Question: What is WiMAX?
The IT Guy says:
WiMAX (which is short for "Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access") is a wireless networking technology that is starting to be implemented in some cities across the country. It is a replacement for wired Internet access, such as cable, DSL, or leased lines. It is also intended to eventually be mobile, so that your laptop could have a high-speed connection without needing to be at home or at school. (Yes, I envision a lot of car Web-surfing in our future. There will almost certainly be a new offence – DWB, "driving while browsing.")
Currently the technology is too expensive for individuals in schools to use, but it can also be used to replace the lines that connect a school district together into a single network. A very few districts are experimenting with developing these wireless "MANs" (Metropolitan Area Networks) to not only connect their schools, but to let families connect their homes as well, taking on the issue of the digital divide.
It's a very new system, still undergoing a lot of development, so it's hard to predict where it will go. However, it has the potential to be a disruptive technology that fundamentally changes how we access the Web – and from where!
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