by Lidia Paulinska | Nov 25, 2015
The lunchtime plenary session at the Bio Investor Forum in San Francisco featured a fireside chat with BioTech investor Robert Nelsen. Nelsen described himself as a self-motivated investor who started his investment in projects at age 11. His key strategy today and main personal belief on investing is that science and technology matters, and that basic research is key. His premised was explained in his love the Scientific American which has a section showing the understanding and ideas in science 10, 20 and 50 years ago. The results shown in this section, are that what science understood at a given time was wrong based on the current understanding and science. This is an on-going challenge, as the improvements in science research and the interpretation of the results are constantly returning new explanations for basic science, and delivering new opportunities for business.
Using this information, Nelsen believes that companies should try new things and in new ways to learn the best ways to make something right, based on the latest information available. This mentality allows Robert to invest and focus big hard problems that multiple angles and aspects to address the problem. This gives multiple opportunities to find valid solutions over traditional methods. An area of the biggest interest is psychological drugs which address the varied space of Alzheimer’s disease and depression.
Right now, the cost of treatment and medication is 80% of the cost of a reactive care treatment plan. The cost increased as hospitalization and invasive methods are tried. He believes that many of these cases can be treated with drugs rather than invasive physical care. This would bring the treatment to an out-patient methodology, and dramatically impact the $3T in physical care billing annually.
From an investment and business strategy, the IP piece is secondary to getting the right scientists on the best practice for the program. The place for these pieces is cures require first line defensive IP, secondarily in the marketplace offensive position IP. This idea yields a belief that in the bay area, with the right strategy and the right team (good science and good people) can do anything and can beat big pharma to market and with innovative products.
by Lidia Paulinska | Nov 24, 2015
Holiday spectacular event hosted by Pepcom in San Francisco on October 28 was featuring some great gifts ideas for quickly approaching holiday’s season. This annual event provides a sneak peak into the offering at CES coming up after the holiday season in January. This year’s event had over 50 exhibitors presenting the new or improved version of their electronic consumer targeted products, most of which are available for the 2015 holiday season. A highlight list of some of the more interesting products at the show follow.
AeroGarde is the indoor gardening system that lets you grow fresh herbs and vegetables all year-round. This is a standalone “pod” with its own grow light source to be used indoors in any location is produced by the Miracle Gro company.
ArcSoft demos Perfect365, its celebrity favorite, 65 million user, digital makeover app and simplicam Wi-Fi home monitoring camera with both face detection and face recognition.
BACtrack showcased BACtrack Vio and BACtrack Mobile smartphone breathalyzers; featuring Bluetooth connectivity and iOS and Android compatibility. These powerful devices allow users to quickly and easily estimate their BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) and make smarter, more informed decisions.
Beddit Smart sleep tracker makes any bed a smart bed by combining an ultra-thin sensor placed under the bed sheet with an iOS device; there’s nothing to wear and nothing to do but go to sleep.
Belkin, WeMo and Linksys showed off their latest products for the holiday season including new smart home gadgets, smartphone and tablet accessories and wireless networking gear.
Bitdefender 2016 come with a new ransomware protection that prevents untrusted applications from tampering personal documents and “machine learning-based technologies” that enables it to detect even brand new threats faster than ever.
Canary is a complete security system packed into a single device that you control from your smartphone.
Cobra Electronics and sister companies Escort, Inc. and Beltronics showcased their newest models of radar detection systems, featuring digital signal processing (DSP) technology for award-winning range and added rejection of false or unwanted alerts. Also on display will be Cobra’s recently released Cobra JumPack™ CPP 8000 portable power/jump starter system and Drive HD™ Dash Cams.
ecobee3 now includes geo-fencing in addition to Siri and room sensors, for more intuitive control of your home comfort, particularly in the rooms that matter most.
ESET showed its latest cybersecurity solutions that protect people from cyber threats while shopping, banking, doing email and more.
Exeo Entertainment, Inc. is an interactive entertainment company that manufactures patented Psyko® 5.1 surround sound gaming headphones and Krankz™ lifestyle branded music headphones.
Fizzics showed the world’s first personal beer dispenser that delivers a fresh from the tap experience from any bottle, can or growler.
FLIR Systems showed its latest consumer devices designed to enhance visual perception and awareness for home, work and play.
