FIBARO Sends Z-Wave Smart Home Control to Top of the World

FIBARO, a European manufacturer of wireless, intelligent home automation systems, and the Z-Wave Alliance announce the launch of the boldest and most remote demonstration of today’s smart home technology: the FIBARO Mount Everest Challenge, powered by Z-Wave.

Mountain climber Mariusz Malkowski, a 40-year-old technical services manager at Sigma Designs and a member of the 300-member Z-Wave Alliance, aims to prove that "Home is Wherever You Are." Malkowski will confront extreme conditions as he ascends to the top of Mount Everest -- the world’s highest mountain at over 29,000 feet above sea-level and from where, in a live demonstration, he will control FIBARO sensors and other Z-Wave powered devices located half a world away.  The demonstration will take place between May 16 and May 30, depending on climbing conditions.

In September 2013, Malkowski took home control to new heights when he remotely controlled home automation devices from the top of Cho Oyu, the sixth-highest mountain in the world. This year Malkowski will be going even further and higher -- and likely in far harsher conditions -- to demonstrate the interoperability of devices from different brands and the dependability of Z-Wave Technology, as well as highlighting the overall benefits of home control.

Also coinciding with this announcement is the launch of a new FIBARO Mount Everest Challenge Facebook page and a new website.  Visitors to these interactive and informative pages will be invited to "help Mariusz prepare his home and backpack for the trip." An application on these pages will allow users to do things like: lock the doors in Mariusz’ home, turn off the electricity, shut off the lights and shut off the water.

Malkowski has climbed world-class mountains on four continents, many of them by himself. For the FIBARO Challenge, Malkowski will be climbing Mount Everest alone, with no porters and no supplemental oxygen during the expedition. He is scheduled to begin his ascent on April 3 or 4 and will conclude around the end of May. A video about his challenging journey can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Owc-H-fD0.

An initial live connection from the Everest Base Camp is planned for Thursday, April 16, 11:00 a.m. (PST) at the Z-Wave Pavilion at ISC West in Las Vegas (Booth #28065). As conditions allow, attendees will be able to watch Malkowski control several smart home devices, including FIBARO sensors, Vivint security system, Kwikset electronic locks, Yale electronic locks, GoControl garage door controller, and a FortrezZ smart water valve, which will all located on the show floor using only his smartphone.

The FIBARO Mt. Everest Challenge is sponsored by the Z-Wave Alliance, Vivint, Kwikset, Yale/ASSA ABLOY, Nortek Security & Control, Sigma Designs, FortrezZ, and ZWaveProducts.com.

Featured

  • Video Surveillance Trends to Watch

    With more organizations adding newer capabilities to their surveillance systems, it’s always important to remember the “basics” of system configuration and deployment, as well as the topline benefits of continually emerging technologies like AI and the cloud. Read Now

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.