News & Analysis
Email: Is there still room for startups in WSN?
Peter Clarke
3/12/2010 7:47 AM EST
I have just read your EETimes article about the forthcoming wireless sensor network panel coming up in April this year. I found it very interesting and, as per your finishing statement, I have a question for the panel that I would love their opinion on.
My question is:
I am considering starting a wireless sensor network and energy harvesting company after completing my PhD in the area. However, with the push for WSN industry standards and the need to prove the feasibility of very large scale networks, has the time for startups in this area passed? Is it now an industry where the established small businesses and the electronics giants will develop the technologies and standards to the required levels?
It would be great if this was a chosen question.
Thanks very much
Kind regards
Simon Barker
PhD Student
Resilient Technologies Group
School of EECE
Newcastle University
UK
Email: simon.barker at ncl.ac.uk
Related links and articles:
Email: Where's the top down view of wireless sensor networks?
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tb1
3/12/2010 11:00 PM EST
Look at very early home automation: the very simple X10 remote-control system still selling today. It was just an inventor with an idea, and no industry standards.
Or look at the iPhone--it didn't follow any industry standards for user interface or operating systems. It was home-grown Apple. But it was a superior product to anything else out there, and so it captured the market.
As an example in your area, I've looked at home alarm systems. I always thought it would be ideal to have energy harvesting sensors that never need batteries replaced, and to be able to automatically form networks that lead back to the alarm control box. Yet with all the wireless sensors and standards and energy harvesting concepts being developed, there's no such product. There are a lot of examples in this area where there is a need but nothing has been developed. If you fill a need and do it well, you will sell product, even if you follow no one else's standard.
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awen
3/14/2010 4:49 PM EDT
I totally agree with tb1. Furthermore, even if the big companied notices this growing already, it is still difficult for them to jump into this potential marketing. Because any new direction has respect to many issues they cannot afford. But they are not the issues for startup.
If you are confident with you idea, just do it.
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