Gazelle showed Gazelle Certified™ pre-owned iPads.
Hasbro showed Playmation table that allow experienced this groundbreaking system of toys and wearables. The next step in the evolution of play, where digital gets physical and imagination becomes real.
HTC showed the newest addition to the HTC One family, unveiled last week, the HTC One A9.
Huawei presented the latest Smartphones, wearables and tablets.
iBaby Labs Not only revealed Helmet, a family monitor under the new iFamCare brand, iBaby Labs will showcase its award-winning baby monitors.
Immersion demonstrated the latest consumer electronic device and video game to launch with its TouchSense haptic technology – for more dynamic, versatile, touch effect experience – expected to be on the market this fall.
IMVU is the #1 avatar-based social network, introduced 3D stickers to bring your online conversations to life.
JLab Audio showed the Epic Bluetooth Earbuds, a lightweight, sweatproof fitness headphone that provides a customized fit and 10-hour battery life.
Kingston Technology showcased its latest selection of gaming, mobile, and memory products that get you into the action and keep going wherever you are.
Loot Crate, best known for shipping themed mystery boxes of the best geek, gaming, and pop culture gear, showcased the company’s holiday 2015 line-up.
Martian Watches debuted its recently launched Active Collection of award-winning Voice Command Smartwatches; water resistant smartwatches that honor classic analog designs with advanced features like voice commands, Smart Notifications and access to thousands of apps.
Master Lock showed its new line of Bluetooth Smart Padlocks, a new level of convenience and security that turns your smart device into a key.
MoCA® –Multimedia over Coax Alliance, demonstrated how networking products with MoCA from members Actiontec and TiVo turn existing coax TV cable into a powerful, easy to use wired backbone that supports and extends Wi-Fi®.
Moshi presented new bags, cases and speakers designed for the stylish tech connoisseur.
Muse is the brain sensing headband, helps you to take the guesswork out of meditation by giving real-time audio feedback that motivates and guides you through a more fulfilling and ongoing meditation practice.
NETGEAR showed its latest solutions for supporting the increasing number of Internet devices that enable your networked life: routers, extenders, adapters, security cameras, cable modems, and mobile WiFi hotspots.
Parallels presented Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac and the Parallels Access mobile app (for iOS and Android devices plus PCs and Macs).
Performance Designed Products demonstrated the latest gaming accessories from the Afterglow and Rock Candy brands, along with premium licensed products like the Official PS4 Universal Media Remote.
PERI, Wi-Fi audio technology company showcased its Duo product, a first-of-its-kind iPhone case featuring high-definition Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled speakers and a 3000mAh battery.
Petzila showed off the Petzi Treat Cam that lets people (‘see’) video, (‘speak’) audio, (‘snap’) take pictures and (‘treat’) dispense treats to their pets at anytime from anywhere.
Piper Icontrol Networks is showing Piper nv, its all-in-one home security system with no monthly fees required; ideal for families, pet owners, aging parents and apartment dwellers.
Plantronics is a global leader in audio communications for businesses and consumers and has pioneered new trends in audio technology.
PlayOn demonstrated technology for the new way we watch TV. Stream, record, cast, discover.
Ring presented its Ring Video Doorbell, the world’s first Wi-Fi-enabled HD video doorbell that streams live audio and video directly to your iOS, Android or Windows device.
Roominate showed rPower, the first device that lets girls program and control their builds from a phone or tablet through the new Roominate app.
Rover.com showcased the latest services and technologies of its peer-to-peer marketplace that connects dog owners with a nationwide network of dog lovers.
SanDisk showcased its latest mobile memory solutions.
Skyrocket Toys presented the third generation of Sky Viper Drones which continue to deliver hobby-level performance at unprecedented mass market pricing and availability, and includes a Streaming Video Drone, an HD Video Drone, a Stunt Drone and an lightweight and nimble, Nano Drone.
Sling Media showed the Slingbox M2, its newest product which allows to watch 100 percent of your live and recorded content on unlimited mobile devices, with no monthly fees.
SpeedX just launched SpeedX, a fully integrated smart cycling computer, on Indiegogo on October 27.
