Infrastructure for games on wireless Internet
| Date | 01 February 2004 |
| Published date | 01 February 2004 |
| Pages | 8-15 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470410520069 |
| Author | Alfred Loo,Charlie Choi |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Infrastructure for games
on wireless Internet
Alfred Loo and
Charlie Choi
Introduction
Traditional networks require cables to transmit
messages. Wireless technologies enable devices
to communicate without physical connections.
Many people are already familiar with different
kinds of wireless devices. Such devices include
remote controls, cordless computer keyboards,
mouse and stereo headsets using infrared or
radio transmission. The signals transmitted by
these devices are very simple and the distance
between devices is quite short.
On the other hand, mobile phones allow
people to transmit more complex signals over
far greater distances. In addition to voice
communication, nowadays many mobile
phones are able to access the Internet using
WAP (Beaulieu, 2002; Cook, 2001)
technology through the services of telephone
companies.
Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are small
computers which can fit into a pocket or a
purse. Such devices provide features such as
address books, schedules, to-do lists, e-mail,
etc. Early model PDAs could communicate
with regular size computers via a special cable
connection. Some of them employed infrared
ports for wireless communication. Although
infrared is more convenient than cable,
there are some drawbacks to this type of
communication. The communication
distance between devices is very short (i.e.
usually within a few inches) and the users
need to align the devices carefully. Later
version of PDAs could communicate
with networked PCs via a dial-up
connection. PDAs with built-in modems
are still relatively new. In order to meet
the increasing demand for easier
communication between mobile devices and
wired PCs, there are many new wireless
communications standards. All these
standards are different and they all have
security weaknesses. However, two of them
are beginning to gain wide acceptance
among mobile device vendors. They are
the IEEE802.11b and Bluetooth
technologies. Many new PDAs and
mobile phones come with built-in
IEEE802.11b and/or Bluetooth capabilities.
The authors
Alfred Loo is Assistant Professor, Department of
Information Systems, Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong
Kong and Charlie Choi is Acting Head, Division of Computer
Studies, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Keywords
Internet, Security products, Computer applications,
Computer crime
Abstract
Playing games over the wireless Internet is significantly
more dangerous than using traditional wired networks.
Wireless networks offer new hackers new ways to attack.
Since there is no physical connection for wireless networks,
it is also more difficult to prevent attacks or locate the
attackers. This paper will review the unique threats inherent
in the wireless gaming environment and present a model
aimed at solving these problems.
Electronic access
The Emerald Research Register for this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is
available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
8
The Electronic Library
Volume 22 .Number 1 .2004 .pp. 8-15
#Emerald Group Publishing Limited .ISSN 0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/02640470410520069
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