Executive Perspective

Welcome to Volume No. 2 and Issue No. 3 of Making WaveZ, the electronic newsletter from the Z-Wave Alliance.

We recently wrapped up a very successful CEDIA 2007, with more than 20 members exhibiting and several new product launches including ControlThink’s ThinkRemote, ESI’s Motor Controllers, Intermatic’s In-Touch product line and Merten’s Connect product line.  These products bring the total number of newly certified Z-Wave products during Q3 to 35, with another 44 in the pipeline for Q4!  Levition, Wayne Dalton, Intermatic, ESI, Lagotek and Source Northwest also provided Z-Wave product trainings.

Mid-August saw the launch of the Intermatic and Hawking Technology Ultimate Home Control and Monitoring System at CompUSA, further demonstrating the broad reach of Z-Wave across many distribution channels. 

Another recent milestone was the announcement that the third generation Z-Wave chip, ZW0301, is in mass production, confirming that Z-Wave technology continues to get more powerful and less costly as it remains the most mature command and control technology on the market.  One of the primary benefits of this next-generation Z-Wave chip is its lower power consumption, which will enable its use in a greater variety of consumer electronics products and further grow the number of companies developing Z-Wave products.

As noted in the photo to the right, Z-Wave Alliance member Hawking Technology was recently recognized by VAR Business magazine as the "VAR Business 2007 Tech Innovator of the Year" for its HomeRemote solution, a cell phone and Web-based remote home monitoring solution that leverages Z-Wave.  This is the latest in a number of awards recognizing Z-Wave-enabled products and services.

We’re anticipating an exciting and successful fourth quarter and hope you’ll stay tuned to learn more about how to make your life more simple, secure and comfortable with Z-Wave.  If you have any questions or want to receive information about Z-Wave or joining the Z-Wave Alliance, please don’t hesitate to contact us at www.zwavealliance.org.

Regards,

Mark Walters
Chairman
Z-Wave Alliance
 
 

Z-Wave in the News


Zensys’ Third Generation Z-Wave Chip in Mass Production
July 13, 2007

Zensys, developer of the award-winning Z-Wave wireless home control standard, today announced that its third generation Z-Wave chip - the ZW0301 - is in mass production. The ZW0301 is the industry’s lowest cost, lowest power consumption chip for wireless control and automation.
M O R E


Home Automation in Baby Steps
August Issue

If you’re considering automating your home, lighting is the best place to start. But if you’re afraid that handling bare electrical wires will leave you with an Einsteinian hairdo, pick up Intermatic’s Home Settings Starter Kit.
M O R E


The First Optimum Performance Home
August 1, 2007

This is the tenth article in the series documenting the design and construction of the first Optimum Performance Home™. The project has been selected by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for inclusion in the national Leadership In Energy & Environmental Design (LEED®) for Homes pilot program, their new green build certification initiative, and the goal is Platinum certification.
M O R E


Z-Wave HomeRemote System
August 3, 2007

Concerned about security when you're away from your small-business premises? Want to automate control of lighting and HVAC to conserve energy and save money? How about if you could remotely control and monitor everything from your cell phone?
M O R E


ControlThink's Vista SideShow and Z-Wave Home Theatre/Automation Remote
August 11, 2007

The Vista feature you pretty much forgot about is back: ControlThink's got a new remote control platform for Windows Media Center and other devices called ThinkRemote that leverages Vista's oft-touted-but-rarely used SideShow. That's right, you can get SideShow information and gadgets anywhere in your house since the platform uses the Z-Wave flavor of wireless for communication for home automation tricks like turning lightbulbs on and off. Logitech's big remote was supposed to do this last year, but it failed to, um, work as promised. So is this the first? Maybe.
M O R E

To view all recent Z-Wave media coverage, Click Here

Z-Wave Alliance Member
News

HomeSeer’s New HSM100™ Z-Wave® Multi-Sensor

ASPIRE RF™ New Wireless Control System Gets Top Honors, Winning Major Industry Awards

Z-Wave Controlled Duplex Receptacle

Version 3.3 of the Lagotek® Home Intelligence Platform Adds Cell Phone Support, New Hardware, and Makes a Giant Leap in New Features

HomeSeer Unveils HSTouch™ Touchscreen Software

Crayon Interface Promotes Mobile Connectivity to Homes with Z-Wave Alliance With Z-Wave Alliance Member Companies at CEDIA Expo 2007

ControlThink Introduces Z-Wave Enabled Platform for Mass Market Windows SideShow Enabled Remote Controls

Electronic Solutions, Inc. Introduces Z-Wave Enabled Motor Controls for Window Coverings

Fiire Unveils Thin Media Solution for Wire-Free Control of Flat Screen TVs

Hawking Technologies Introduces Z-Wave Accessories and Devices for the HomeRemote Home Automation Solution

HomeSettings From Intermatic Announces Three New Additions to its Product Lineup

Leviton Offers Home Technology Installers “Masterful Approach” to Integrating Newest Lighting Technology Into Today’s Smart Homes

Leviton Expands Vizia RF Line with Plug-In Serial Interface Module

Universal Electronics Announces NevoQ50: Superior A/V System Control in a Simple, Customizable Touch Screen Interface

Intermatic Gives CEDIA Attendees “Hands On” InTouch™ Training

Leviton Opens Window of Compliance with Shade Control for Pro Level Vizia RF Home Control System Compatibility

Leviton’s Z-Wave-Enabled Vizia RF Offers Next Generation Lighting Control for Today’s Homes

To view all recent Z-Wave Alliance member announcements, click here.

