{"55465":{"#nid":"55465","#data":{"type":"news","title":"GT-Rooted Tech Start-Up Acquired by Belkin","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.belkin.com\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EBelkin International\u003C\/a\u003E, the Los Angeles-based recognized leader in connectivity solutions, has announced the acquisition of Zensi LLC, a Georgia Tech College of Computing start-up company based on technology that senses and monitors energy use in the home and office.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe startup was based on technology developed by Shwetak Patel, a former Georgia Tech doctoral student and now a University of Washington assistant professor. Patel\u2019s thesis research at Georgia Tech used a concept called \u201celectrical signal disaggregation\u201d to monitor the electrical activity at a single point then tease out the signal to pinpoint whether power is flowing to a refrigerator, a toaster or a light bulb. Even two light bulbs can be distinguished. At the UW, Patel\u2019s group has expanded the idea to sensing water and gas. A device placed on the outside of the water or gas pressure regulator detects noise signatures. That information, combined with the consumption, allows real-time information about how much electricity, water or gas is being used at any instant, and by what device.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s pretty exciting for us and for all the students that were involved,\u201d Patel said. \u201cThe acquisition is a great example of academic research that will reach the consumer at a Best Buy, Target or other consumer electronics stores.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECo-founders of Zensi include Matthew S. Reynolds (Duke University), \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.ic.gatech.edu\/people\/gregory-abowd\u0022 target=\u0022_self\u0022\u003EGregory Abowd\u003C\/a\u003E (Georgia Tech), and PhD candidate Erich Stuntebeck (Georgia Tech). Patel and Reynolds will now contribute their expertise as consultants to Belkin\u2019s technology development efforts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOf course, I\u0027m quite proud and thrilled for Shwetak. I\u0027m glad people are recognizing the value of the work he\u0027s done with us over the years,\u201d said Abowd, Distinguished Professor in the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech, who served as Patel\u0027s Ph.D. advisor. \u0022One of the grand challenges for which Georgia Tech has committed itself to finding solutions is energy and sustainability, and Zensi\u0027s technologies provide a way for companies and consumers to monitor energy use more effectively.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIndicating a greater commitment in energy management, this strategic acquisition is part of Belkin\u2019s expansion of its current Conserve energy management product portfolio. Belkin Conserve products, available worldwide, currently enable energy conservation in both homes and offices. Belkin said it expects to have a product within two years.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBelkin International has announced the acquisition of Zensi LLC, a College of Computing start-up company based on technology\nthat senses and monitors energy use in the home and office. \u003Cem\u003ESource: Office of Communications\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":"","uid":"27174","created_gmt":"2010-04-22 12:18:24","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:05:53","author":"Mike Terrazas","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2010-04-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2010-04-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"1299","name":"GVU Center"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"1743","name":"environmental sustainability"},{"id":"169638","name":"sensing"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}