May 29, 2003
Akustica, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company that plans to revolutionize the functionality of cell phones and hearing aids. It's a smart management team [Kaigham (Ken) Gabriel, Professor of ECE and Robotics is Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Technology Officer] with a great idea and a big target market. Akustica's product set is based on the concept that microphones and speakers, products that traditionally have been almost entirely mechanical, can be duplicated on electronic chips -- only smaller, cheaper and better. Using patented MEMS-based technology obtained from Carnegie Mellon University, Akustica is aiming at large companies that can use the company's products to make their own products better. MEMS or microelectromechanical systems are electronic chips that combine electronic and mechanical devices -- in essence turning a mechanical product into an electronic device.