March 15, 2013 -  With digital plans stored in memory, the new Hilti POS 180 and Hilti POS 150 Robotic Total Stations feature a controller, which is in permanent wireless contact with the total station, to provide direct access to functions and simplify layout and measuring tasks.  According to Hilti, these total stations are great for 3D layouts: outdoors on the ground or on facades, indoors on floors, ceilings and walls, and for checking positions on plans and measurements for drawing up building plans. Thanks to automatic prism tracking and continuous measurement data capturing, the new controller puts the complete building plan in the palm of the user’s hand, it adds.

March 12, 2013 - Eye Lighting International has named Jeff Walters (in photo) director, controls technology, where he will be responsible for the design of wired and wireless controls, including hardware, firmware and software.

March 7, 2013- Christian Paradis, minister of industry, announced new measures the federal government is taking to increase competition in the wireless sector to provide Canadians “with more choices and access to the latest technology at better prices”.

February 27, 2013 - Belkin has announced the WeMo light switch and Android compatibility to the WeMo brand of home control products, expanding on its promise to “deliver the peace of mind that comes from knowing you can control and monitor your home from wherever you are”. According to Belkin, the WeMo light switch replaces an existing light switch and connects into a home’s existing electrical wiring. Once in place, users can turn a full bank of lights on and off remotely, put them on a schedule, or use other WeMo or online triggers to control them through a smartphone or tablet. The WeMo light switch is controlled through the same free WeMo app as the WeMo switch and motion, and is compatible with any Wi-Fi router and Apple iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad with iOS v5 or higher.

February 21, 2013 - The Wireless Gigabit (WiGig) Alliance and the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) have established a joint working group with the goal of advancing WiGig DisplayPort video standard certification.

February 6, 2013 - IEEE Globecom, an international event dedicated to driving innovation in the telecom field, has initiated a Call for Papers for its 56th annual conference, being held December 9-13, 2013, in Atlanta, Ga.

February 5, 2013 - The Triplett CobraCam Wifi is a wireless inspection camera that uses your smartphone or tablet to view live video. Download the free iBorescope app to view wireless video (60-ft Wi-Fi range), and save images and video to your device to view later or send to clients via email or text. The CobraCam Wifi also features a video output to be directly connected to a monitor or a DVR and a video input that can be used to view security camera footage to make line-of-sight adjustments. It comes with hook, magnetic pickup and 45º angle mirror, and you can add extensions up to 100 feet without loss of resolution.

January 30, 2013 - The IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc), a worldwide professional organization dedicated to the advancement of communications technologies, will hold the next IEEE Wireless Communication Engineering Technologies (IEEE WCET) Certification Exam from April 7 to May 4, 2013, at Prometric testing centres located worldwide. According to the IEEE ComSoc, the IEEE WCET Program was designed to address the “international wireless industry’s need for qualified individuals with real-world problem-solving skills”.

To qualify for the IEEE WCET designation, candidates with a bachelor’s or comparable degree from an accredited institution and at least three years of professional wireless engineering experience must pass the program’s detailed comprehensive examination. Eligible candidates are invited to visit www.ieee-wcet.org to learn about IEEE Wireless Communications Professional (IEEE WCP) credential benefits and program news, gain access to the resource material, and complete registration applications, which are due by March 22, 2013.

January 8, 2013 - Acuity Brands, a player in energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, has acquired the assets of Adura Technologies Inc., a developer of wireless controls and energy management solutions. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

January 2, 2013 - The ZigBee Alliance has completed development and ratified the ZigBee Light Link standard, offering wireless control for various LED lighting solutions. According to the Alliance, light bulbs, LED fixtures, sensors, timers, remotes and switches built using ZigBee Light Link will easily connect into a single network, without special devices to coordinate the network. ZigBee Light Link devices can be controlled over the internet through computers, tablets and smartphones.

ZIGBEE ALLIANCE