Ethernet Co-Inventor's New Focus Is The 'Enernet'

Investor's Business Daily ^ | July 02, 2009 | J. Bonasia

[posterchild]

The Enernet is now the focus of ethernet co-inventor Bob Metcalfe.

Metcalfe, a Silicon Valley legend, is on a mission to harness the power of the Internet to make electric power systems more efficient. He describes this concept as the Enernet, short for the energy Internet.

"Some energy people are hostile about Internet tycoons wandering into their space," he said in a recent interview. "My response to them is: We let you have the space for the last 50 years and you haven't solved the problem."

Metcalfe, 63, is an outspoken icon of technology who co-invented the ethernet technology standard for local computer networks in the early 1970s. Ethernet lets users connect computers, printers and other devices to one another. It's one of the seminal inventions that led to the computer and Internet ages.

Far from winding down, Metcalfe is gearing up as a general partner with Polaris Venture Partners, based near Boston. His main focus is Ember, a Polaris-funded startup where he serves as chairman.

Ember develops self-organizing mesh networks designed to make buildings and homes more energy efficient. Smart power meters connected to the network can wirelessly relay data about energy usage back to generators, and power output can be adjusted in real time.

"Energy is just the next application of the Internet," Metcalfe said.

[Brett66]

We let you have the space for the last 50 years and you haven't solved the problem.

Yeah, we need to rig the grid to report to big brother, that'll solve the problem. Whatever the "problem" is....

[sr4402]

I'm sorry, but what is the deal. Wireless meter reporting to satellites is already out there. What is this thing supposed to do?

[bigbob]

Metcalfe has a record of being right less frequently than the broken clock.

He’s been pimping Ember Net for years, aside from generating employment for PhDs and a few others and buring through pile after pile of venture money, there’s nothing to show for it. Zigbee and open IP-based software platforms for wireless sensor networks will become the norm, no need for Embers proprietary crap. He may as well be touting Atari as the replacement for the Wii.

[tophat9000]

Sorry but Ethernet was not anything particularly great.. it was just what became the common LAN layer 2 protocol...

[Condor51]

I wiki'd 'ethernet'.

Whew boy. Besides the picture of the Card and the Cable, which we all know -- reading about how it's 'stuff' works is more complex and confusing than Theoretical Physics, the Big Bang & the Membrane Theory with unlimited Alternate Universes, and what's beyond The Singularity (yes 'time' did exist).

all I know is I plug the cord into that card thingy and I get to FR in a few milliseconds :-)

[SteamShovel]

We let you have the space for the last 50 years and you haven't solved the problem.

There is no problem other than one caused by liberals who.....

.....would not allow transmission capacity to be added (but will allow it now that they want to put solar panels and windmills everywhere)

.....would not allow more coal plants to be built.

.....would not allow new nuclear plants to be built.

You see Mr. Metcalfe, the problem isn't the energy industry, it's trouble makers like you. We don't need (or want) your communist demand side management, which really isn't anything new. We need to allow the utility industry to begin rebuilding what you liberal twits forced them to stop building 30+ years ago.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Steam Shovel, POST OF THE DAY.

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FLASHBACK:

InfoWorld: Linux’s ‘60s technology, open-sores ideology won’t beat W2K, but what will?

— Bob Metcalfe, Jun 21, 1999
http://als.linuxtoday.com/developer/1999062101305PS
http://slashdot.org/linux/99/06/21/126233.shtml

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Well, ya win some and ya lose some...

[ShadowAce]

We let you have the space for the last 50 years and you haven't solved the problem.

Excuse me, but you did not let anyone "have the space" at all. It's not yours to allow.

Stop being so collectivist.

[ßuddaßudd]

803 dot 3 that !

[nickcarraway]

This is the same Ember that does Zigbee? I’ve interviewed the former CTO and Chief Scientist, and it has interesting technology, but it was never presented as relevant to energy.

[SteamShovel]

Steam Shovel, POST OF THE DAY.

Thank you very much!