1. Supplementary material: product evolution using WiFi as an example
I supplement my Internet literacy class with weekly discussion items, often based on some current event relevant to our class.
Last week, was the birthday of WiFi and we used it to illustrate product evolution from vision to ubiquity and the importance of standards.
Let’s look at the results for those seeking career enhancement first.

2. The pre-requisite to WiFi was the Federal Communication Commission authorizing license-free transmission in a range of radio frequencies (“spectrum”) for experimentation with low-power, spread spectrum transmission.
Low power to and spread spectrum technology were to avoid interference and limit the range of transmission.
Don Johnson, an R&D manager at national cash register realized that this technology could be used to link cash registers within a store to an on-premises computer.
The first step in the invention of a products is the vision, the idea.
We saw another example of this in Vannevar Bush’s sci-fi vision of scientists working at networked desks.
Vision

3. IEEE study group meeting, September 1990
Don Johnson and three other NCR engineers attended the first IEEE study group meeting which began work on a standard.
This image and several of the others is from a terrific IEEE illustrated article on the history of WiFi at:
What would have happened if NCR had decided to keep it’s technology proprietary rather than open it for consideration as a standard?

4. NCR engineering prototypes
As we have saw with Doug Engelbart’s work, engineering prototypes are far from finished products, but they establish the feasibility of a technology.
Circa 1997
1998
Engineering prototypes

5. First commercial product, 1990
Point of sale terminals in retail stores was the first market for devices.
Limited market product

6. Ubiqutious product The WiFi Alliance trade organization
An industry trade association was formed to certify standardization of products and market the idea of wireless local area networks.
At some point they decided that “WiFi Alliance” sounded snappier than “Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance.”
Ubiqutious product

7. Standards enable competition
29.5 to inch
circumference
Anyone can manufacture and sell basketballs as long as they conform to the standard.
You would not do very well if you tried to sell a 40-inch basketball.