Multi-gigabit wireless computers

New research at the Georgia Institute of Technology could soon make that tangle of wires under desks and in data centers a thing of the past.

Researchers at the Georgia Electronic Design Center (GEDC) at Georgia Tech are investigating the use of extremely high radio frequencies (RF) to achieve broad bandwidth and high data transmission rates over short distances.

Within three years, this multi-gigabit wireless approach could result in a bevy of personal area network (PAN) applications, including next generation home multimedia and wireless data connections able to transfer an entire DVD in seconds.

The research focuses on RF frequencies around 60 gigahertz (GHz), which are currently unlicensed -- free for anyone to use -- in the United States. GEDC scientists have already achieved wireless data-transfer rates of 15 gigabits per second (Gbps) at a distance of 1 meter, 10 Gbps at 2 meters and 5 Gbps at 5 meters.

The goal here is to maximize data throughput to make possible a host of new wireless applications for home and office connectivity, said Prof. Joy Laskar, GEDC director and lead researcher on the project along with Stephane Pinel.

GEDCs multi-gigabit wireless research is expected to lend itself to two major types of applications, data and video, said Pinel, a GEDC research scientist.........