NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: JOANIE WEXLER ON WIRELESS IN THE ENTERPRISE 11/10/04 Today's focus: Sensor networks: Who's in charge?
Dear [EMAIL PROTECTED], In this issue: * Wireless could drive organizational changes * Links related to Wireless in the Enterprise * Featured reader resource _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Colubris Networks Mobility is enabling productivity, lower cost and new revenue for a growing list of data, voice, and video applications. While early WLANs targeted islands of Wi-Fi users, the next step requires an "Enterprise-class WLAN" -- one that seamlessly integrates into existing networks with security, QoS, and scale. For more on "Building Next-generation Enterprise-class Wireless LANs" please visit http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=87836 _______________________________________________________________ SECURTIY SUMMIT: CAN SECURITY BE A COMPETITIVE EDGE? Recently 23 prominent IT executives and academics gathered at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH for a daylong roundtable to address such questions. CIOs and VPs from some of the largest and most well-known companies in the US shared with peers their security fears, goals, frustrations and challenges. Find out more: http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=87932 _______________________________________________________________ Today's focus: Sensor networks: Who's in charge? By Joanie Wexler It has been challenging, to say the least, to figure out how to converge corporate voice and data departments for the past 20 years. Now wireless has the potential to frustrate the IT organizational structure further. For example, healthcare environments have long supported wireless biomedical devices. Often, a biomedical engineer is in charge of managing and allocating the spectrum in such facilities to minimize interference. This individual, usually with RF expertise, is likely now working with network administrators or IT managers wishing to roll out traditional wireless LANs. Now as wireless sensor networks emerge, another employee might soon need to join the cast of characters: the facilities manager. When a sensor network, such as a ZigBee network, is deployed to monitor lighting systems, thermostats, security alarms, motion sensors and smoke detectors, will the facilities manager be responsible for purchasing, installing, and running that network? That would seem to be his or her purview. But what about when the corporate accountant wishes to look at, say, the energy-related information gathered by sensors via the corporate network for trending purposes, in the hopes of conserving energy and lowering utility bills? Also, sensor networks could collect other types of data and combine it with the IT infrastructure to unleash a wealth of information. For example, it could be discovered that in a restaurant, customers never sit at a particular table. How come? Perhaps the sensor network discovers that the heating or air conditioning is out of whack in that part of the room, driving customers away (and wasting that section of real estate). Should there be a hybrid facilities manager/IT manager? Should they have separate jobs but co-exist, as voice and data folks have been doing? Who will the ZigBee people sell their networks to, IT people or facilities people? Are there turf wars ahead? How sensor networks might fit into your overall IT scheme - if at all - is something you might want to consult with other factions of your company about before purchasing decisions are made, if you think there is IT data to be mined in them thar sensors. RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS Telecom, nanotechnology and sensor networks Network World, 11/01/04 http://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2004/110104johnson.html Figure 8 unveils ZigBee wireless tools at DEMOmobile Network World Fusion, 09/10/04 http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0910zigbee.html Wireless sensors are a hot technology Network World Fusion, 09/22/04 http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0922hottech.html Wireless sensor networks grabbing greater attention Network World, 09/27/04 http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/092704sensors.html _______________________________________________________________ To contact: Joanie Wexler Joanie Wexler is an independent networking technology writer/editor in California's Silicon Valley who has spent most of her career analyzing trends and news in the computer networking industry. She welcomes your comments on the articles published in this newsletter, as well as your ideas for future article topics. Reach her at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Colubris Networks Mobility is enabling productivity, lower cost and new revenue for a growing list of data, voice, and video applications. While early WLANs targeted islands of Wi-Fi users, the next step requires an "Enterprise-class WLAN" -- one that seamlessly integrates into existing networks with security, QoS, and scale. For more on "Building Next-generation Enterprise-class Wireless LANs" please visit http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=87835 _______________________________________________________________ ARCHIVE LINKS Archive of the Wireless newsletter: http://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/wireless/index.html Wireless research center Latest wireless news, analysis and resource links http://www.nwfusion.com/topics/wireless.html _______________________________________________________________ FEATURED READER RESOURCE NEW! 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