At the upcoming Embedded Systems Conference next month a panel will debate wireless sensor networks. Why?

A reader sent the following letter to EE Times:

"With regard to ESC: Panel to debate wireless sensor networks:

I'm fascinated by wireless sensor networks and I believe they are the next revolution after the internet. Based on the fact that most current sensor networks are not mature, I just have a general question: what is the overall blueprint for sensor networks?

We can discuss all of the details of power consumption, RF interference, cost, performance, but I believe there should be a top-down effort rather than a bottom-up effort. Different applications have different requirements and if we don't have a big picture from the top it is not meaningful to discuss the details.

I also believe this should be a coordinated effort involving nanotechnology, biotechnology, new energy such as solar panel, DSP, networking, power management, etc. Applications can be divided by industries and then probably a roadmap should first be rolled out. "

The reader, Xiaoyauan Qi, is an engineer located in San Antonio, Texas.

Here in Manhasset, we agree.

What do you think?