFC) can also be paired with a device that has Bluetooth 4.0 or Smart Ready. This does not require complicated configuration or changes in settings. Just a tap on each device and you are ready to transfer data from one to another. No special router is needed to make them compatible.
Commercial value of Bluetooth 4.0
Its maximum advantage is perceived in gymnasiums and fitness centers where Bluetooth 4.0 enabled computers can monitor your workout and upload the statistical data on to a cloud. The trainers can track a person’s performance and modify the sessions for improvement. This is will prove extremely beneficial for those involved in sports and athletics, especially at a competitive level.
Industrial and personal safety is another field that will gain advantage from this version of Bluetooth. Remote sensing and control of gadgets, security appliances like alarm systems, are a necessary part of our daily lives. Homes, banks, supermarkets and malls, etc. can be vulnerable to theft. With Bluetooth, computers can sense and prevent dangerous situations, thus improving safety measures.
Bluetooth 4.0 can be divided into its Bluetooth Smart Ready features and Bluetooth Smart features. These two aspects of the software focus on battery usage and compatibility issues. The segregation ensures that your smartphone or tablet, once paired with another device, can maintain it connectivity for a long time without using too much energy.
Companies that manufacture Bluetooth accessories are in for a windfall. One can safely predict that demand for Bluetooth Smart Ready (version 4.0) will shoot up in the near future. And one can almost accurately foresee a scramble by manufacturers to bring out better and better accessories that match the diverse capabilities of the software.