| Increase in Mechanized Homes | | | | wires and multiple systems can be run side by |
| The trend towards automating homes seems to | | | | side with a single remote control. The safety of |
| be increasing. A study by ABI Research in 2003 | | | | zigbee canot be ignored as wireless sensors are |
| predicted that the home automation market in | | | | installed easily to monitor a wide variety of |
| the United States of America (USA) would rise | | | | conditions and it system enables automatic |
| from $1.5 billion to more than $3.8 billion US dollars | | | | notification upon detection of unusual events. |
| by 2008. | | | | An Illustration of Zigbee in a Home |
| Even kitchen appliances such as ovens are | | | | For example, sensors on the windows and doors |
| becoming networked and automated today. A | | | | of your house can wirelessly report several times |
| home security system is often part of a smart | | | | each minute to a central security controller that |
| home. This type of home automation can consist | | | | "all is well"-a level of security that, until a few |
| of lights on timers or dimmers, electronics and | | | | years ago, only a museum or a mansion in a |
| appliances hooked up to remotes, sprinkler | | | | James Bond movie might have. Sensors in each |
| systems on daily automated schedules, hot tubs | | | | room can monitor human presence, temperature, |
| and pools with robotic cleaners, or any | | | | humidity, and light levels, and then send the data |
| combination of the above. | | | | to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning |
| Use of the Zigbee technology ensures control by | | | | (HVAC) controller. The controller first figures out |
| flexible management of lighting, cooling and heating | | | | whether anybody is in a given room, and only |
| systems in a home, and automated control of | | | | then decides whether to raise or lower the |
| multiple home systems to improve conservation, | | | | window shades, open or close the air dampers, or |
| safety and convenience. It allows conservation of | | | | run the HVAC system at full or reduced power. |
| energy by capturing highly detailed electric, water | | | | Rooms that are occupied can be maintained within |
| and gas utility usage data and use the data for | | | | a narrow comfort zone, while the temperature in |
| optimum usage of natural resources. Using Zigbee | | | | vacant rooms is allowed to move up or down |
| in homes is extremely convenient as installation | | | | through a wider range. |
| and upgradation of the entire network is without | | | | |