Articles Tagged with ''smart''

ABI Research estimates that the installed base of Bluetooth-enabled devices alone reached 3.5 billion in 2012 and is forecast to grow to almost 10 billion by 2018—this doesn’t take into account many other technologies such as Wi-Fi, ZigBee, and cellular.

According to a new report by ABI Research, annual shipments of 802.15.4-enabled devices are forecast to grow more than 5X from 2012 to 2018, with a CAGR of over 30%. ZigBee continues to be the primary driver toward standardization and interoperability and will see further strong growth across many markets, accounting for almost 80% of total 802.15.4-enabled device shipments in 2018.

Skyworks Solutions Inc., an innovator of high performance analog semiconductors enabling a broad range of end markets, announced that it is partnering with SMC Networks, a leading customer premise equipment manufacturer for multi-service operators (MSOs), to develop wireless connectivity solutions for security, monitoring and automation (SMA) applications in the emerging connected home market. SMC is utilizing Skyworks’ wireless networking and ZigBee® front-end solutions for security sensors, smoke alarms, motion detectors and touch pads.

Texas Instruments Inc. (TI), leading the industry with the most complete wireless connectivity portfolio for embedded applications, announced the extension of its remote control solutions offering with a new Bluetooth® low energy advanced remote control kit. As a technology, Bluetooth low energy allows for remotes with mouse-like pointing and keyboard functionality as well as gesture-, touch- and motion-based input controls so users can take their viewing and gaming experience to the next level.

Smart watches have been around for the last decade. The wearable computing device has failed to take off for one reason or another: they looked ugly, were too bulky, had weak functionality, or the battery life was not good enough. However, over the last nine months a number of new smart watches have emerged that could change consumers’ perceptions. Market intelligence firm ABI Research projects more than 1.2 million smart watches will be shipped in 2013.

Richardson RFPD Inc. announced the launch of a "smart filter" function on its website. The new smart filter allows users to quickly drill down through the nearly 100,000 semiconductors, systems and subsystems, M2M products, antennas, power supplies, interconnect and frequency control products, embedded solutions, passive devices, and electromechanical products using multiple search criteria.

ABI Research forecasts 8.6 billion smart cards will ship in 2013; a combined number spanning all smart card markets. Of total shipments, 16 percent are forecasted to use a contactless interface, rising to 30 percent in 2018. Government ID, transportation and ticketing, and payment cards continue strong double-digit growth in contactless adoption.

RF Micro Devices Inc. unveiled a highly-integrated front end module (FEM) for Smart Energy/Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) applications at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. RFMD’s single-chip RFFM6403 FEM delivers industry-leading performance, reduces customer design time and speeds customer time-to-market in Smart Energy/AMI applications operating in the 405 to 475 MHz frequency range, as well as for portable battery powered equipment and general 433/470 MHz ISM band systems.

ABI Research expects the ultra-low power wireless connectivity IC market to grow to over $2 billion annual revenues by 2016. This will be shared by a number of technologies with Bluetooth Smart and 802.15.4 being the two main markets.

Innovative product development firm Cambridge Consultants is making the future of smart technology a reality with its ability to make everyday products digitally intelligent. The company’s latest design concept is the world’s first wireless automatic gear-changing bicycle. This bicycle of the future – controlled by smartphone technology – is the latest example of how Cambridge Consultants is using its expertise in wireless technology to showcase the next stage of product evolution in the smart-tech era.