Echelon started with a vision – one built on the belief that if we could put some intelligence in everything electronic, and then network them together, anything would be possible. So we went about creating a networking platform for what we called “control networks”, and later, networks of everyday devices. The simple idea was to make such mundane things as dishwashers, lights, doors, air-conditioners, motors, really anything, work together to do something. Sensing, monitoring and automation are the basis of control networks, but it wasn’t about what we wanted you to do, rather it was about what you wanted do. In effect, the question we asked of you was, “What will you create now that you can make all things electronic communicate and work together?”
A decade and a half later, we know at least part of the answer – what you already do – but cheaper, faster, more reliably, better and more profitably. However, making better elevator systems, air-conditioning, lighting systems, more reliable trains, or more effective security systems is not everything we had in mind. You see, it wasn’t the technology that energized us, but the possibilities of what that technology enabled. What we wanted to build was an enduring platform – the infrastructure – for any number of devices to work together. And we did that.
Now that the technology has reached a mature state in many markets, we’re beginning to see evidence of the fundamental changes - the possibilities - that were part of our vision. For instance, there’s a system called Hugs that uses RFID tags to make sure new born babies don’t get moved far from their mothers. From a clinical, technology perspective, that’s an asset monitoring and management application. For families, it’s much more – it’s an invisible safety net that helps ensure their safety and happiness.
We’re also beginning to see smart electricity grids deployed to homes in Europe (27.2 million is the largest one). We didn’t start with a vision of smart grids, someone else thought of that. But one of the benefits of such systems–reduced needs for backup electricity generation, particularly from coal fired plants–is environmentally huge. And from an everyday perspective, a smart grid also reduces the need for additional generation as our demand for electricity grows – again, a huge environmental and economic benefit.
Today, the control systems that are used in commercial buildings are being enrolled in demand response programs that are designed to conserve energy exactly when we, all of us, demand it most. Such programs are extending (hopefully) to homes as well. The benefit is straightforward – reduce energy need by 10% to reduce energy production by 10%, which is the equivalent of eliminating the pollution generated by burning billions of gallons of gasoline.
Here’s one that never came to be but that is a pretty amazing idea. Imagine smart, automated wheel chairs that can become part of a building control system just by being near the building. Joysticks or tongue controllers could call elevators, open doors or ‘pull’ fire alarms. If it had actually happened, the Americans with Disabilities Act would now be about action, not legislation.
It’s these types of things that keep us going. These applications, the betterment of what we already do, using what we’ve already built in new and innovative ways, and the entirely new ones that have a real impact on society – all enabled by the simple idea of making things work together - are what drive our company.
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