Energy Optimisers (EOL) launches a Zigbee Smart Energy version of its Plogg plug-in electricity meter.

The Plogg is a smart meter and data logger. It carries Ember's EM357 ZigBee wireless technology and runs on a Telegenesis module.

Users attach it to any electrical appliance where it stores electricity data and wirelessly transmits information through ethernet gateway.

Through the system-on-chip tranceiver and EmberZNet networking software (with Smart Energy cluster libraries) a network of Ploggs can operate with other 3rd party ZigBee SE compliant devices. 7

Go Plogg

Crestron's TPMC V-Panel combines touchscreen and graphics engine in a slim (2"), widescreen design ideal for intuitive automated system control.

It offers rich colour graphics, 3D GUI animations and gestures navigation in either 12" or 15" models.

Features include streaming HD video, web browsing, embedded apps, onscreen annotation and 2-way VoIP intercom.

The touchscreen panel carries Crestron's Core 3 OS. The open architecture OS supports multiple formats including Flash, HTML 5 and H.264 video.

Go Crestron TPMC V-Panel

The Italian kitchen product company introduces its Alessi Tab, an Android-based tablet.

Unlike most tablets, the Tab comes in a digital photo-frame angular shape (making it stand upright) ideal for tables and countertops. It has a 10.1" touchscreen, 1GB internal memory, wifi connection and integrated camera/microphone.

The Tab's form factor combined with the Android OS makes it a potential home installation "remote control".

Alessi includes a number of apps for news, weather forecasts, recipes and timers.

Go Alessi Tab

LonMark announces the formation of its Russian affiliate. LonMark Russia is the 11th LonMark affiliate network member.

The affiliate network provides programs and support throughout Europe and Asia.

5 companies back LonMark Russia - ARMO-Group, BACScenter, Human Engineering, StroyGroupAutomatica Ltd and Midexpo Exhibitions and Fairs.

LonMark Russia chairman Gregory Latyshev says Russia has tremendous opportunities for open integrated systems.

The Russian office's will host a pavillion at Hi-Tech House & Building, the largest Russian buildings trade fair.

Go Lonmark International Establishes Russian Affiliate Organisation

If the CEO of Green-Peak is right, the Third Wave of Home Automation...the wave that just might finally make it to the home shore...will wash up like the proverbial message-in-a-bottle....This time the message is inside the humble Remote Control.

CEO Cees Links runs a fabless semiconductor company. They offer low power wireless and battery-free data comm controller chips for consumer electronics and control applications.

And Links (yes, Links is such a great name for a home automation specialist) wakes up each morning thinking about...remote controls.

Sure, there’s a lot of attention on the TV itself, especially with the connected TV. You can even find industry analysts that insist it’s the game console, the PlayStation, the Xbox, the Wii that will finally bring in true home automation. Others think smart meters.

You may never see an Intel-branded energy management system but Intel wants its technology (sold under other brands) to create a new era of home energy control.

Think INTEL INSIDE as Intel shows protypes of a home energy management system (HEMS), Home Dashboard energy monitor, Smart TV technology, and sensors that can be placed throughout the home to detect status and problems.

Intel’s HEMS will use ZigBee’s Smart Energy Profile 2.0 IP-based protocol and will send signals over ZigBee, WiFi and Powerline.

The “Home Dashboard” itself, shown here, is an on-wall display panel where users can access their home’s energy use info and perform other functions, such as video messaging with a built-in camera.

Intel’s sensors plug into outlets at each end of the house and look for fluctuations in the line voltage—even temperature and humidity sensors, too.

Intel’s Smart TV technology can network with HEMS and display energy information as you sit back on the sofa.

Intel will first approach utilities with smart grid plans, service providers such as ADT and telcos that plan to sell low-cost energy monitoring services to their customers. But imagine Intel’s best friends in hardware include retail brands…from Microsoft peripherals to Apple to mega-retailers Best Buy and Wal-Mart.

Go Intel HEMS