Tech21 is the leader in impact protection for mobile devices and fastest growing major case brand in the U.S., now offers its Evo line of cases, presenting the best in style, protection and performance with a broad array of designs and colors.
The ONE Smart Piano is a connected device that teaches you to play with light-up keys, video lessons, and piano games.
TiVo showcasted the new TiVo BOLT, a 4K unified entertainment system & mobile experience that bridges cable & Web content into a universally searchable experience, allowing users to skip full commercial breaks and watch shows 30% faster for unprecedented speed to and through content.
TP-LINK, the world’s leading provider of Wi-Fi networking products, showcased next-generation wireless technology, including its first Tri-Band and MU-MIMO routers.
TripIt from Concur, the world’s highest-rated travel-organizing app, automagically creates a master itinerary for every trip, so you can instantly access all your travel plans in one place—any time, on any device.
VidMob demonstrated the first app marketplace, coming soon for iOS, which connect people with affordable, professional video editors so that life’s moments can be more easily shared.
ZAGG showcased its brand new Slim Book for the iPad Mini 4, in addition to other key products like the Pocket Keyboard and Speaker Case.
Zolt showed the Laptop Charger Plus, the world’s smallest, lightest, smartest laptop charger that can power a laptop, phone and tablet at the same time.
ZTE presented devices that make the perfect gift for every budget.
by Lidia Paulinska | Nov 23, 2015
At the ARM TechCon in Santa Clara, Texas based Ambiq Micro announced the capabilities of their latest MCU for the IoT market. In an overview dinner with CEO Mike Noonen, VP of Marketing and Strategy Mike Salas, CTO Scott Hanson and VP Sales Vince Murdica they discussed the release of their new 32 bit MCU for the wearables and IoT market that is based on the ARM Cortex Core. The design uses the Ambiq Micro Sub-threshold technology to produce a processor that can be benchmarked at the lowest power in its class.
The product has recently moved to volume production, and is being used in a currently available sleep monitor and fitness monitor. To support the design, which is an ARM M4 core with FLASH memory and FPU, is a software development kit, a Free RTOS and a full development board. Wireless development products, supporting a Bluetooth Low Energy connection, from their partner Dialog Semiconductor, were on display at the show. All of these development products are currently available.
The system can be operated at voltages down to 2 volts which allows the system to have extended operation between charges, bringing new lifestyle applications to the IoT and wearables marketplace.
by Lidia Paulinska | Nov 20, 2015
A proclamation at the event is that “the era of utility computing is here”. This new shift in computing is no less important than the introduction of personal computers to the general public in the 1970’s. At that time, nobody believed that computers could be a personal device, explained Executive Chairman and CTO Larry Ellison at Oracle OpenWorld 2015.
In his opening keynote Ellison unveiled the new Oracle SaaS applications and other advances in the Oracle Cloud. The biggest cloud companies are now worth 6 billion dollars and will be soon more. Oracle realized that the importance of the cloud a decade ago, and re-wrote all its applications to run in the cloud also. In 2015, Oracle is focused on engineering, cost, performance, reliability, compatibility, security and standards in the three layers of the cloud: SaaS, PaaS and IaaS.
Oracle Cloud: Six Design Goals:
Lower Cost: 1. Lower Price: Match or beat Amazon Web Services Prices 2. Automation: Eliminate labor and human error 3. Productivity: Reduce labor by making it easier to build and use applications
Highest Reliability: 1. Fault Tolerant: Redundant deployment, hot patching & backup, instant recovery 2. Automation: Eliminate human error during deployment, patching, backup, recovery
Highest Performance: 1. Database: In-memory In-flash columnar database, Exadata in the Cloud 2. Middleware: In-memory speed-of-through Analytics 3. Scale-out Architecture: Elastic capacity and performance on-demand
Open Standards: 1. SQL, Hadoop, NoSQL…Java, Ruby, Node.js…Linux, Docker. No Lock-in: Move Workloads and data to the other Public Clouds: Amazon, Microsoft…
Compatibility: 1. Manage: Public Cloud and Private Cloud assets with a single pane of glass 2. Coexistence: Push-button live data migration between Oracle Public & Private Cloud
Always-On Security: 1. Security in Silicon: Always-on-real-time intrusion detection stops data theft 2. Data Encryption: Always-on in the Cloud – Key management on-Premise
The opening of the event had details of the major announcements presented by Mr Ellison, the first of these was about the Oracle SCM Cloud.
