Hardware & WiFi Connections
Different types of HARDWARE connection
Type of connection: Audio/video
Definition: High-Definition Multimedia Interface
Example of its use: Computer monitor, video projector, digital television
Firewire
Type of connection: Standard connection interface for A/V (audio/visual)
Definition: Also known as "IEEE 1394"
Example of its use: External hard drives, video cameras
Line IN/OUT
Type of connection: Audio
Definition: N/A
Example of its use: External speakers, headphones
More types of hardware connections
Optical
Type of connection: Digital audio
Definition: Also known as a S/PDIF connection
Example of its use: Enabling the optical digital input for an audio source (television sets)
SCART
Type of connection: Analogue audio and video connector
Definition: French standing for: "Radio and Television Receiver Manufacturers' Association"
Example of its use: Television sets (both audio and visual)
Type of connection: All media files
Definition: Secure digital
Example of its use: Connecting to computers to transfer files
More, more types of hardware connections
Type of connection: Video
Definition: Video Graphics Array
Example of its use: Video cards, computer monitors
USB
Type of connection: Attaches devices to a computer, providing fast data exchange.
Definition: Universal serial bus
Example of its use: Between computers and smartphones/video game consoles/scanners/printers/mice etc. Used for extra external storage
Different types of wi-fi connections
Connection: Wireless
Type of connection: Audio and video transfer
Definition: An open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances (using short wavelength radio transmissions)
Example of its use: Between phones
Advantages: It only needs a very small amount of radio power to work ( <1/1000W) which is good for battery-operated devices such as mobiles, there's no other interference from other devices transferring data via Bluetooth, it's automatic and wireless and used widely
Disadvantages: Battery usage, it only has a range of 15 to 30 feet, easy to hack, data transfer rate is poor
Typical data transfer rates: 24 Mbits/s
Infrared
Connection: Wireless
Type of connection: Audio and video transfer
Definition: IrrDA (Infrared Data Association)
Example of its use: Laptops, phones
Advantages: Low costs, no special hardware required, few international constraints, not as likely to have interference as much as other devices
Disadvantages: Very short range (less than 5 metres)
Typical data transfer rates: 4MB per second
Wireless
Connection: Wireless
Type of connection: Any files (audio/video/media etc)
Definition: Using radio, microwaves, etc. (as opposed to wires) to transmit signal
Example of its use:
Advantages: Doesn't need any hardware
Disadvantages: May experience interference
Typical data transfer rates: