Bluetooth getting bigger and better soon

Bluetooth technology has been around for a good few years now and it hasn't really seen much growth - that's about to change

Did you know Bluetooth technology is named after a tenth century Danish king who brought the warring clans together and helped to create the nation as it is today? The idea was that the tech does the same for different devices, uniting them as one for better communication. Also the logo is made up of Scandinavian runes, which happen to be King Harald Bluetooth's initials!

There's a good chance you use Bluetooth everyday without thinking about, as it wireless syncs different devices without (much) fuss. Handsfree headsets, in car phone systems, smartwatches, wireless headphones, cable free keyboards and mice, game console controllers and more use the technology to make your life easier and massively reduce the amount of cables you use.

In short, it's great stuff and it's about to get even better. Advances in the technology should see speed and range boosts in 2016 - data could double in speed while you should be able to use devices from a distance of 200 meters, four times what it is today.

This will all come about thanks to Bluetooth Smart, a development initiative from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. The advances are coming off the back of the explosion in interest in the Internet of Things - connected devices which can be controlled from a distance. Bluetooth Smart would hope to be able to cover a whole home without this kind of connectivity without the need for a Wi-Fi network.

It's not yet know quite how the update will happen but the SIG is expecting it to launch towards the end of 2016, with more details forthcoming.