| Zensys describes Z-Wave technology as "an RF | | | | Z-Wave. |
| based, two-way, mesh network, communications | | | | The Z-Wave Alliance participated in |
| protocol that enables everyday devices to be | | | | "CONNECTIONS(TM): The Digital Home |
| controlled and monitored wirelessly." And indeed it | | | | Conference" the week of May 1, which I was |
| is. It's become popular enough that at least 125 | | | | unfortunately not able to attend in person. But the |
| manufacturers have joined the Z-Wave Alliance ( | | | | Alliance invited member companies ControlThink, |
| and are developing or redesigning products to | | | | Cooper Wiring Devices, Density Networks, |
| support the protocol. | | | | iControl, Intel, Intermatic, Leviton, the Linksys |
| Superna Corporation, manufacturers of the | | | | Division of Cisco, Monster, SMK Electronics, |
| Superna Home Control Systems featured on this | | | | Universal Electronics (UEI), and Zensys to discuss |
| site, is one of the newest members of the | | | | their use of Z-Wave for digital home control |
| Alliance, and it expects its Smart Home | | | | products and services. |
| Automation Systems to support Z-Wave in a | | | | On the Z-Wave Alliance web site we found this |
| matter of months. Intel Capital also has made a | | | | interesting statement from Lew Brown, director |
| strategic investment in Zensys and in Z-Wave | | | | of strategic business development for Monster. |
| Alliance member iControl in Palo Alto, CA, which | | | | "There are more than 100 Z-Wave-enabled |
| has developed a software and services platform | | | | products already on the market today for |
| designed to make remote monitoring more | | | | consumers including USB devices, universal remote |
| affordable and accessible for both homes and | | | | controls, thermostats and lighting systems. And |
| businesses. | | | | every single one of them works together, making |
| One reason Z-Wave is growing in popularity is | | | | it very simple and inexpensive for consumers to |
| that it's fundamentally simple to use. The mesh | | | | deploy a home control network. There is not |
| system makes it possible for any switch or | | | | another technology out there that can make that |
| control unit to be connected with the system as | | | | claim." |
| long as it can communicate with any other unit. | | | | What makes that particularly exciting is that it |
| Using 900-MHz Radio Frequency for | | | | indicates a corporate view and support of the |
| communications, its interactive distance is limited | | | | flexibility of using Z-Wave protocol. As exciting as |
| to a few dozen feet, which makes it fairly | | | | it is to have manufacturers creating, in effect, |
| unsusceptible to interference from outside | | | | their own new standard by working together, |
| sources. | | | | consumers - the end users - get the real benefit |
| Z-Wave is very low-power (and therefore has a | | | | by being able to integrate products from |
| minimal operating cost), and Zensys's integrated | | | | manufacturers as different as Leviton, Monster, |
| MCU/Transceiver chips embedded with Z-Wave | | | | and UEI without customizing or replacing them. |
| allow countless products to incorporate the | | | | Keep your eyes peeled for more news about |
| protocols. Coupled with Zensys's "suite of | | | | Z-Wave; it might well be the next, and the |
| development tools ad services," manufacturers | | | | longest-lasting, industry standard. |
| can easily develop wireless products based on | | | | |