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ZigBee Earns a Place in the Home By Ira Brodsky January 9, 2013 4:39PM     Some may believe that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have all short-range wireless requirements covered. However, while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth continue to broaden their capabilities, ZigBee can do things that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can't. ZigBee, which is a popular standards-based wireless technology, is simpler than Wi-Fi and consumes much less power.   Related Topics Wireless ZigBee Bluetooth Networking Security Smart Home Home Automation Ira Brodsky Latest News Google Buys Into Wind-Power Drones Kim Dotcom Claims Two-Factor Patent HP PCs Aim for Flexibility, Mobility Twitter Hoping To Halt Hack Attacks Viva Movil! Buy a Phone from J.Lo (Page 2 of 3) Thanks to ZigBee's digital radio technology, infrared is no longer the obvious choice for remote controls. ZigBee-based remote controls do not require line of sight access; the target device may be placed inside a cabinet or even controlled from an adjacent room. ZigBee-based remote controls can receive as well as send: They can be placed in "find me" mode when misplaced, receive and display messages, and perform other tasks requiring two-way communications. According to the ZigBee Alliance, ZigBee-based remote controls deliver longer battery life than infrared-based remote controls. By integrating ZigBee with set top boxes, cable TV operators are able to deliver entirely new services. For example, Comcast's ZigBee-enabled Xfinity set top box offers home security and energy management features and services. Users can remotely adjust thermostats and turn lights off or on via their smartphones. Customers subscribing to Comcast's premium security service can even access streaming video from cameras installed inside their homes. A Growing Market The home automation market is young and ZigBee faces quite a bit of competition. The Enocean Alliance emphasizes the use of energy harvesting devices for building automation. The Z-Wave Alliance targets home automation using technology developed by Sigma Designs. Insteon offers home automation products using a mix of radio and power line communications. ANT and ANT+ are open specifications targeting smart buildings (ANT) as well as health and fitness markets (ANT+). Each of these competing solutions enjoys broad support. However, as the market grows there will be increased demand for interoperability. At first, this demand may be satisfied through the use of gateways that interconnect otherwise incompatible networks in the same home. And some vendors may choose to support multiple networking solutions. But ultimately there will be pressure to consolidate. Because ZigBee has the flexibility to serve a wide range of applications, it may be best positioned to lead the home automation industry as it begins to mature. Some may believe that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have all short-range wireless requirements covered. However, while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth continue to enhance and broaden their capabilities, ZigBee can do things that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can't. ZigBee is simpler than Wi-Fi and consumes much less power. Though a low-power version of Bluetooth has been developed--Bluetooth low energy (BLE)--it (like Bluetooth classic) is primarily intended for connecting personal devices over short distances. Only ZigBee was designed from the ground up to network a large number of sensors and controllers distributed around the home. (continued...) < Previous Page  |  1  |  2  |  3  |  Next Page >   Based on your interest in this article, here's something that may be of interest to you also: (Why?) This article relates to the following term(s) that also match our recommendation: Wireless, Ira Brodsky. (Close) Recommended Reading: The History of Wireless: How Creative Minds Produced Technology for the Masses Synopsis: The History of Wireless reads like a novel. It chronicles the discoveries and inventions that led to today's mass market. Available for the Kindle and in paperback. Tell Us What You Think Comment: Name: Also Visit: iPad Info Center Billions of Bytes Mobile Device Now Apple Info Center TopTechWire.com CommVault is a data and information management software company dedicated to providing organizations worldwide with a radically better way to manage data and information. Their unique Solving Forward philosophy allows them to deliver complete solutions with infinite scalability and unprecedented control over data and costs. Be among the first to experience Simpana 10 software. Click here now.  Mobile Tech 1.   Viva Movil! Buy a Phone from J.Lo 2.   Samsung Sells 10 Million Galaxy S IVs 3.   Chrome Gets Conversational Search 4.   Armageddon for Phone-Maker HTC? 5.   De Brouwer's Magical Health Tricorder

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