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Bluetooth: did you know that technology "was born" with the Vikings?

This article is something new and we love it. How many of you use the Bluetooth? Most likely, even now that you read this article, your smartphone or maybe your smartband is connected to another device through this technology. We all know (more or less) how it works but how many know from where its name comes from? Well, today we will tell you. Belts fastened because we have to go back in time, to the days of the Vikings!

How was Bluetooth born? Everything comes from the Vikings: let's step back thousands of years and see the origin of the name

Major technology companies Intel, Ericsson, Nokia e Toshiba collaborated in the 90s to create a common standard for wireless transmission between computers and cell phones. Subsequently, as we know, the technology in question has evolved also reaching other devices such as smartwatches, smart bands and so on. But let's get to the heart of the matter: how did the Bluetooth name (and logo) come about?

According to what we learn from official website Bluetooth SIG, the name of the technology dates back more than 1.000 years ago, when he sat on the throne of Denmark and Norway kings Harald Blatann. In 958 he unified the two territories and became their king. But what does this have to do with technology? The historical fact in itself nothing, but King Harald was nicknamed "Bluetooth" due to a characteristic of him: a blue tooth. In fact, he really had a blue tooth, probably dead, which nevertheless never fell out. He gave himself this nickname (which was very common at that time, as history and the TV series teach us Vikings) to recognize himself among the many kings who succeeded him and who came before him.

bluetooth LE audio official

But how did technology come to be given that name? The Swedish engineer Sven Mattisson by Ericsson and the American Jim Kardach of Intel were part of a group that worked together. In 1997 Mattisson traveled to Canada from Sweden for a business meeting. Kardach, Mattisson and other members of the group presented theirs ideas for wireless technology which, unfortunately, did not receive much acclaim.

Mattisson confirmed in an interview with NTB: "Jim and I realized that people didn't like what we presented". Kardach added: “We received a lukewarm reception in relation to our project perhaps a little poco clear, and it was at this point that I realized that we needed a code name for the project that everyone could use"

At that point, in desperation, the two colleagues went for a drink to forget what had happened and here is the spark. As confirmed by themselves, Jim was very interested in Norse mythology and history so much so that they started talking about it. He came up with the name of a XNUMXth century Scandinavian king, Harald Blåtann, son of Gorm the Elder. He had a blue tooth: some say for his passion for blueberries, others say it was a dead tooth.

bluetooth logo
The Bluetooth logo is also of Nordic origin

But the important thing was something else. King Harald was known to be a clever communicator. So here is the light bulb that lights up: a king who has united all his rivals under a single aegis? Here is the parallel with technology: a communication that could connect all devices. Bluetooth technology was finally launched in May 1998, and the first consumer device equipped with the technology was launched on the market in 1999.

And how was the Bluetooth logo born? He too originates is one binding rune which combines the runes Younger Futhark (Hagall) (ᚼ) and (Bjarkan) (ᛒ) or the initials of Harald.

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Gianluca Cobucci
Gianluca Cobucci

Passionate about code, languages ​​and languages, man-machine interfaces. All that is technological evolution is of interest to me. I try to divulge my passion with the utmost clarity, relying on reliable sources and not "on the first pass".

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