No more than 10% for the next 10 years?
IDTechEx has released a new report “Wireless Sensor Networks 2009-2019″. While WSN can assist with many of the big issues of this century including security, safety, protecting the environment, animal and plant conservation, healthcare and efficient food production, among many others, 99% of sensors installed in the world nowadays are still wired. Over the next ten years, they argue, WSN will constitute no more than ten percent of the wireless sensors that are sold, mainly because of technical challenges.
There is much to go for, though. WSN already beats the wired alternative with 90% reduction in cost, even at current prices, and often WSN enables things to be done that are otherwise impossible. Little wonder that hundreds of research centers are pursuing the subject and there are already well over 100 suppliers of this or that part of the jigsaw puzzle. An early objective for most schemes is wireless replacing all or almost all wiring, not just power and not just control.
More of the insights from the report can be read on this article.
