On the Radar
Updated October 1, 2006 13:00 PST
Q&A with Mark Walters (continued)
ZWW: What would you say is the principal
advantage of Z-Wave based products, from a consumer point
of view?
MW: They work, they're easy to get and use, they're
affordable, and come from established companies. They enhance
users' lifestyles by increasing comfort, conveyance, safety,
and energy conservation. Consumers know by purchasing products
with the Z-Wave mark, that products purchased today from
one manufacturer will work with products purchased tomorrow
from another. Products with Z-Wave capability are often
as little as 15 to 20 percent more expensive than their
"dumb" counterparts.
ZWW: Where is the excitement today? As a potential
consumer, what should I be getting enthusiastic about?
MW: It depends on what you're looking for. There
are almost limitless applications that can be addressed
using intelligent devices with Z-Wave technology. I like
the convenience of one button when I leave the house and
I know it's secure and I'm not wasting energy (spending
money) while I'm away. You might like a one-button home
theater experience. In a broad sense, we now have the ability
to do cool things with cheap ubiquitous end points. That
is, we can put intelligence in every light switch, every
door, every window, battery powered sensors anywhere.
ZWW: What are the biggest issues facing the manufacturers?
Is it the cost of the technology, difficulty of installation,
integration issues, or customer awareness?
MW: The biggest challenge is consumer awareness or
lack thereof, followed by lack of awareness in the installer
community. Cost is becoming a non-issue fast as volumes
go up.
ZWW: How difficult is it to install Z-Wave products
and use them?
MW: Z-Wave enabled products are no more difficult
to install than their non Z-Wave counterparts. A Z-Wave
light dimmer installs just the same as a regular light dimmer.
There is an added step of including the device into your
collection of Z-Wave devices and assigning its control to
a button on a remote control or wall control. This requires
the installer to press a button on the device followed by
the button they want to use to control it. It's about as
hard as popping a bag of microwave popcorn in a microwave
oven by pushing the POPCORN button. One good reason to call
in a pro, though, is they can often can show you applications
that you would never think of yourself but find you can't
live without. Often with little or no additional cost over
a basic installation
ZWW: What are some of the latest innovations in Z-Wave-based
products?
MW: Many innovations can be found in Z-Wave enabled
products including power-saving light dimmers for two-wire
retrofit applications; remote control of your Z-Wave enabled
devices over the internet or from your cell phone; home
schedulers that know when dawn and dusk are each day so
you never have to change timers as the seasons change; remote
controls that know if you're turning on the bathroom lights
and it's after 10:00 p.m. but before 6:00 a.m. to turn them
on to a dim setting; and products that convert your in-car
garage door opener to a home controller letting you turn
on the lights, disarm the alarm and unlock the doors from
the safety of your car. [Click here
to read a related review]
Find out more about the Z-Wave Alliance at www.z-wavealliance.org
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