The National Coordination Office for Networking and Information Technology Research and Development wrestles with the form and substance of future distributed control systems. And Wayne considers Metcalf's law, the use of evanescent waves to power wireless sensors, and the California Energy Commission's efforts to cultivate energy-efficient technologies.

The SP100 Committee prepares for the first official release of a draft standard by combining two standards that pertain to industrial control and monitoring. New government funding steps are set in motion. And Wayne considers whether wireless standards are becoming a "barrier to entry."

The SP100 Proposal Conference is a smashing success. What it means when wireless goes green. And Wayne wrestles with the concept of measuring how far a wireless system is from failure.

ISA's SP100 committee presses on in its efforts to hammer out a suite of wireless standards. Wayne considers the use of wireless in underwater applications. And new modeling and simulation tools help us move toward more engineered solutions without requiring extensive site surveys.

ISA's wireless systems for automation standards committee, SP100, calls for proposals on monitoring and control networks. IEEE's MTT-S IMS 2006 conference meets and exceeds expectations. And Wayne considers the difference between requirements and expectations.

DOE's Industrial Technologies Program extends funding to inferential process control and prepares to begin the partnership process. Sensors Expo continues to host discussions and events focusing on evolving wireless standards. And those standards move toward broader compatibility with software essential to industrial operations.

ISA's wireless standards committee moves as quickly as possible and as slow as necessary. At the same time, perceptions of the state of wireless technology depend more on perspective than technological expertise. Finally, don't rule out power harvesting.

ISA's wireless standards committee moves as quickly as possible and as slow as necessary. At the same time, perceptions of the state of wireless technology depend more on perspective than technological expertise. Finally, don't rule power harvesting out.

Tom Kevan's blog titled "Batteries vs. Power Harvesting," which appeared on May 2 in Today at Sensors, sparked a debate over which technology would be the default power source for wireless sensors. Since the posting of the blog, a number of Sensors editors and readers have joined the discussion.

Ubiquitous sensing would translate into real energy savings and a reduction of emissions. Meanwhile, there is government money to be had by those interested in developing inferential process control technology. Finally, be sure your needs are represented as SP100 continues to gain momentum.