The second was about E-Commerce in the CX cloud.
The third announcement was about the new mobile UI.
The last announcement was about Integrated Learning System.
by Lidia Paulinska | Nov 17, 2015
Java celebrated its 20 years anniversary with the giant cake on the stage of Moscone North at Oracle – Java Open World conference this year in San Francisco and the speakers highlighted the most memorable Java events of the last two decades. Scott McNealy, longtime CEO and co-founder of Sun Microcomputers that was acquired by Oracle, joined the Java keynote via internet. As an iconic executive & passionate programmer Scott shared his top 12 Java developer nightmares of 2015 making the audience laugh.
Former Sun CEO Scott McNealy
As of today, Java devices outnumber the number of people on the earth. There are 13 billion devices running Java, including 200 million medical and 1 billion automotive devices. It is the number one development platform with 10 million developers worldwide. The platform is strong and continues to move forward not only on devices, but in the cloud as well. The key for these products, is not just smart sensor but the network and connectivity of any device to the cloud, so it communicates to the cloud and back. On the top of that connectivity, the Java environment has a real time system of analytics that transforms the network to knowledge network.
The growth of Java is closely connected and driven by the growing IoT market. So the question to be asked is how big is IoT? There were many estimates given at the conference on how the IoT market is going to grow for next few years. They vary from 50 billion to 200 billion devices. Ericson and Cisco estimate 50 billion, Morgan Stanley 75 billion, but IDC expected 200 billion.
Java simplifies the development of the products. Today kids are coding with Java. Next generation of Java developers are creating animations, modifying Minecraft, building Lego Mindstorms, programing NAO robots and Raspberry Pi devices, and more.
Congratulations Java and wish you many more years.
Java 20yr Cake and developers
by Lidia Paulinska | Nov 8, 2015
In 1983, a long time before Hollywood audiences fell in love with Computer Generating Imagery, also commonly known as “CGI”, the first experiment in a commercial motion picture film that combined live action and archival footage took place. This happened in Woody Allen’s groundbreaking film, “Zelig”, which he wrote, directed and starred in. Allen was the first filmmaker to use CGI in his production, which would be the beginnings of CGI, which would transform films into places we’ve never been before. CGI would forever assist the filmmaker in making his historical storytelling credible to all audiences.
“Zelig”, which is no doubt one of his most brilliant storytelling gems from Allen’s catalog of films is about a freak documentary about Leonard Zelig, who has paranormal abilities, like a chameleon who changes himself just by looking at someone; for example, in a presence full of Chinese people, he would change right before your eyes and become Chinese. The culmination scene is when Leonard one day disappears all of the sudden under unclear circumstances, and the psychologist, played by Mia Farrow, who is in love with him, and has been desperately searching for him until she saw him in the movie theatre movie screen, that was screening news from the world. At that moment, Leonard is standing amongst the crowd of people saluting the Adolf Hitler in Nazis Germany. Here is a beginning of a new computer technique that allowed Leonard to be pasted in the archive footage of that time.
The next major motion picture production using CGI was “Forrest Gump, directed by Robert Zemeckis, a story about a not very intelligent man that by accident became involved in historical events. The film won six Academy Awards, and many scenes would be never forgotten, as well as memorable quotes: “Life is like a box of chocolates…you never know what you’re gonna get.”. Forrest Gump was full of historical figures like JFK, Nixon or Elvis Presley. After the critical and commercial artistic success of “Forrest Gump”, CGI became the King of Hollywood.
“Zelig” was a black and white movie because the computer technology did not advanced to the point to solve matching colors. Ten years after “Zelig” was made, Forrest Gump made that possible.
However, computer technology is not that simple that can be seen from outside. It takes time and effort to build it. The producers of the last American hit, “Avengers”, were sharing their challenges, especially with the battle scene on the street of the city. The main characters were created in the computer and then carefully applied to match against the panoramic view of New York where the film was shot. Matching the colors became the ultimate challenge to the point that was easier to build the city on the computer. The production took one year.
Nothing easier is with animation movies that seem to be under full control of graphic computer designers. Building the reality using the CGI has the limitations as movement, gestures and mimic of the human face. But there are no doubts that technology is more and more advanced.
