36.2 Hardware: Connectivity

Connectivity

Controller ports allow interface devices to operate, they need to be able to connect to the source device in order to have power to function. Most interface devices use the USB ports. The USB port is the standard port for devices such as game consoles and computers to connect peripherals to. An example of this would be an Xbox controller, if I had a wired Xbox controller, not only could I use it on the Xbox but I could use it on the PC as it plugs into a USB port which is beneficial as it means I could game comfortably on both the Xbox and PC if there is a limited release game I can switch with no hassle as it can be used across multiple platforms. Or if the user is better with a controller they can use that on the PC.

Wi-Fi is a type of wireless network technology which allows devices such as computer systems, phones etc. to communicate with each other. Wi-Fi has been the standard for devices to connect to wireless networks and many PCs have Wi-Fi chips pre-built so the system can connect to the router. Wi-Fi is used for gaming as it is what is needed to connect to online services and play online multiplayer. However, Wi-Fi for gaming is unreliable as there can be delays and the download speed and upload speed isn’t as good as having wired connection.

Wireless connection requires no wires to be connected from the router to the system. A WAN is a wide area network which is a computer network which connects systems and devices over a larger distance. An example of this is at home, school, work, public places. WAN is mostly used for portable devices as well as non-portable devices as it is easier to connect to a network.

Wired connection is what is used for the LAN and with the use of an Ethernet cable. A LAN is a local area network which is a type of computer network which connects systems within a local area such as the home, college etc. so it covers a small distance. Radio waves can connect one LAN to another LAN over any distance. For gaming, LAN is used for competitive tournaments, this is done using an Ethernet cable which connects all the computer systems together using a network switch or directly to the access point of the internet connection. A network switch is a computer networking device which is used for communications and interaction between devices on a network. The switch connects the devices together on a computer network by using packet switching which is grouping data which is transferred over the network into packets which then can receive, process and forward data to the destination device. By doing this, it means all players will be connected to that specific game lobby and server which makes it easier to organize, and is less dependent on internet connections which could be DDoSed.

Bluetooth is a type of wireless technology which allows devices to communicate with each other without the requirement of certain wiring and cables which allows for distance and movement from devices. An example of a Bluetooth technology is a wireless headset which allows people to communicate through the device wire-free. The way it works is by using a radio frequency to transfer data however this can only be done over a certain range as the range isn’t unlimited as there needs to be a main transmitter close by. This means for gaming, the console would have to be near the headset to connect to it. Bluetooth can also be used for transferring songs, photos etc. between peripherals without wiring as most devices support Bluetooth technology. For gaming, the PlayStation 4 uses Bluetooth technology for its game controller.