The Future of Wireless Technology- 5G

                Stop for a moment and think about how many things in your home are wireless?  How often do you use wireless technology?  Do you remember when wireless technology was only a dream? Where is wireless going in the future?    

The latest from Apple

                This week The Economist shared the latest advancements in what has now been called 5G wireless, in other words fifth generation wireless.   This new form of wireless technology is predicted to penetrate the air waves in 2020.  A quick look at 5G shows that this advancement focuses more on transferring information rather than a person's voice.

                A sense of urgency drives this wireless technology.  The faster it is perfected and delivered the sooner people will gain access to large amounts of information.  

                How large is large?  The current 4G system of wireless technology streams  10-100 Megabits per second.  5G will look at streaming 1 Gigabit per second.   That means 1000 Megabits per second ( a Megabit is 1/8 of a Megabyte).  Hopefully under the new system we will be able to stream videos  with 4K-8K formats on our mobile devices.   

First time leaving home on wireless technology

                 5G also introduces a global standard. It will create the means necessary to keep your personal phone and phone number, no matter where you are in the world!

                Do you want to communicate with people who speak a different language? 5G has it covered.   This wireless technology will strive for seamless language translation.   5G just took the meaning of globalization to a whole new level.   

How about in home wireless- that was an upgrade

                Unfortunately,  this new wireless system will need a new form of transmission.  The current optical-fibre are not capable in transmitting the reach of this new wireless technology.   To make 5G possible it will have to be sent through super high or extremely high frequency waves. 

Remember the wall phone?

                However, these waves can be blocked easily by walls and such.  Therefore, cellular towers will need to be placed closer together and have more antennas.   Thankfully, it is being considered how to make these look less obtrusive.   

"Operator give me..."

                Earlier I mentioned that there is a greater emphasis on information than voice.  But isn't information a voice in itself?  Though we might not be hearing a audible voice, what voices are we listening to through this medium that is connecting us to the rest of the world?

                Is there really a urgent need to have access to oodles of information at our finger tips?  Is a greater connection to the rest of the world pulling us away from the world and people that are around us?

                What would God have us do?  How does he want us to spend our time? What are positive outlooks on globalization in light of Scripture?  Lastly, how can 5G wireless technology be used to aid in Bible translation and share Jesus Christ with the nations?  To be continued...

Resources : The Economist, ComSoc Technology News,  MacDailyNews