However, manipulation with computer images would not replace what is cinema about – the story.
The new HBO production “Hemingway and Gellhorn”, which was first aired on HBO on May 2012, utilized the archive footage from the domestic war in Spain, the Japanese invasion in China, and finally the Hemingways’ home in Cuba. Directed by Philip Kaufman, film is a saga about Hemingway and his third wife, Martha Gellhorn, starring Cliff Owen and Nicole Kidman.
According to the movie it was Hemingway, who made Gellhorn a full pledge war correspondent (describe what you see your own eyes, Gellhorn) and had a big influence on her writing. In exchange she was credited for inspiring him to write a novel “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. Serving as a reporter in Spain in 1936 was just beginning of her carrier which she became dedicated to the rest of her life. She went to Spain, China, Finland, Hong Kong, Burma, Singapore and Britain. She became more obsessed with it that Hemingway who, while she was away, stayed in their house nearby Havana, Cuba and was sending angry letters to her “Are you a war correspondent or my wife?”.
Now nearly everything that Hollywood produces is mainly CGI, most of them sacrificing the stories. However, CGI, can truly enhance films. They are essential tools that need brilliant filmmakers who have a real historical story to tell, like Woody Allen, Robert Zemeckis, or Philip Kaufman.
by Lidia Paulinska | Nov 8, 2015
In the last five years, the word “smart” was used to describe a device that combines few functions; the primary function connected to the internet. For example, a smartphone or smart TV. However, smart means much more than that. This word is associated with the ability to analyze and make decisions. That’s why in the not too distant future these devices will be equipped with some intelligence and calling them smart will be precise and accurate.
The foundation is there. Two significant events took place during the last three years. In 2011, the computer machine called “Watson”, invented by IBM, won the American television show “Jeopardy”. For the first time, the machine defeated the human in a contest of mind exercises. IBM tends to challenge the existing technology about once a decade. In 2006, a few engineers noticed that Ken Jennings was accumulating long victories on “Jeopardy”. They thought it would be interesting to make a computer system that could challenge the best human expert in the show. The challenges for the computer were: working with human languages, applying probabilities to the responses, selecting the best answer, all within the 3 seconds allowed for a buzz-in and before the human contestants.
After 5 years of development, Watson was ready to pick up the fight and win!
The second event took place in 2012, when a driverless Google car completed over 300.000 driving miles (500.000 kilometers) accident free. As a result, three U.S. states: California, Nevada and Florida have passed laws permitting driverless cars on their roads. In March 2012, Google posted a YouTube video showing a Morgan Hill, California, resident, Steve Mahan being taken aboard on the self-driving Toyota Prius. In the video, Mahan who is 95% blind was taken from his home to the dry cleaners and then back home.
Creating artificial intelligence is possible by using many sensors that are built into a device. Those sensors collect the data and based on the information the computer system makes the decisions. The more sensors that are built into the device, the more factors are analyzed; therefore more precise and accurate decisions are made.
In addition, the sensors that are built into the cars collect and provide the information not only about consumption of gas or malfunction but also defines the drive style based on analyzing many factors. So if the owner of the car will allow the insurance company to have access to this information, he or she can claim a better insurance package.
In the near future, this data will become the new currency.
by Lidia Paulinska | Nov 7, 2015
As part of a valuable cultural service, Fathom Events presented Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy of manners,The Importance of Being Earnest at selected theaters in the U.S. for a one-night-only screening November 3, 2015. The performance was a filmed live production on October 8th, 2015 at London’s Vaudeville Theatre in commemoration of the play’s 120th anniversary.
As an iconic “comedy of manners” and one of the funniest plays in the English language, “Earnest” exaggerates the absurd superficiality of upper-class Victorian society, emphasizing the “importance of being earnest,” with “earnestness” having the connotation of intense conviction, dependability, and unflappable honesty. Being earnest was an integral part of the moral code of honor nominally practiced by upper-class Victorians. However, in practice, Wilde reminds us, “In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity is the vital thing.”
