ZigBee Pro, the New Home Automation Standard?

An anonymous reader writes "Echelon, Microsoft, Intel, Sun and the Electronic Industries Alliance have been trying to create a home automation standard for two decades — to no avail. Now the ZigBee Alliance, proprietor of a low-rate two-way wireless mesh networking technology, says it will prevail. In six weeks, automation vendor Control4, which has about one million ZigBee nodes installed, will flip the switch on the new ZigBee Pro, which promises interoperability among light switches, thermostats, door locks, motorized shades, security systems, remote controls and some 36 million electric meters."

Re:Creating A Problem.

[ColdWetDog]

But 36 million electrical meters? What Geek could resist?

You know what you doing

[PotatoFiend]

Take off every 'ZIGBEE'!!

It's a good idea, but...

[Jesselnz]

...ZigBee? Who the hell came up with that name?

Re:I don't know about others...

[PinkPanther]

How *is* your lawn doing this year?

:-)

Re:Creating A Problem.

[Anonymous Coward]

You will like it less when the guy down the street who wants your wife to leave you so he can continue his affair with her decides to test your home automation security.

* Wife dressing in front of her window? Open blinds.
* Need to get up for an important meeting early? Alarm off.
* Promised your wife breakfast in bed after a long fight? Power off overnight, then back on in time for spoiled food and burned toast.

Re:It's a good idea, but...

[carlzum]

The same people that revolutionized hair care [flowbee.com] of course. Just imagine the "product synergy." You're on a business trip and your child needs a hair cut. A few mouse clicks later, his hair looks great and there's a warm PopTart waiting for him in kitchen.

Re:Creating A Problem.

[nathan.fulton]

Home automation is going to be a huge part of improving grid energy efficiency over the next several decades.

how to use less energy? Install 36 million electric meters! Wait...

Re:Creating A Problem.

[rolfwind]

You will like it less when the guy down the street who wants your wife to leave you so he can continue his affair with her decides to test your home automation security.

Once she starts having the affair, wouldn't I want her to leave me? What am I missing here?

We already know how this turns out

[Anonymous Coward]

In six weeks, automation vendor Control4, which has about one million ZigBee nodes installed, will flip the switch on the new ZigBee Pro ... following which it will become self-aware, and trigger a nuclear apocalypse in self-defense when humans, belatedly realizing what they've created, attempt to turn it off. Will we never learn?

Next: ZigBee Home Personal

[fahrbot-bot]

which promises interoperability among light switches, thermostats, door locks, motorized shades, security systems, remote controls and some 36 million electric meters.

Add personal vibrators (you know what I mean) to the list and we'll have a winner...