Emmanuel DeWalt

October 25,  2017

Digital Media Foundations

Prof. Matthew Langes

                                                       Bluetooth Logo

 

Once upon a time there used to be days where people were not connected to everything as we are now.  Now we are able to stay connected and much more with the help of a device called Bluetooth. Bluetooth is the secure connectivity.  Bluetooth drives innovation in connecting devices everywhere.  Whether you’re advancing home or building automation, improving life-saving medical devices or driving smart city innovations, Bluetooth is the most trusted name in wireless connectivity.  Invented by telecom vendor Ericsson in 1994,  it was originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS-232 data cables.

Bluetooth BR/EDR enables continuous wireless connections and uses a point-to-point (P2P) network topology to establish one-to-one (1:1) device communications.  Bluetooth BR/EDR audio streaming is ideal for wireless speakers, headsets and hands-free in-car systems.  Broadcast is a network topology that establishes one-to-many (1:m) device communications. Bluetooth LE broadcast topology optimizes localized information sharing, making it ideal for beacon solutions, such as point-of-interest (PoI) information and item and way-finding services.  Mesh is a network topology for many-to-many (m:m) device communications.  Bluetooth LE mesh topology creates large-scale device networks tailor-made for building automation, sensor network, asset tracking and any solution where multiple devices need to reliably and securely communicate with one another.  (Bluetooth.com)

Ericsson’s employees first proposed the idea of Bluetooth in 1994. To develop the protocol further, Ericsson formed a Bluetooth standards group in 1998, which many large technology companies in the United States, Europe, and Japan quickly joined. This standards group made the specifications for Bluetooth devices visible to everyone on its Web site, but the technology itself was not free to use. A manufacturer still had to pay licensing fees to the Bluetooth standards group before its Bluetooth device could be sold to consumers. The group tested and registered each new Bluetooth compatible product, and unregistered products could not be marketed with the Bluetooth trademark. (Bluetooth.com)

“ By 1999, the Bluetooth standards group had completed the first version of the standard, announcing Bluetooth 1.0. The Bluetooth SIGnal announced that a thousand companies had joined the Bluetooth standards group, although complications with device compatibility testing would prevent the launch of any Bluetooth-compatible products until 2000. Bluetooth also had to change its logo, which was originally based on a Viking warship, as this image looked like a symbol owned by the Dutch media firm VNU (which later merged with Nielsen). The new logo combined runes for H and B, adding a reference to the Viking king as well as the unification potential of Bluetooth technology.”  (Biddle)

” The word “Bluetooth” is derived from the surname of King Harald Bluetooth a 10th century Danish monarch who famously united Denmark and Norway into one kingdom.The Bluetooth logo is the combination of “H” and “B,” the initials of Harald Bluetooth, written in the ancient letters used by Vikings, which are called “runes.”.  The combination of these two letters embodies the connection that Bluetooth establishes between two electronic devices. The Bluetooth logo consists of two interconnected letters drawn in white, and placed on a blue background. The name of the technology, on the other hand, is written in black color. The choice of these three colors typifies the hassle free union, strength and reliability the consumers experience while using the Bluetooth. The font in the Bluetooth logo is a custom typeface heavily borrowing from the Gothic Medium Condensed which was created by English type designer Steve Jackaman.”  (famouslogos.net)

In conclusion, I think that the Bluetooth logo has a significant background coming all the way from 10 century.  Not only that but the fact that the logo was designed with the two letters of a Danish monarch whose name actually means Bluetooth.  Before, where it said “The combination of these two letters embodies the connection that Bluetooth establishes between two electronic devices” really shows how much time was put into making the logo showing what the device is meant to do within the design of the logo.  When people think of Bluetooth they don’t tend to think about the design of the logo they lean more towards the function of the device. The design has the same level of importance as the function of the device and can be looked at as a piece of art history.

                                                     

                                                        Works Cited

Biddle, Sam. “The Secret History of Bluetooth.” Gizmodo. Gizmodo.com, 04 Apr. 2012. Web. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.

“Bluetooth.” Gale Encyclopedia of E-Commerce, edited by Laurie J. Fundukian, 2nd ed., vol. 1, Gale, 2012, pp. 71-72. Gale Virtual Reference Library, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GVRL&sw=w&u=cuny_nytc&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CCX4020800055&it=r&asid=5eba726326ab6571b9bfc7291a8e1b65. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.

“Bluetooth Logo.” Famous Logos. N.p., 07 Oct. 2014. Web. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.

Davis, Dai. “Bluetooth.” Network Security. Elsevier Science Ltd., 1 Apr. 2002. Web. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.

Hosch, WIlliam L. “Bluetooth.” Britannica Academic. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 14 Jan. 2009. Web. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.

“How It Works | Bluetooth Technology Website.” Bluetooth. N.p., n.d. Web. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.

Miracle, Barbara. “Bluetooth.” Florida Trend, Nov. 2000, p. 52. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=cuny_nytc&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA66967813&it=r&asid=449b8f3a1907f46d6074dfc274bdd203. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.

“Origin of the Bluetooth Name | Bluetooth Technology Website.” Bluetooth. N.p., n.d. Web.

Walsh, Karen. “Bluetooth PAN markets & deployment.” Bluetooth Personal Area Networks, Informa UK Ltd., 2001, pp. 4(-2). General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=cuny_nytc&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA93101836&it=r&asid=404f6b31c94d4596b514ee398bc33834. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.

Westologist, The. “Bluetooth Symbol Origin and Meaning.” The Westologist. N.p., n.d. Web. Accessed 31 Oct. 2017.