The primary comic conceit in Wilde’s play deals with his clever use of the word earnest used both as an adjective in the afore mentioned sense, and Ernest as a noun…capitalized, minus the “a”, and being a proper man’s name. The confusion and interchangeability of the names between the two main characters, Algernon and Jack, the latter professing to be “…Ernest in town and Jack in the country,” forms the core of the play’s driving force of satire and duplicity, and an irony based on the characters’ violation of the very essence of being earnest through their abiding dishonesty. Jack is certainly not earnest when he pretends to be Earnest in the city but “Jack” in the country and the wit continues unabated throughout this Victorian romp.
Deftly directed by Adrian Noble (Amadeus, The King’s Speech) with a pitch-perfect cast featuring the incomparable David Suchet (Agatha Christie’s Poirot), as the irrepressible, irascible Lady Bracknell, The Importance of Being Earnests is rollicking high farce and wit at it’s very finest. Algernon is in love with Cecily, Jack is smitten by Gwendolyn, and both are forced to adopt the names “Ernest” because the objects of their affections cannot tolerate a man with any name other than “Ernest.”
Ironically of course, they forego the moral code of honesty associated with earnestness in order to satisfy their romantic interests. However, all is resolved in the end and the two couples are joined to live happily ever after.
In the final scene of the play, Lady Bracknell comments to Jack, “My nephew, you seem to display signs of triviality,” to which Jack replies as he and Gwendolyn happily exit stage left arm-in-arm, “On the contrary, Aunt Augusta, I’ve now realized for the first time in my life the vital Importance of Being Earnest.”
Curtain.
Review by Lidia Paulinska and Hugh McMahon
by Lidia Paulinska | Oct 23, 2015
“Revelations,” Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre’s great masterpiece of modern American dance, was presented last evening along with three other spirited works for a one-night-only screening at selected cinema’s throughout the country, compliments of Fathom Events and Lincoln Center at the Movies: Great American Dance Series.
Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) founded AAADT in 1958 in New York City and it rightfully enjoys the distinction of being the first predominantly African-American modern dance company in the world. Ailey once remarked that he believed America’s richest treasures are to be found in our African-American cultural heritage … “sometimes sorrowful, sometimes jubilant, but always hopeful,” and indeed nowhere else in the vast panoply of the American dance tradition is that assessment more profoundly expressed than in his magnificent “Revelations,” Ailey’s 1960 paean to the rich spiritual tradition of the African-American experience in the gospel South.
“Revelations” is at once ritualistically soulful and rhythmically complex, incorporating as it’s musical motive force an array of deeply moving and spirited African-American gospel music and holy sermon blues reflecting the Black experience in America.
Ailey once described “Revelations” as a visceral recollection of a childhood in rural Texas during the Great Depression. It is a dance of deep human compassion, moving by turns from mournful oppression and sin (“Baked and I Been Beaten”) to redemption (“Fix Me Jesus”) and finally to ecstatic jubilation (“I Wanna Be Ready”), fostering a sense of reverent and rapturous community and inviting the audience to join in the redemptive celebration at evening’s end. And it is perhaps this vital sense of community, the immediacy of the connection Ailey creates between performer and audience,that has contributed to the enduring success of this masterpiece for fifty-five years … and running.
Complimenting this thematic content, one will find in the very make-up of the ensemble a communal structure. For example, what will not be found in Ailey’s troupe of highly trained performers is a prima ballerina or her male counterpart, a premier danseur, “star” principal dancers like those found in classical ballet companies such as the New York City Ballet or the Bolshoi, whose traditions and techniques date back to the 17th Century royal courts of Europe.
Another distinguishing feature of AAADT and modern dance in general which dramatically sets it apart from the classical tradition is not only a more “democratic” sense of ensemble, but also it’s musical sources (by contrast, the ballet typically utilizes works by such composers as Bach,Tchaikovsky, and others). Most obviously however is Ailey’s basic movement techniques and patterns, emphasizing linear line, horizontal “grounded” movement, and intertwining body images as opposed to the two dominant values found in classical ballet: jumps and leaps or so-called ballon, creating the illusion of the dancers momentarily floating in the air, and the tradition of performing with “turned out” hips and legs with the full weight of the body concentrated on the tips of fully extended feet, creating an unmistakable vertical line.
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre’s iconic “Revelations” has been best described by The New York Times as being one of the great works of the human spirit.” It stands resolutely for what is good about America and humanity in general, and for this reason alone it’s immortality is assured.
