One issue we have encountered when developing Vertoda relates to the installing of MYSQL on Microsoft Vista. When you install MYSQL on MS Vista it will fail to start as a service. Vista is a complete revamp of Windows. Up until this release Microsoft used the same base architecture going all the way back to Windows NT released in the mid 1990s. Vista has a different base code to its predecessors so this is why there are issues relating to device driver installation, deploying programs as a service etc. Our workaround for deploying MySQL on Vista is as follows:

• Open a command prompt.

• cd to C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.0\bin

• The above assumes you are using MYSQL 5.0 and have installed the program in C:\Program Files.
  

• Run the following program: mysqld-nt.exe

• This will start the MYSQL database.
  

• Since using this workaround we have had no problems with MYSQL and MS Vista, even after shutting down and restarting the OS.

The 'killer application' for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) was originally perceived to be in the area of agriculture. In the past year the focus has shifted to energy management because of the twin drivers of a declining world economy requiring cost savings and the issue of climate change. However, it would be unwise to dismiss agriculture as a driver for WSN technology as there is a clear need for solutions in the area that WSNs can fulfill. 

Having met with a number of leading agricultural researchers and agribusinesses we see a clear use for Vertoda and WSNs in agriculture. We will be publishing a whitepaper in the coming year regarding Vertoda, WSNs and their role in agriculture but in the meantime the following outlines the potential application areas we have identified thus far:

• Disease Development Monitoring - diseases such as potato blight and septoria can be assessed by monitoring the wetness of leaves.
• Nitrogen release from organic manure is an issue where WSNs and Vertoda could offer a solution as it is difficult to detect currently.
• Health sensors for detecting when animals are in heat e.g. cattle in estrus.
• Detection of mastitis and other diseases.
• Monitoring water surface overflow in catchment areas.
• Soil moisture degradation & tension (dryness) monitoring.

For those of us with computer science and engineering backgrounds the above may seem somewhat unfamiliar. The whitepaper will describe these areas in more detail. The key points to note for now are

1. WSNs and Vertoda can play a role in agricultural decision making.
2. There are many hidden issues in diverse industries that need a solution using WSN technology.
3. It is up to us as WSN engineers & researchers to identify these problems and solve them.