Introducing Zigbee Theory And Practice Into Information And Computer Technology Disciplines

As pervasive computing turns from the desktop model to the ubiquitous computing ideal, the development challenges become more complex than simply connecting a peripheral to a PC. A pervasive computing system has potentially hundreds of interconnected devices within a small area. This is not only a departure from the typical computer-peripheral model it is also a departure from the typical client-server model. ZigBee, based on IEEE 802.15.4, is an emerging standard within networked embedded systems. It has already been adopted by several major developers and the availability of devices and support systems is growing rapidly. This standard will become a foundation of future commonplace technologies. Topics in wireless mesh networking should be presented to Information Technology and Computer Engineering Technology students to ensure they are well-grounded in this emerging area. This paper describes an instructional module. It includes background information on the technology, the key concepts students must understand regarding ZigBee networking, the selection of a development environment, and the design of a hands-on lab experience. We briefly discuss the necessity of teaching this technology.