Bluetooth technology is so ubiquitous at this point, that it seems to be almost boring when it is talked about in the tech space. It powers your fancy wireless headphones, connects your wireless game controller, and links up to your smartphones whenever you need it-nothing too fancy and groundbreaking, right?
Well, not really. For a technology that seems like it's unremarkable, it has quite the history, which contains bits that might even make you say "whoa." And that would be the point of this article right here.
It Was Named After A Viking King-And The Icon Has Subtle Viking References
Let's start off with something big: did you know that Bluetooth is actually named after a Viking king? And one of the greatest, no less, according to KnowTechie.
The king in question is Harald Blåtand, whose Anglicised name is Harald Bluetooth. He is hailed as one of the greatest Viking kings to ever live, mainly for his efforts in uniting warring Viking tribes and creating the Kingdom of Denmark.
The Viking origins of Bluetooth technology are also apparent in the icon you're very familiar with:
As you can see in the image there, the recognizable icon for the popular wireless technology is a combination of two Viking runes indicating the king's initials: H and B. So that icon is literally showing you the king's name.
Many tech historians believe that naming the wireless technology after him is some sort of ode to his legacy. Much as King Harald united the Danish tribes under his rule, Bluetooth unites many wireless connection protocols under it.
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Bluetooth Tech Basically Uses Slavery Terms To Describe How It Works
Slavery will always be a controversial (and rather morally questionable topic). But perhaps somebody should've told the creators of Bluetooth that when they were coming up with the terms.
Whenever a Bluetooth speaker connects to your phone, for example, that connection is classified as a "master-slave" relationship. In this relationship, your phone would be the master, and the speaker would be the slave.
The latter's job is to "listen" for information coming from the master. Furthermore, a master can have up to 7 slaves, much like how you can link up multiple devices to your phone, computer, or gaming console.
Perhaps it's a good thing that these are inanimate objects we're talking about, then.
Bluetooth And Its Apparent Link To Increased Cancer Risk
Around two years ago, several scientists raised concerns about Bluetooth (and wireless technologies, in general) and its apparent connection to increased cancer risk, writes Healthline.
According to the scientists, this is due to wireless devices emitting a type of radiation called RFR (radiofrequency radiation) whenever they're used. Eventually, it was discovered that exposure to high RFR levels has allegedly been found to have an increased risk of developing cancers, according to the National Toxicology Program.
Granted, there are certain ways you can minimize your personal risk. According to neuro-oncologist Dr. Santosh Kesari of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, use your phone's loudspeaker or a pair of wired headphones if you plan to make a lengthy phone call.
The same thing goes for if you want to listen to music, podcasts, or watch videos online for hours on end.
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by RJ Pierce
