In his book on changing economics of web commerce, The Long Tail, Chris Anderson illustrates how the Internet is changing the laws of distribution from digital products from entertainment (movies and CDs) to manufactured products
Wireless networks are, too, growing a long tail, as billions, maybe even, trillions, of devices are being connected to an increasing pervasive and integrated array of wireless networks powering the mobility generation.

The complete story here.

The interesting story about Maria Feng, a UCI researcher who develops vibration sensors that monitor the health of everything from bridges to dams is available on OCRegister blog, here.

An interesting paper on Sensor Networks for Environmental applications has been published on Earth-Science Reviews. The abstract states:
“Environmental Sensor Networks (ESNs) facilitate the study of fundamental processes and the development of hazard response
systems. They have evolved from passive logging systems that require manual downloading, into ‘intelligent’ sensor networks that
comprise a network of automatic sensor nodes and communications systems which actively communicate their data to a Sensor
Network Server (SNS) where these data can be integrated with other environmental datasets. The sensor nodes can be fixed or
mobile and range in scale appropriate to the environment being sensed. ESNs range in scale and function and we have reviewed
over 50 representative examples. Large Scale Single Function Networks tend to use large single purpose nodes to cover a wide
geographical area. Localised Multifunction Sensor Networks typically monitor a small area in more detail, often with wireless adhoc
systems. Biosensor Networks use emerging biotechnologies to monitor environmental processes as well as developing proxies for immediate use. In the future, sensor networks will integrate these three elements (Heterogeneous Sensor Networks). The communications system and data storage and integration (cyberinfrastructure) aspects of ESNs are discussed, along with current challenges which need to be addressed. We argue that Environmental Sensor Networks will become a standard research tool for future Earth System and Environmental Science. Not only do they provide a ‘virtual’ connection with the environment, they allow new field and conceptual approaches to the study of environmental processes to be developed. We suggest that although technological advances have facilitated these changes, it is vital that Earth Systems and Environmental Scientists utilise them.”

The paper is available for download here

Wireless Fibre Systems has unveiled the S1510, an Underwater Radio Modem that can be used at depths to 33 feet. The modem can be used to help divers, boats, submarines and underwater sensors communicate. From the developers website:

WFS is a pioneer in the use of Radio Frequency (RF) technology for underwater applications. Traditional sonar techniques offer limited bandwidth and can be problematic in noisy or multi-path environments. RF technology can provide an attractive alternative. WFS is developing solutions that are immune to acoustic noise. These include a low data rate, long range, subsea radio telemetry solution and high bandwidth “non-contact” data links suitable for high speed communications and uploads from Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). This technology also offers capability for underwater navigation, remote sensing and detection.

The complete story here.

The joint work between the University of California, Berkeley, Moteiv, and Chicago on the innovative Fire, Safety, and Rescue Equipment (FIRE) project has been featured in a segment on the Discovery Channel and Science Channel. The story includes live footage of the system in action and interviews with Berkeley students and staff and Moteiv employees.

The video is now available on YouTube.

Medical Device Link has an interesting story on wireless microsensors written by Campus Micro Technologies, a German sensor system integrator. The application for microsensors discussed includes the creation of partly and fully autonomous therapeutic feedback (closed-loop) control systems. The idea is that this “new” type of implantable pressure monitoring system can provide long-term monitoring inside the human body (at least 10 years or more).

Requirements for such a system include minimal power that is supplied from outside the body rather than incorporating a battery, which limits the lifetime of the implant. Packaging and assembly of the implant is also critical regarding biocompatibility and the long-term functioning of the system. The story provides examples of work being done on developing these systems for measuring intracranial pressures, continuous measurement of intraocular pressure, and for use as feedback to ensure the quality of therapy delivery.

The complete story here.

Those of you are looking for wireless sensors with zero power wireless transceivers than Maxim is doing just that for you. They have designed 2.4GHz Wireless Transceivers -Zero External Power. These tiny wireless transceivers work on small Lithinum battery for life and you never replace that battery or it can come factory mounted in the casing.

The complete story here.

UK scientists are working on a £3.5m, three-year study into creating huge networks of wireless sensors to monitor air pollution.

The Pervasive Mobile Environmental Sensor Grids (PMESG) project will use wireless sensors mounted on cars, street furniture and even people to obtain accurate data on pollution in towns and cities.

The complete story here.

Dust Networks, (www.dustnetworks), the leading provider of highly reliable, ultra low-power embedded wireless sensor networks (WSN), was announced as one of the recipients of The Wall Street Journal’s 2006 Global Technology Innovation Awards. The winners of the competition were announced on September 11, 2006. Dust Networks was named a runner-up in the wireless category. More than 600 entries from around the world were considered for the prestigious awards. These awards recognize technological breakthroughs by individuals, companies and organizations around the world in a wide range of areas, including medicine and medical devices, wireless, security, consumer electronics, semiconductors and others.

The complete story here.

Fourth Worskshop on Embedded Sensor Networks (EmNets 2007)
Cork, Ireland, 25-6 June 2007
EmNets 2007 brings together wireless sensor network researchers from academic and industrial backgrounds to present groundbreaking results that will shed light on present and future research challenges. The workshop emphasises results from experiments or deployments that quantify the challenges in the wireless sensor systems of today as well as early results from new ideas that introduce promising approaches that will define the challenges in the wireless sensor systems of tomorrow.

Papers reporting on results that refute common assumptions, deployment experiences, novel and original approaches, and, more generally, papers that will help inform and guide research are especially welcome.

Submission Deadline: March 9, 2007
Notification: April 30, 2007
Camera Ready Due: May 21, 2007
No website currently available. We’ll update accordingly.