NOOKS AND CRANNIES



Where does the computer term "Bluetooth" come from? Did they name the system after the Viking kings? Christian Pirke, Munich Germany My wife, who works as a naming consultant, tells me that it does come from a viking king. The other obvious links from the name are blue from 'blue chip' and tooth as it is software which binds together various hardware (I believe). When coming up with names for products and companies, firms have to bear in mind the fact that almost all words in the Oxford dictionary have already been registered as domain names, hence the recent trend toward historical names, Latin or the terrible made-up ones. Paul Marston, New York, USA The Ericsson website states that the technology is named after Harald Bluetooth, a Viking that promoted communication between Denmark and Norway. There is a statue of him outside Ericsson HQ! Serena Jackson, Bromley, UK Ericsson originally called their technology 'Bluetooth' after Harald Bluetooth, who was king of Denmark between 940 and 981. During his rule, Denmark and Norway were Christianised and united, so Ericsson used the analogy that he "allowed greater communication between people" when naming their wireless communication protocol. Richard Thompson, Allerod, Denmark Yes. Apparently Bluetooth was a Danish King who was particularly good at getting people to work together. Given that the Bluetooth wireless system is aimed at helping people use their phones with PCs, printers and other gadgets, it was felt to be an appropriate name. Ean Davies, Guildford, UK I'm told that King Harald Bluetooth lived in Denmark between 910-940 AD, and his name had nothing to do with a blue tooth. It means dark complexion which was unusual for Vikings. Not only did Harald not fit the classic image physically, he was a rather unusual Viking. The good King Harald brought Christianity to Scandinavia and also "united" Denmark and Norway. Similarly modern bluetooth technology 'unites' separate computers, machines and electronic gadgets. Jonathan Gardner, London More important is this. Did Harald Bluetooth have blue teeth? If he didn't why was he so called? Alex Wills, Hong Kong, China The name 'Bluetooth' is the result of confusion between old Danish words and modern ones. 'Blaa' is the modern Danish word for 'blue', but once meant 'dark skinned'. 'Tan' once meant 'great man', and has been confused with 'tand', the modern Danish word for 'tooth'. Richard Thompson, Allerod, Denmark Bluetooth was named after a tenth-century king, Harald Bluetooth, King of Denmark and Norway. (Also known as Harald Bluetooth Gormson or Harald I of Denmark) Bluetooth is an anglicized version of Harald Blaatand, who was known for his unification of previously warring tribes from Denmark (including now Swedish Scania). John Agha, Manchester, UK Bluetooth was the nickname of the chief design technologist, whose teeth had a bluish cast due to the excessive amount of copper sulfate he brushed with. Yup, we used to call him Harold Bluetooth Mudder. Stutz Warner, Cardigan, US



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