Bluetooth refers to a wireless technology that allows devices to communicate with each other.

A common early use of Bluetooth was as a wireless earpiece adapter used with cell phones. We were among those who couldn’t get used to seeing people walking along, apparently talking to themselves, and having a large beetle clamped to their ear. We thought maybe they were abducted by aliens and tagged for some research project . . .

Now Bluetooth is used in a wealth of consumer and industrial products. Lets look:

The cell phone hands-free headsets are still in use, but now there are a variety of them for listening to music or Internet radio from the phone. Many headsets include a microphone and buttons so you can answer a call while the music plays.

More and more computers, mp3 and movie players, speakers, home entertainment systems, car radios and DVD players now have Bluetooth capabilities, allowing you to enjoy high quality sound and video without having to find the appropriate cord to connect the devices.

Xbox, PS3 and Wii remote controls communicate with their gaming console via Bluetooth. Some home automation controls communicate using Bluetooth and even add voice commands so you can turn off the lights by saying "Bluetooth, turn off lights." A series of home health and exercise monitors used to track pulse or blood pressure take advantage Bluetooth technology.

Bluetooth enabled printers can print documents from your computer or even photos from Bluetooth enabled cameras or your smartphones, all without your having to plug in anything.

Next time you’re at the cashier in the grocery store and the clerk uses a wireless hand-held scanner to scan that sack of potatoes--you guessed it: Bluetooth.

Bluetooth 101. Bluetooth was developed in 1994 by Ericsson, a Swedish telecom company, as a solution to clearing the tangle of wires interconnecting various office equipment such as computers, printers, faxes, scanners, keyboards, mice and the like. Bluetooth was originally designed as a low power, short range wireless technology that would work well within the limited confines of an average office.

The potential of this approach was quickly realized, and within two years a consortium of more than a dozen companies formed a special interest group to hammer out and maintain the details of a suitable communication format. Since then the format has undergone several changes, not all of which are backward compatible. For one Bluetooth device to work with another, the devices must be "paired" so they can both talk the same electronic dialect to each other.

Bluetooth works at 2.4 to 2.485 GHz, using a spread spectrum, frequency hopping signal, avoiding interference with other devices using the same band by automatically switching to a clear frequency. This technique is done about 1,000 times per second and also provides inherent security. Isn’t technology amazing?

A bit of trivia: The origin of the term Bluetooth is actually buried in 10th century Danish history and is the English nickname for Harald Blatand, a Norwegian king who succeeded in uniting various warring tribes; hence the analogy to making office equipment work together.