September - October 2001  

Engineering Trends

Wi-Fi: The Wonders and Exasperations of Wireless Networking

by Todd Yuzuriha

People love to be in constant communication. And with the increasing popularity of wireless LANs based on the IEEE 802.11b standard, it is becoming more commonplace for people to stay in touch — anytime, anywhere. Unfortunately, this convenience is fast becoming a major distraction.

Home Networking with 802.11b

I became personally familiar with "Wi-Fi" 802.11b networking a few months ago, when I decided to set up a wireless network in my home. Unfortunately, I learned that 802.11b was not at all compatible with my existing phone line network. But after undergoing the painful process of reinstalling Windows, I was up and running on my new 802.11b.

There are a few "dead spots" in my two-story house, but for the most part, wireless networking works pretty well. Now I can surf the Internet or check e-mail from almost anywhere in my home.

Wireless LANs in the Workplace

But does the convenience of wireless networking translate to convenience in the workplace?

A growing number of people are saying that wireless Internet access has the potential of becoming more annoying at work than cell phones and pagers. During meetings and conference presentations, for example, it's becoming more and more common to hear the clicks of keyboards, the Microsoft "tada," and the Yahoo Instant Messenger "knock, knock, knock" emanating from the audience. The more boring the meeting or presenter, it seems, the more intense the din of notebook computers trumpeting news of their overflowing inboxes.

Companies, organizations and meeting planners are quickly finding that they have to take specific steps to avoid having these distractions ruin professional gatherings. As a case in point, the Four Seasons luxury resort hotel chain held a meeting in June for its technology managers to discuss the upcoming introduction of Wi-Fi technology at all of its 56 resorts worldwide. Recognizing the potential for disaster, the meeting coordinators asked attendees specifically to leave their laptops in their hotel rooms.

Notebook Computer Etiquette

Wireless networking technology offers a great deal in the way of communication on demand and constant, almost real-time communication. But as this technology becomes more popular, users need to consider a few basic rules of etiquette.

The bottom line is to try to limit your notebook computer use during meetings, presentations and other professional gatherings. The convenience of sending and receiving e-mail and IM messages at such times may seem too good to pass up. If you have to be online, at least be sure to turn the sound off.  And be aware of the amount of time you are spend using your notebook; don't bury your head in it all the time. Not only is it rude, it defeats the purpose of your being at the meeting at all. If you have too much work to do, you might want to consider skipping the meeting altogether.

Todd Yuzuriha is the author of How to Succeed as an Engineer: A Practical Guide to Enhance Your Career. For more information, go to www.engineeringsuccess.com.