by Lidia Paulinska | Apr 6, 2016
The author of the proverbial statement – Necessity is a mother of invention – is unknown. It is sometimes ascribed to Plato, the Greek philosopher who lived in Athens in the time 300 years BC. But even the quote is very old, the meaning is current. Difficult situations inspire ingenious solutions.
This is what happened to Steve McGough, founder of product named Hi that helps women and couple experience new way to relax and enjoy life. Since 2009 their unique technology has been refined and tested on over 2000 women. Today their method and technology has been patented in the US and Australia with patents pending in the EU and Canada. At the 2016 HardwareCon in San Leandro, California, Steve presented a lunch time keynote session and presented his soon to be on the market product to the crowd.
Heading back to his story of invention.
Steve discovered the technology behind “hi” when trying to help his wife Wendy find a way to relieve pain from a surgical adhesion. In 2007 he rushed his wife to a hospital for emergency C-section following 5 years of trying to have a child. Steve and his wife Wendy, then had their life take a dramatic turn. In the last few months of pregnancy, Wendy was exposed to an antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Their son lived for only one day. Wendy left with not only mental scars but also physical scars that were not healing quickly. Steve researched everything he could think of that might help with the physical issues, and finally he came up with an abdominal massage technique that helped reduced her pain. The method required continuous vigorous massage for 5-10 minutes. This wasn’t easy to maintain manually and he started to look for automated massage devices. He was unable to find anything that fit his needs, so as an engineer he designed it by himself. It took him about a year to design & build a unit that worked well.
But there came a surprise.
The side effect of massaging the abdominal was an orgasm. After Wendy noticed it some of women who volunteered to test the device, over their clothing, reported the same effect. Steve who previously worked in neuroscience research was looking for an answer. Talking in the role of an “IT guy”, as he describes himself, about something that is still taboo, especially in the southern portion of the US, wasn’t easy. He contacted investors and friends who repeatedly warned him to abandon the project “before it destroyed his reputation”. Instead he ended up going on journey across US, the Caribbean and Asia. After 7 years of research and refinement (testing on over 2000 women) he proved the effect and outcome to be true. Along the way, Steve became a professor of clinical sexology in San Francisco to better discuss the issue with an interested community.
To bring the product to market, he had to start the manufacturing process. Manufacturing for the large device is very expensive, typically $800K – $1M. He received the offers from adult entertainment & products related investment groups, but he knew that this new technology helps women relax in many ways far beyond sexual areas. Fortunately he met Greg Fisher, the CEO of Berkeley Sourcing Group, LLC who realized full potential of the product. His turn-key product development company finalized the designs and set up manufacture in Asia. Together with Greg, and his team of mostly female designers and engineers in China they created this version of hi that will be released in 2016.
by Lidia Paulinska | Apr 1, 2016
At the HardwareCon 2016 Tim O’Reilly, publisher entrepreneur, and the founder of O’Reilly Media, presented a map showing where technology is going and the role of enthusiasts who are passionate about new products and ideas.
Tim brought back the famous quote from Thomas Watson, the longtime CEO of IBM, who said in 1943 “I’ve seen no need for more than five computers in the whole world”. Watson’s misjudgment allowed other companies to enter the market for computers. Over time, this trend led to the entry of many smaller companies to the market and gave them an opportunity that IBM neglected. Today, startups continue to play the same role, especially in the IoT landscape.
Tim presented that the trend started in2000. At that time, the smartphones and tablets were entering the market and PCs were on a small stable increase. As the mobile devices proliferated, they rapidly took away growth and market share from the PC space. That was the marketplace until about 2014 when the smartphone and tablet growth became flat as the market approached saturation. . This market change has given an opportunity for huge numbers of devices in the “Internet of everything”. IoT is the new thing in the market with projected 35percent growth and will stay with that pace until 2019.
What’s next in computing?
O’Reilly stated three key trends on the horizon: small, cheap and ubiquitous hardware, the golden age of AI software, and software and hardware combining into new computer platforms.
Many entrepreneurs are taking their chances and hope to participate in these opportunities and define a new and large market segment with their products.
by Lidia Paulinska | Mar 29, 2016
On Saturday March 19, 2016, scores of fortunate movie-goers in hundreds of select theaters throughout the U.S. were treated to a one-day-only cinematic presentation by Fathom Events of ”Berlin Philharmonic: The Beethoven Project” featuring one of the world’s greatest conductors, Sir Simon Rattle, leading the incomparable Berlin Philharmonic, one of the world’s greatest orchestras.
Sir Simon has been the principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic since 2002 and prior to that, rose to international prominence as Music Director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra where he served for 18 years. After the expiration of his current contract in 2018 with the Berlin Philharmonic, Rattle will become Music Director of the London Symphony Orchestra. He is universally hailed as one of the greatest conductors of all time, and seeing him in action from our cinematic vantage point clearly confirmed that laudatory accolade.
The wonderful “up-close and personal” experience this filmed live performance afforded us, allowed a glimpse into Rattle’s very personal and intimate method of conducting — interacting with gesture and expressions of delight with each orchestra member — a wink here — a grin there — always reciprocated — always incredibly animated and dynamic … and always all-embracing. His love for his orchestra and what they are collectively creating informs and enhances every aspect of Beethoven’s genius.
“Berlin Philharmonic: The Beethoven Project” was divided into two parts, separated by a brief intermission.
Part I, “Living With Beethoven,” was a brilliantly informative documentary featuring on-the-spot backstage interviews with Rattle and members of the Philharmonic who explored the intricacies of Beethoven’s masterful symphonies and their approach to these masterpieces. One orchestra member for example claimed Beethoven demanded a lot of “”blowing, bowing, and banging,” whimsically reflecting on the vitality and power of the composer’s symphonies and the necessary creative effort it takes to reveal that power. Horns, fiddles and drums certainly, but most importantly, the musical genius to communicate what Beethoven was offering to all of us, and no group of musicians are better prepared to do that than the Berlin Philharmonic under the guidance of the legendary Sir Simon.
