Put simply, Bluetooth is a short-range-radio technical standard for protocols that facilitate communication between wireless devices such as mobile phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants) and handheld computers, and wireless computers and peripherals.
The Bluetooth wireless mouse and the Bluetooth wireless mobile phone headset are good examples. Switch on your Bluetooth-enabled phone and it can quickly be paired up with a Bluetooth-enabled headset. A Bluetooth mouse doesn't need wires to move the curser about your screen and execute commands.
As long as the devices remain within about 10 meters of one another, the headset and the mouse will work nicely without any obnoxious wires getting in your way.
For drivers, Bluetooth could be a saviour, especially if teamed up with voice recognition technology. Imagine a world in which you place your mobile in its holder on the dash and tell it to dial a number while you listen on your sleek and very discreet headset - a godsend in countries or states that prohibit use of hand-held mobiles while driving.
New York-based Frost and Sullivan, marketing consultants who specialize in information and intelligence on emerging high-technology, reckon that by 2010, more than 16% of all cars sold in North America will have Bluetooth technology installed. The current level is about 2.5%. They reckon that in total, almost a billion Bluetooth devices will ship by 2010.
More and more we're carrying our electronic information devices with us: mobile phones, handheld computers, MP3 players, and even DVD players. A society that is hooked on being connected wants to be connected everywhere - in our homes, at the office, in the car and even when we're walking about. And if this is what we want, Bluetooth technology is a very likely candidate for making it happen.
However, there's another key technology that will likely work with Bluetooth to make it safe and convenient: voice recognition software.
This technology will enable drivers to talk to their Bluetooth -enabled devices rather than having to take their eyes off the road to push buttons and twist knobs. In addition, voice recognition technology could possibly enable automakers to do away with expensive screens or touch input displays.
Another interesting twist is that 'voice biometrics' can be an effective way to determine who's driving the vehicle. Once voice recognition technology is installed in a car it can be used to personalize the vehicle, setting seat position, radio stations, etc. to the driver's preferences.