[krapht]

Smaller, lower power computers are great. But the problem is, and remains, the power consumption of the RF channel. It's all well and good that your processor consumes microamps, but one second of WiFi traffic at a reasonable transmit power takes hundreds of milliamps. Smart sensing system's power consumption is dominated by wireless communication energy costs.

[ethbro]

> It's all well and good that your processor consumes microamps, but one second of WiFi traffic at a reasonable transmit power takes hundreds of milliamps.

Early cell phones took an exceptional amount of power as well. Not simply because they were earlier tech, but because the nearest tower might be 20 miles away.

Mesh networking is going to be the new black if Io(miniature)T really takes off.

[dazmax]

What if you put a receiving antenna in every power outlet, light switch, and light fixture – then you could use these throughout the building.