ZigBee TAKES CONTROL

Mar 1, 2005 12:00 PM

When no less than the Wall Street Journal writes about ZigBee, it becomes clear that word is spreading faster than, well, a multi-hop mesh network offering full redundancy through multiple data paths. For the ZigBee uninitiated, here are the basics:

• What is ZigBee?

  A global interoperable standard for wireless connectivity.

• Why the strange name?

  ZigBee's value proposition is based on the ZigBee Principal, which refers to the zig-zag path of bees that signals a new food source to other members of the colony. The bees' survival depends on the continuous communication of information between every member of the colony.

• What can it do?

  ZigBee can allow off-the-shelf products to work together in a highly adaptive and scalable network. The standard is suited for low-power applications, such as light switches and sensors. ZigBee devices can work for months, years or decades using, for example, two AAA batteries.

• What can it do for me?

  The ZigBee standard is paving the way for intelligent sensors to provide greater control of lighting, heating, cooling, water and filtration, appliance-use and security systems — both in the home environment and also in commercial buildings. For example, using a cell phone or PDA to signal one's arrival home, the network could trigger the lights to turn on, the security system to disengage, the garage door to open and the heating or cooling system to adjust to a predefined comfort level. Sensors built into garden irrigation systems could read water levels and self-adjust to turn off or on depending on the water level reading of soil around the home.

• Where can I find more information?

  The ZigBee Alliance (www.zigbee.org) is an association of 70 companies working together to enable reliable, cost-effective, low-power, wirelessly networked monitoring and control products based on an open global standard. Companies include Honeywell, Motorola, Philips and Samsung.

• What is the potential?

  According to The ZigBee Alliance, “the application uses are limitless.”

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