Zahn Prize

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a term used to define smart interconnected devices that can enhance user experience. Companies of all kinds are linking “things” as diverse as smartphones, cars and household appliances to sensors, to each other and to the internet. In a nutshell, it’s about using data to make objects smarter and more responsive to our needs. This is a promising and growing field, and according to GSMA, it is estimated that the connected device market will be worth $4.5 trillion in 2020.

An application of the Internet of Things usually consists of a sensor attached to an everyday object or person, which can then transmit the data through a wireless protocol to your phone or the internet. That data gets saved in some application, which can then process the data and show it to the user. Also, the user can use the application to send commands to the object, which can then respond in kind.

Examples of Connected Devices

• Healthcare:FitBit and the Nike Fuelband have both developed sensors that can track your steps, sleep, calories burned, distance walked etc. These sensors are clipped on your body and send data seamlessly to your phone, which then uploads the data to a website for the user to visualize later on. The users can then monitor their activity, make fitness plans and verify that they are in fact following their plans.
• Lifestyle & Consumer Electronics:LIFX has developed a smartphone controlled lightbulb enabling the light to change color, react to music and has made its software available so people can develop their own applications. The Nest Thermostat is a connected learning thermostat that can use data of outside temperature in your area and your expected arrival time to modify the temperature of the thermostat.
• Other: OnFarm provides sensors and software that can detect real-time data of soil moisture, weather, pesticide usage, shortage of water and other variables needed that can improve farming. Bitponics is going a step further and allows you to not only monitor the conditions of your hydroponic garden, but also set how often to run the water pumps, how many nutrients to add etc

Want to know more? You can read an article here and a more comprehensive report from McKinsey here.

Students, faculty and alumni of CCNY are encouraged to come up with their own ideas for connected devices and submit them to the competition.

February: Information sessions about the competition will be help during the entire month of February. Sessions will typically be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00pm-2:00pm at the Zahn Zahn Center, B20 Steinman Hall. During these sessions the rules will be explained and examples of connected devices currently succeeding in the marketplace will be covered. Pizza and refreshments will be served.

March: Submissions are due at the beginning of March. Three semifinalist teams will selected and notified in mid-March. They will move on to develop a prototype of their concept.

April: Each team will receive $2,000 of seed funding and an Internet of Things technical platform (with devices and software needed to easily connect sensors and actuators to the internet) to start developing their idea and prototype in the Zahn Center with mentorship from its director and outside experts.

May: Teams will demo the devices and explain the business model at the Zahn Prize Final in mid-May. The judging panel will consist of established entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and IP lawyers to determine the novelty and impact of the product.

June-August: The Zahn Prize winners will be awarded $20,000 and will have 24/7 access to the Zahn’s center facilities during the Summer and assistance to launch their product on a crowdfunding website like Kickstarter.

All submitted ideas must be able to be prototyped in a period of 2-5 months. Ideas that cannot be prototyped in that time will not score highly.
The team will be judged for their capacity to convert the idea in to a prototype. All judges are entrepreneurs, connected devices industry leaders and investors will choose the winning team from the 3 semi-finalists.

Selection Criteria

• Originality: Is the idea substantially different from what's currently available on the market?
• Value of Connectivity: Does connecting the device in question to the web add significant value to the user?
• Team: Can the team execute on the idea in the timeline of the competition?

After a tough review process four teams were selected as semi-finalists instead of the planned 3, given the great quality of the ideas. Each team will receive a "connectivity kit" which will allow them to prototype their idea very quickly as well as a budget of $2000 for prototyping.

1. Deadbeats:
When learning the drums, a student is required to learn fundamental beats or rhythms called rudiments. However, keeping track of the rudiments and the progress made with each can be confusing and overwhelming to the drum student. Our project offers the student a visual and interactive approach to learning and practicing the rudiments, by adding low cost electronics to a drum kit. A web/smart phone app allows the student to choose a rudiment to practice and keep track of their progress.

2. Find-Yo-Stuff:
The cliche for a lost item is to ask, "where was the last place you had it?" Unfortunately, most of the time this is difficult to answer. Find-Yo-Stuff will develop a cost effective device "tag" platform and will help people find their lost items.

3. SensingWater:
This consists of a device attached to faucets which measures the use of water in terms of gallons/liters. This data will then be interpreted to show approximately, in terms of dollars, how much water was used from each respective faucet throughout the day. It intends to bring transparency to water use, hopefully changing consumer behavior.

4. Talk-in Closet:
This product consists of a full length mirror with embedded electronics for consumer interaction. The device will keep an inventory of the user's clothing, and will give suggestions each day based on the weather, the forecast, and fashion trends.

The Deadbeat Drums(pictured above) proved to have what it takes to win the first annual Zahn Prize. As winners of the Zahn Prize the Deadbeat Drums team will receive $20,000 to continue to develop their idea, have access to all resources in the Zahn Center during the upcoming summer, and receive assistance to launch their idea on a crowdfunding website like Kickstarter.
Click on the button to view photos from the 2013 Zahn Prize Final.

Gallery