U-M wireless device development crosses decade milestone

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 | Source: Great Lakes IT Report

If wireless communication is the racetrack for the information age's future, then the University of Michigan is distancing itself from the competition, thanks to efforts started 10 years ago.

Excerpt:

A smart, hand-held, electronic nose can sniff out explosives and also detect markers in a person's breath that would indicate tuberculosis. A solar-powered, implantable eye pressure sensor could improve the treatment of glaucoma patients. A cochlear implant built using microchip technology promises to dramatically improve the hearing that these devices offer the deaf.

Game-changing technologies such as these that could save and improve lives are becoming realities thanks to a decade of collaborative research in the Engineering Research Center for Wireless Integrated MicroSystems, headquartered at the University of Michigan. Michigan State University and Michigan Technological University are also partners.

The WIMS center, established in 2000 by a 10-year grant from the National Science Foundation, celebrates its decennial on May 18 on UM's North Campus. With visitors from the NSF, center officials will look back at accomplishments and impacts, and forward to a future of continuing to innovate and grow the regional economy even as the center graduates from federal seed funding. The center will expand its industrial program, working with companies to turn their ideas into product prototypes by leveraging the Robert H. Lurie Nanofabrication Facility.

Read the rest of the story here and more about U-M spin-off success here.