What does the "wi-fi" feature of a digital camera do?

What does the "wi-fi" feature of a digital camera do?

Mark Comon (Vice President, Paul's Photo, Torrance, CA) gives expert video advice on: What are some helpful features my digital camera could have?; What are features of some digital cameras that I don't need?; What is the difference between an "optical zoom" and "digital zoom"? and more...

The wi-fi feature on a digital camera today allows you to wirelessly connect to a digital, wireless network. Whether it's on your laptop or your home network, it allows you to send your pictures through the air to the computer, so you can shoot directly to the computer, you can shoot directly to the printer, if you like. It's really cool, 'cause some of the new cameras actually have a built-in e-mail function. So you can to a wi-fi hotspot, like at a Starbucks or places like that, and through the back of the camera, e-mail your pictures directly. Now, what's the downside of a wi-fi? It only works if you're taking pictures next to or near your computer. So if you're out on vacation, does wi-fi really matter? Not really, but it's kind of a cool techy gadget, and a lot of my high-tech people really love to have the wi-fi feature built into their camera.