IrDA

The IrDA stands for Infrared Data Association. It defines the physical provisions of the communication protocol standards for the exchange of data through infrared light for a short-range of data. It is for uses such as PANs i.e. Personal Area Networks.

IrDA includes a group of manufacturers of different devices which makes a standard for the transmission of data through the infrared light waves. Now a day’s most of the PCs have built in IrDA ports. It is an effective way of transferring data from one device to another without using any wires or cables. For example if you have a laptop and a scanner both with an IrDA port then you can scan a picture into the laptop by just placing it adjacent to the scanner and without any wires.

The transmission rate of data is the same as that of a parallel port in IrDA ports and is much more easier than the parallel ports but there is one limitation to it that both the devices which are being used should be within a few feet range of each other and there should be a clear line of sight between them.

The Infrared Data Association interface is used in instrument related to medication and measurement equipments, also in palmtop computers, laptop computers and mobile phones. Many of the laptop computers and the mobile phones now have Bluetooth along with infrared ports and the Bluetooth is rapidly replacing the IrDA ports because of being more convenient than infrared. All the latest versions of products now offer Bluetooth in the place or IrDA ports.

Still infrared ports are a useful way of transmitting data and in products like TV remote controls and provide you with the leverage of not getting entangled into a bunch of wires connected to different devices.