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Zigbee Wireless Network Sensors…Offer Automated Control Of Multiple Home Systems.

ZigBee Wireless Network Sensors

ZigBee is a new mesh-networking standard that allows a variety of low-power devices to communicate over an unregulated portion of the radio spectrum. It joins the crowded field of wireless technology that already includes cell-phones, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Z-Wave and others.

However, unlike those other standards, ZigBee can run for years on inexpensive batteries, eliminating the need to be plugged into mains electrical power, thus it will prove to be very useful in areas such as energy conservation, home automation and agriculture.  

Imagine a home wireless network, which permits you keyless entry and calls your mobile phone to alert you that a door has been unexpectedly opened, or enables you to close your curtains and turn on the outside floodlights while you’re still at the office or elsewhere.

ZigBee’s underlying technology is radio-communication however, it is more innovative than single-purpose wireless devices, such as garage door openers and those that turns light on and off.

This home wireless network travels across greater distances and handles many sensors that can be linked to perform different tasks e.g. allowing wireless two-way communication between lights and switches, thermostats and furnaces and central controllers.

ZigBee home wireless network technology received high-level approval last year, when more than 100 companies including Honeywell International Inc., Philips Electronics NV, Samsung Electronics Co. and Motorola Inc. agreed to make new devices that can communicate using this technology.

Features and Benefits of Zigbee

  • Enjoy flexible management of lighting, heating and cooling systems from anywhere in your home. Embed intelligence to optimise consumption of natural resources.
  • Automated control of multiple home systems to improve conservation, convenience and safety.
  • Capture detailed electric, water and gas utility usage data.
  • Install, upgrade and network a home control system without wires and easily install wireless network sensors to monitor a wide variety of conditions. Supports a large number of nodes.
  • Configure and run multiple systems from a single remote control.
  • Receive automatic notification upon detection of unusual events – secure, reliable and self healing.
  • ZigBee wireless network sensors consume very little power, so for example a sensor and transmitter that reports whether a door is open or closed, could function for up to five years on a single AA battery.
  • Makes home automation easy and affordable, even in older homes where rewiring may be unsuitable or difficult.
  • Add a ZigBee home wireless network to battery-powered smoke alarms, and they will all sound the alert even if only one senses smoke, just as hard-wired alarms do.
  • Remote controls powered by ZigBee don’t need line-of-sight as infra-red controllers do, allowing control of devices from other rooms.
  • ZigBee networks can be operated from home PCs or independent wireless controllers. Can be used globally.

Potential Applications

Patient Medical Monitoring.The Lusora Company, have developed LISA, a wireless sensor network for monitoring elderly people who live alone.The devices used include bedroom-door and fridge sensors that can alert the network if they aren’t opened at the usual time.

Monitors vital statistics and sends reports via the Internet.

Patients can remain at home, which may allow more freedom.

Lowers cost, improves comfort and patient lifestyle.

Allows monitoring of an elderly or disabled family member without visual spying.

Can track behavior and senses movement or usage patterns in a home and notifies via mobile phone when anomalies occur.

Falls or other problems trigger wireless panic buttons.

The LISA Home Monitor System…Provides A Convenient Solution For The Care OF The Elderly.

Home Security
Another ZigBee-based product called Home HeartBeat is claimed to be “the world’s first home awareness system,” and is a potential do-it-yourself competitor for home-alarm services. The affordable kit will include a central controller or base station about the size of a small radio, one sensor and a remote control key fob to activate the sensor.

If sensors are triggered during the house owner’s absence, the base station will call the owner’s cellphone to report a fire, or a door or window opening, thus alerting the user to call the police or fire service. Additional wireless network sensors can also detect flooding, motion, and temperature changes

Although ZigBee is gaining popularity and prominent backers, it isn’t the only new technology for wireless networking, and a battle over standards may be imminent. For example other large companies are cooperating to support Z-wave, a home-automation technology from Denmark’s Zensys Inc.

Home Wireless Network – Z-Wave..Takes Automated Home Control To New Levels

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