New Members of the Z-Wave Alliance
     
     

Z-Wave Product Announcements

HomeSeer’s HSM100™ Z-Wave® Multi-Sensor
The "HSM100" Z-Wave multi-sensor is designed to sense motion, temperature and light and homeowners can use the HSM100 to control up to 4 other Z-Wave devices directly. Those with HomeSeer-equipped homes can also use the HSM100 to trigger more complex automation events for whole house control of Z-Wave and non Z-Wave automation products.

HomeSeer’s HS Touch
HSTouch IP-enabled touchscreen designer software provides an easy to use, family-friendly graphical interface for all HomeSeer home automation systems and will run on in-wall, stand-alone, portable, handheld and wireless touchscreen devices. HSTouch integrates tightly with all HomeSeer-based automation systems and the screens are fully customizable to work with virtually all backgrounds, buttons and graphics.

ControlThink’s ThinkRemote
The ThinkRemote platform provides PC and accessory manufacturers with the ability to create mass-market Microsoft Windows SideShow-enabled remote controls using Z-Wave, the industry-standard wireless technology for home control and automation.  PC and accessory manufacturers can now create affordable Windows Media Center remote controls as well as other Windows SideShow-enabled devices—while leveraging Z-Wave wireless mesh technology to deliver personalized information such as weather and stock quotes to anywhere in the home.

ESI’s “Plug & Play”
The ESI “Plug & Play” Z-Wave motor controls enable consumers to control and monitor motorized window coverings through the Z-Wave standard.  These powerful motor controls are interoperable with other Z-Wave enabled devices, providing an easy-to-implement solution to deliver increased comfort and convenience.

FiireStation 1
The FiireStation 1 is a one-inch thick media connection for the FiireEngine that hides behind a plasma or LCD TV, and offers full media control without the clutter of a cable box and wires.  It is fan-free and vent-free, and includes no local hard drive, offering consumers a reliable, noise-free experience.

UEI’s NevoQ50
With the introduction of NevoQ50, professional installers will have another Nevo choice to offer consumers along with the advanced NevoSL.  Set at an attractive manufacturer suggested price of $699, NevoQ50 brings affordable one-handed control to the custom electronics professional channel.  NevoQ50 is designed with a 2.5-inch customizable color touch screen along with thirty-one programmable hard keys, blending form and function in an attractive device consumers and professionals have come to expect from UEI.

Expert's Corner

Mike Einstein
Vice President of Corporate Innovation
Intermatic, Inc.

Areas of Expertise

  • Lighting control home automation and energy conservation
  • Solar lighting and home control
  • Z-Wave versus other wireless standards

Industry Trends and Key Issues

  • The “green” aspects of home automation
  • The everyday benefits of home control technologies
  • Affordability in new home control systems

Biography

Einstein has more than 15 years of experience in the Lighting Control market and currently serves as the Vice President of Corporate Innovation for Intermatic, Inc.

During his career with Intermatic, Einstein was instrumental in his team’s quest to drive product cost down.  His past responsibilities included new business and market development.  Einstein traveled extensively investigating cost reduction lighting solutions available in China, Latin America and Europe.  In addition, he has lead Intermatic’s lighting business successfully through strategic planning and innovative marketing.  Through Einstein’s determination for increased market share, Intermatic’s Home Protection & Controls Strategic Business grew from $18 million to $60 million in only six years.

In addition to his successful career with Intermatic, Einstein was also a founder and partner in CPS Electronics, a start-up surge protection company.  With Einstein’s strategic direction, CPS Electronics grew to more than $4 million in sales in less than five years.

Upcoming Global Industry Events


Electronic House Expo, West
November 6-9, 2007
Long Beach, CA


Net-at-Home
November 13-14, 2007
Nice, France


Consumer Technology Innovations Conference
November 27-28, 2007
Redwood City, CA


CONNECTIONS Europe
December 4-6, 2007
Berlin, Germany


CES 2008
January 7-10, 2008
Las Vegas, NV

Joining and Contacting the Z-Wave Alliance

By joining the Z-Wave Alliance you become a member of the group of companies leading the wireless home control market and enjoy all the benefits of membership. If you are interested in joining the Z-Wave Alliance, or if you are already a member and have any questions, please contact:

Mark Walters
Chairman
Z-Wave Alliance
425.354.4442
mark@zen-sys.com

For more information, please contact Emily Mason at (312) 329-3975 or masone@ruderfinn.com, or visit www.zwavealliance.org. © 2007 Z-Wave Alliance. All Rights Reserved.