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• 0-9

W

1. Wearables
   Technology that can be worn, typically to quantify a physical process (such as heartbeat monitoring) or to augment human capabilities. Wearables may also be used to control external things, for example, with gestures.

   These are technologies or computers integrated into articles of clothing or accessories that can be worn. Often, the wearable tech is used to quantify a physical process (such as heartbeat monitoring) or to augment human capabilities. Wearables may also be used to control external things, for example, with gestures. Because of the impracticality of wires to transmit sensor data, wearables are almost universally wireless, using a variety of communication protocols such as BLE. Examples include smartwatches, fitness bands, and Google Glasses.
2. Wireless Charging
   Technology and standards that enable consumers to charge electronic devices without the need for wires. This is usually done with a charging station.

   Inductive charging (also known as wireless charging) uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between two objects. This is usually done with a charging station. Energy is sent through an inductive coupling to an electrical device, which can then use that energy to charge batteries or run the device. Induction chargers use an induction coil to create an alternating electromagnetic field from within a charging base, and a second induction coil in the portable device takes power from the electromagnetic field and converts it back into electric current to charge the battery. The two induction coils in proximity combine to form an electrical transformer. Greater distances between sender and receiver coils can be achieved when the inductive charging system uses resonant inductive coupling. Recent improvements to this resonant system include using a movable transmission coil (i.e. mounted on an elevating platform or arm) and the use of other materials for the receiver coil made of silver plated copper or sometimes aluminium to minimize weight and decrease resistance due to the skin effect.
3. Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
   A wireless local area network is a wireless computer network that links two or more devices using a wireless distribution method (often spread-spectrum or OFDM radio) within a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building.

   WLAN gives users the ability to move around within a local coverage area and still be connected to the network, and can provide a connection to the wider Internet. Most modern WLANs are based on IEEE 802.11 standards, marketed under the Wi-Fi brand name.
4. Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN)
   A personal area network (PAN) is a computer network used for data transmission among devices such as computers, telephones and personal digital assistants.

   WPAN works much like a standard personal area network (PAN) except that it uses a wireless communication medium instead of a wired connection. Typically, the devices in WPAN include peripheral and hand-held devices such as PDAs, smart phones and tablet PCs. A WPAN's range depends on the wireless router's capabilities, access point or the device itself, but it is usually restricted to a house or small office. WPAN can be created using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, infrared, Z-wave or any similar wireless technologies. In some cases, one of the Internet enabled/powered devices acts as an access point and provides network and Internet access to other devices.
5. Wireless Power
   Wireless power is a generic term that refers to a number of different power transmission technologies that use time-varying electromagnetic fields. Wireless transmission is useful to electrical power devices in cases where interconnecting wires are inconvenient, hazardous, or are not possible.

   Wireless power transfer (WPT) or wireless energy transmission is the transmission of electrical power from a power source to a consuming device without using discrete manmade conductors. Wireless transmission is useful to power electrical devices in cases where interconnecting wires are inconvenient, hazardous, or are not possible. In wireless power transfer, a transmitter device connected to a power source, such as the mains power line, transmits power by electromagnetic fields across an intervening space to one or more receiver devices, where it is converted back to electric power and utilized.
6. Wireless Sensor Network (WSN)
   Autonomous sensor nodes that are connected to one, or sometimes several, other sensors to cooperatively pass their data through wireless connections to a main location.

   A wireless sensor network is a group of specialized transducers with a communications infrastructure for monitoring and recording conditions at diverse locations. Commonly monitored parameters are temperature, humidity, pressure, wind direction and speed, illumination intensity, vibration intensity, sound intensity, power-line voltage, chemical concentrations, pollutant levels and vital body functions.
7. WirelessHART
   WirelessHART is a wireless sensor networking technology based on the Highway Addressable Remote Transducer Protocol (HART). WirelessHART was defined for the requirements of process field device networks.

   Developed as a multi-vendor, interoperable wireless standard, WirelessHART was defined for the requirements of process field device networks. The standard was initiated in early 2004 and developed by 37 HART Communications Foundation (HCF) companies that - amongst others - included ABB, Emerson, Endress+Hauser, Pepperl+Fuchs, Siemens which form WiTECK an open, non-profit membership organization whose mission is to provide a reliable, cost-effective, high-quality portfolio of core enabling system software for industrial wireless sensing applications, under a company- and platform-neutral umbrella.