For Users
LoRa adoption wide, and surprisingly mixed with similar technologies
#LoRa promises long range with battery life and low cost. But like any technology, it is not a solution to all challenges. In LoRa’s case, its because it is extraordinarily bandwidth limited, and upstream oriented. This anecdote from the Mobile World Congress suggests many vendors see it as a complementary technology rather than competitive to…
Read MoreAre Consultants Expensive?
Pricing expertise can be a tricky business. Businesses are constantly faced with the build versus buy dilemma, only now it involves people. And compared to employee salaries, contractors often seem expensive. But there are many mitigating factors. How do you know if you are paying too much? How about looking at the market rates? They…
Read MoreChicago deploys computers with eyes, ears and noses
The city now has eyes and ears The data will be available on OpenGrid.io.. there is a team of 17 trying to figure out how to use the data. See full story on Chicago deploys computers with eyes, ears and noses | ITworld At almost 7M, I am not impressed by the lack of utility…
Read MoreWireless Healthcare Standards Evolving
The Continua Health Alliance is trying to solidify an application standard for interconnected healthcare devices that are both mobile, like pulse oximeters, and fixed like sensors used for remote patient monitoring. These technologies promise to ease the burden of caring for the elderly whether in their own homes or assisted living centers. In the quest…
Read MoreSensors in the Cloud
Sensor networks with hierarchies and their resultant isolation will eventually give way to the notion that all devices should interoperate with the world, through IP protocols. I’ve advocated this trend for some time, but several news items from Sensors magazine reinforce this: Zigbee and IP and Pedigree Releases Oneview From an architectural perspective, this only…
Read MoreRFID Forecast 2009-2019 Interesting Notes
In a recently released report: RFID Forecasts, Players & Opportunities 2009–2019 I found several thing interesting: (Context warning: this is related primarily to passive technologies.) 1. The total spend is only expected to grow 10% in 2009. Hardly a sign we are on the hockey stick of adoption. 2. Three of Five dollars spent is…
Read MoreNew Zigbee Health and Wellness Profiles
Recently, the Zigbee Alliance released standards for Medical oriented devices to allow standardized interoperability for device functions. Eventually, this should allow worthwhile peer- to peer functionality on the 802.15 network, over and above centralized monitoring applications. I can see this functionality built on Zigbee being very useful in elder care facilities, because of its interaction…
Read MoreIs it time for the RFID hockey stick?
In tech adoption, there is a phase where rapid uptake and expansion occur once maturity has begun and the early adopters have proven the concepts. What I’m seeing at this show, is that passive RFID is very close to that phase. However, there are remaining barriers, and they are no longer in the fundamental technology,…
Read MoreThe other green of RFID
RFID is frequently seen as method of increasing efficiency to save money. But it could be seen as much as an environmentally friendly tool as a monetary one? How? Consider that for every efficiency made, there is less energy used on wasted work, less excessive product in the supply chain, and less product wasted because…
Read MoreWhat’s in an acronym – RFID and RTLS
There seems to be confusion in the industry about where these descriptions differ. RFID is a general description of any system that identifies without line if sight. At a cursory glance, RTLS (Real time location System) seems to add a qualitative presentation and timeliness element to data that is collected by RFID. But ask yourself…
Read MoreWhat would you like to know from RFID Live in Orlando next week?
I am attending RFID Live in Orlando. If you have specific questions about what RFID products might work for your application, let me know and I will be your eyes and ears. Whatever I find, I will provide short leads for you at no charge as a gift to my network. Free expert advice, just…
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