Brian Zaugg Information Technology Consultant

Wireless networks are a key enabling technology for the modern information age. The proliferation of Wi-Fi hotspots, cellular data networks, and generally ubiquitous and pervasive networks, combined with mobile devices that support the global positioning system and the varied wireless standards, has led to an access anywhere paradigm that transforms the delivery of services. One of the transformative, emerging uses of wireless technologies is the mobile banking application. Mobile banking applications that utilize wireless networks provide a secure and convenient means for customers to access financial services.

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Peer-to-peer networks provide novel features compared to traditional networks. The One Laptop per Child project has leveraged P2P in the design and implementation of a mesh network that provides Internet connectivity to children in the poorest, most remote places of the Earth. By utilizing the P2P model, OLPC hopes to connect the world’s neediest children to the vast educational resources available on the Internet.

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The availability of reliable, high speed, high bandwidth connectivity has grown exponentially over the last ten to fifteen years. Pervasive network connectivity has and will continue to have a dramatic effect on the features, functionality, and types of programs and services people utilize for computing. One aspect of human life that stands to change due to pervasive connectivity is healthcare.

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Wireless sensor networks are increasingly popular across a wide variety of applications, including military, logistics, and retail markets. Sensor node devices are often deployed in environments that would be considered hostile to normal network devices. Sensors are often unattended and accessible to potential attackers. In addition, nodes must be able to participate in self-organizing, wireless ad-hoc networks that are susceptible to jamming and denial of service attacks. Researchers are designing and implementing wireless sensor networks with a combination of authentication, encryption, and tamper detection technologies to ensure a secure environment that mitigates the threats and vulnerabilities.

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