A new high security printer is being installed at a small office, with the requirement that only connectivity over direct line of sight be allowed. Which of the following technologies would BEST…

FireWire (IEEE 1394) is a wired interface requiring a physical cable connection and does not use wireless or line-of-sight communication.

Bluetooth uses radio frequency waves that penetrate walls and other obstacles, allowing connectivity beyond direct line of sight and up to approximately 10-100 meters depending on class.

Infrared communication uses light waves in the infrared spectrum, which cannot penetrate opaque objects - this physical property enforces a strict direct line-of-sight requirement between transmitter and receiver. The IrDA standard limits range to approximately 1 meter and requires the devices to be aimed at each other, making unauthorized access from outside the immediate area physically impossible. This makes infrared ideal for high-security environments where connectivity must be restricted to devices in direct visual proximity.

802.11n uses radio frequency waves that pass through walls, ceilings, and other physical barriers, making it impossible to enforce a line-of-sight connectivity restriction.