Detecting Wireless computers which have not established any connection to a Wireless Network

Question

All I know is that it is not possible to detect any wireless computer unless they are connected together in a network. I want to know; Is there any possible way, that I could turn on my Wireless Adapter, and search what are other wireless device types around me and some sort of an ID such as MAC or computer name etc. without creating or connecting any Network such as Wireless Ad-Hoc network etc. like we do in Bluetooth? - If it is possible, then how to implement using C# or any language.