Review by Lidia Paulinska and Hugh McMahon
by Lidia Paulinska | Sep 30, 2015
This is just a beginning of our journey with wireless. It is taking over very quickly. It has transform the world and our economy. Wireless is what we relate to and interact with the world. Wireless is undeniable platform of the future for innovation.
In 1926 Nikola Tesla uttered these visionary words. “When wireless is perfectly applied the whole earth will be converted into a huge brain. We shall be able to communicate with one another instantly, irrespective of distance. And the instruments through which we shall be able to do this will be amazingly simple compared with our present telephone.”
Today, 90 years after Tesla’s prediction, wireless has revolutionized our world. Every morning more than one of third of us reach for our smartphone. 81 % of us keep our phone by our side all day long. Wireless is taking over. 75 % of our social network time is spent on mobile devices. Mobile influenced sales in stores has reached nearly $600 Million. Additionally, 6 out of 10 smartphone users looked up a health condition on the phone in the past year, so it is not just for retail.
Does anyone remember how our office desk was crowded in the past? It looked like a cluster of equipment including a computer, a keyboard, a mouse, fax machine and phone; along with necessary things as such: a contacts book, a calendar, a calculator and others? On the wall above a desk was a board with emergency contact information and a schedule for the week, finishing the office décor was a hanging memorable picture? Nowadays, the memories are faded. Today our desk cluster is replaced by smartphone with hundreds of applications.
Did you know that all the photos ever taken on film are outnumbered by digital pictures taken just this year?
And today we are standing on the crest of another revolution. Wireless not just connect the people, wireless will be connecting everything. A remarkable 4G platform already gave us a glimpse for the future by introducing us to Internet of Things. Today nearly quarter of mobile traffic comes from something other than a phone. At The CTIA conference in Las Vegas this year an introduction to 5G was taken place what means more wireless data traffic. Soon 99 % of the objects in our physical world will be wirelessly connected.
This will have machines talking to each other to bring together the comfort of our home, automobile, work, play, entertainment, hobbies, shopping, health and provide information on what to do next. The wireless revolution is just starting as it shifts from people as the communication starters to products and appliances that need to talk 24/7 and update all the devices that will be needed next based on your activity. Mobile, health, connected home, and energy drive the next marketplace for the wild world of wireless.
by Lidia Paulinska | Sep 21, 2015
September 2015 – At the CTIA Super Mobility event in Las Vegas we met with the representatives of Lunatik and had a chance to see their new products for support of the Apple iWatch. The company has been around for several years making innovative protection products for the mobile marketplace all with a high degree of style and precision manufacturing. The Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Scott Wilson, is an American entrepreneur and award-winning designer, best known for simultaneously sparking the crowdfunding and wearables movements with his 2010 TikTok+Lunatik Kickstarter project.
The premier product they were showing us this year as the new Epik case and band for the current 42mm Apple watch. The Epik watch kit products are available in two different basic materials, a polycarbonate case and an aircraft grade aluminum versions. The aluminum version, which we tested, is available in both a base “silver” aluminum color and a black coated aluminum version. We tested the black version with the black leather band, the watch kit is also available with a metal link bracelet.
As the watch kit is designed for the fairly large 42mm Apple watch, the kit is fairly heavy (36g) and adds additional dimension to the watch. The black powder coated design with the black leather band is targeted at the male user community and makes a strong visual statement. It is also targeting use by physically larger individuals (over 5’8”) who have a large frame and wrist size to allow the 2.17” case to sit flat on their arm. 
To supplement the aluminum case, the kit features stainless steel buttons, control/scrolling crown, and assembly screws for strength and durability. The watch kit does not include a top cover for the watch to minimize bulk, but is compatible with the majority of edge-to-edge screen protection products that are approved for the iWatch.
The retail box comes with an installation guide in the box that has both illustrations and words. It however, does not include directions on how to remove the watch module from the original band provided by Apple, but that step should be self-explanatory.
The watch kit has a number of subtle design elements, beveled edges, smooth corners, rolled lips on the top of the case and smooth easy to make adjustments and action on the strap and the connection to the case. The design is not just functional but enhances the artistic design to a standard format digital watch. The watch kit is currently available direct from Lunatik and other retail outlets.