These candid interviews afforded us a wonderful introduction and understanding of the two complete symphonies that were to follow in Part II.
The first work on the program in the second half was the sunny and gracefully cheerful 4th Symphony in B-flat major. This popular piece in four movements is characterized by light instrumentation, not unlike that of Joseph Hayden with whom Beethoven had studied a decade earlier. Happily, in the documentary, Rattle’s piano demo of the adagio (“slow movement”) in the symphony’s intro to the first movement perfectly prepared us for what was to come.
Beethoven composed his 4th Symphony in the summer of 1808 and dedicated it to Count Franz von Oppersdorff who had incidentally offered him a great deal of money to compose a new symphony for him. Beethoven completed piece in one short month proving that cash is a great motivator … even among geniuses.
The second piece offered in Part II was one Beethoven claimed to be one of his best works: the 7th Symphony in A major which premiered in Vienna in 1813. He composed this work while recuperating at a spa in Teplice and dedicated it to his host, Count Moritz von Fries.
The second movement of the 7th, the allegretto (“a little lively”), is so enormously popular, it is often performed separately; it is known for it’s use of dance-like rhythms with a reliance on the string section, backed up by clarinets.
Overall it was memorable event. Too valuable to miss.
by Lidia Paulinska and Hugh McMahon
by Lidia Paulinska | Mar 22, 2016
On Sunday, March 13, 2016, Fathom Events presented a live cinematic performance of “Spartacus,” the Bolshoi Ballet’s signature piece, viewed by fortunate movie-goers for one showing only in 500 cinemas worldwide. This epic ballet premiered in Moscow in 1968, marking the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution, and 48 years later it continues to exhibit all the energy, fervor, and raw brawn which has characterized the very essence of the Bolshoi’s male dancers ever since.
Staged by the legendary choreographer Yuri Grigororvich with an oddly cinematic but functional score by Aram Khachaturian, “Spartacus” is nothing short of spectacular in its display of space-devouring leaps and astonishing Olympic athleticism by its two principal male dancers: The incomparable Mikhail Lobukhin in the title role of Spartacus, leader of an unsuccessful slave revolt against the evil Roman ruler Marcus Licinius Crassus, powerfully performed by Alexander Volchkov. Both Lobukhin and Volchkov are the very personifications of the unbridled male energy and muscularity the Bolshoi has come to be known for, and accordingly, in the case of “Spartacus,” subtlety of expression is definitely not it’s strong suite. With successive decades and interpretations of this iconic work, we’ve come to expect nothing short of broadly expressed, passionate male heroism and this current production doesn’t disappoint; in the world of ballet, the role of Spartacus stands as the coveted tour de force piece for every principal dancer to aspire to.
Ably complimenting the merciless Crassus is his cunning and crafty courtesan, Aegina, performed seductively by the beautiful Svetlana Zakharova whose flowing, erotic movements contrast with the harsh, angular, war-like virility of the male dancers.
The fourth principal in this remarkable production is Anna Nikulina who plays the pure and virtuous Phrygia, wife of Spartacus, a role in absolute contrast to the vampish, glittering, and irrepressible Aegina. However, the contrast is so great, I feel Nikulina’s demeanor, and even her drab costuming depict her as a bit too bland, even considering her character’s “slave” status. Yet all is redeemed by her exquisite partnering with Lobukhin in their wonderful pas de deux, a breathtaking show-stopper with each successive lift more incredible than the former, and possessing a lyrical, subtle beauty so uncharacteristic of this muscular piece in general. The contrast works beautifully.
On balance, “Spartacus” is an historic treasure that has fortunately not become an historic artifact even after almost a half century. A dynamism prevails throughout, from the very first scene with Crassus in command of a gold-clad army, wielding shields and spears, dynamically lunge-jumping and forward leg kicking reminiscent of Fascism, to the horrific “crucifixion” of Spartacus in the final act, lifelessly impaled on the bloody tips of dozens of spears, held high above the heads of his victorious slayers. “Spartacus” intrigued us and held our attention.
by Lidia Paulinska | Mar 17, 2016
February, DEW 2016, Los Angeles – Margaret Czeisler, Chief Strategy Officer from Wildness, was talking about the characteristics of Generation Z. What the content creators and technology innovators need to know about that generation to serve better their needs?
What is unique about generation born after Millennials?
The age of the group is 21 and less. This is a generation that never has cable tv and they definitely had cut the cord or they are planning to do it. Generation Z lives in the times of fully embracing the social media – every minute 500 hours of videos are upload and shared to You Tube; half a million photos are upload to Snapchat. No wonder that 78% find branded or sponsored social media appealing, 77% find branded or sponsored You Tube videos appealing.
Generation Z is ready to rewrite the rules. They are transgender in the borders of gender, culture and race. It is not that they do not see race, but they are not judging on it – stated Czeisler based on her extensive research on Gez Z – They embrace differences in the way we have never seen in the past. Their approach to the culture is also very different and unique. They don’t consume the culture, they make it, create it. They are culture creators. They are catalysts of the culture revolution that we already experienced.
The opposite of Millennial, who hate failures and hide them, the Generation Z considers failure a natural part of living, an experience of life. Gen Z embraces the failure. (“Failure is a great thing. It teaches you what is good… what to do and what not to do. If you fail at this, then the next thing you know, you’ll find something else you can do better. You’re not going to fail at everything” – said Mira, 14). 91% of respondents said that failure is an important thing in life.
Gen Z is also well known as a generation of the shorten patience span.
