Acknowledgments
This book was strongly affected by my tag team of editors Brian Jepson and Tom
Sgouros. Brian’s fractured wit paired with his expert strategies constantly guided my
hand, while Tom’s attention to details and scientific discipline provided the rigor any
technical book demands. Even when process and schedule left me breathless, I never
lost appreciation for the wisdom and craft they supplied. I’m grateful for all their help.
My technical editors imparted a level of feedback that went well beyond their respective
calls of duty. Kate Hartman, who encouraged this book from the get-go, spent many
hours combing the text for confusing constructions and omitted explanations. Her
project assessments and clarity of voice are felt throughout. Jordan Husney cheerfully
reviewed many of these chapters from his perch at 35,000 feet. His deep knowledge of
the ZigBee protocol is matched only by his competence as a wordsmith. Thanks to both
for their efforts and uncommon friendships.
Building Wireless Sensor Networks is loosely structured around the Sociable Objects
class I created at NYU’s ITP graduate program in media and technology. There, Tom
Igoe loaned me my first ZigBee radio, encouraged my projects, mentored my develop-
ment as a teacher, and continues to be a seemingly bottomless well of excellent advice
and terrible puns. This book almost certainly could not have happened without him.
Clay Shirky, Nancy Hechinger, Marianne Petit, Dan Shiffman, Danny Rozen, and Dan
O’Sullivan are but a few of the instructors who provided invaluable inspiration. George
Agudow and the sensational staff at ITP have granted support to my work at every turn.
My fellow resident researchers Jeff, John, Jenny, Kate, Gabe, and Demetrie influenced
my ideas and enriched my experience during the year we were all lucky enough to work
together. Almost all the concepts in this book were trialed by my Sociable Objects
students and I am grateful for their feedback, which is incorporated throughout. Ev-
eryone in the ITP community owes a debt toward longtime Chair and perpetual guiding
star Red Burns. Her steely stare, firm love, and rare brilliance continue to illuminate us
all.
This book would have been immeasurably more difficult without Paul Cole’s flexibility,
generous spirit, and unflagging support. I am thankful for the grand company of my
entire day job crew at GroundedPower, especially longtime collaborators Terence Arjo,
Mike Bukhin, and Demetrie Tyler. They caught my bullets on countless occasions when
I needed extra concentration for penning these pages. At SVA’s MFA program in In-
teraction Design, Liz Danzico’s words of wisdom and my graduate students’ insightful
creations brought depth to my thinking and clarity to my explanations.
My mother and father taught me to craft with words, wood, and wires—priceless skills
that I am honored to share in some small measure here. I am lucky to come from two
people with such talent, creative motivation, and quick-witted humor. My sister, Susan,
and her partner, Russ, tirelessly guided me through the tricks of the writing trade. When
enthusiasm flagged, Sue and Russ assured me that my writerly doldrums were distinctly
underwhelming, cannily undermining my laments and restoring my cheer. I’m
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