Firm Says Virtually any Device can be Monitored Online

[InfoSec News <isn () C4I ORG>]

As if securing computer networks wasn't enough...


http://www.currents.net/news/00/05/25/news6.html

By: Sherman Fridman, Newsbytes
May 25, 2000

Dallas-based Critical Devices, Inc. says a partnership agreement
announced Wednesday with World Wireless Communications, Inc.
[AMEX:XWC], will give corporate, commercial and consumer users
complete Internet-based services to remotely access, control, monitor
and track virtually any device.

Some types of devices specifically mentioned by Critical Devices were
heating and air conditioning units, gas meters, vending machines,
ovens, hand-irons and swimming pools.

Critical Devices, Inc., is a privately held company that provides
Internet-based asset inventory tracking and monitoring services. World
Wireless Communications, Inc. is a distributor of remote monitoring
and control systems that operate through using the Internet.

The monitoring and control services are available now and are based on
Critical Devices' Asset Services Management (ASM) technologies along
with a device known as "X-Node." X-traWeb, Inc., a Denver-based wholly
owned subsidiary of World Wireless Communications, developed the
X-Node.

Hogsed explained to Newsbytes that ASM electronically tracks and
monitors performance, usage, and location of any device with an IP
(Internet protocol) address, and then reports that information online,
from a central hub. X-Node is a miniaturized, 1-inch-square Web server
that attaches to various devices and collects the data that is
transmitted to the central hub.

"Remote control and monitoring of devices - 24 hours a day, seven days
a week, using the Internet--is here today," Roy Hogsed, president and
CEO of Critical Devices said. He also stressed that ASM is
particularly valuable for companies with a large number of remote
locations.

Hogsed said that a national fast-food restaurant chain, whose name he
couldn't mention because the chain requested confidentiality, is
piloting ASM by attaching X-Nodes to its heating and air conditioning
units, ovens, fryers and freezers. This way, he said, supervisors can
know in seconds if a fryer or oven was accidentally left on after
hours, or if a freezer compressor is about to fail. "By knowing and
responding quickly, they can prevent a fire, call in service
personnel, or remind managers to turn down the A/C thermostats before
leaving for the night," he said.

Hogsed also said that Critical Devices and X-traWeb envision extending
such services to the consumer market. "The busy consumer now has a way
to check in with any device in their home," he said, asking, "How many
times have you left home and ten minutes later panicked that the iron
was left on? Right there, in your mini-van, you can connect using a
PalmPilot and call up the smart iron. One click, and the iron is off."

Although the monitoring services are available now, the average
consumer won't be able to go out and purchase an X-Node and attach it
to a household appliance. The system needs to be set up and installed,
Hogsed said.

The pricing of the system and monitoring services will vary depending
on the type and number of embedded devices used. Pricing is generally
subscription-based at a set amount per month, per device.

More information from Critical Devices, Inc. is available at
http://www.criticaldevices.com

World Wireless Communications, Inc.'s Web site is located at
http://www.worldwireless.com

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