Today, only a few recent generations have lived through the age of TV, radio and the internet. Digital cameras have only  been around to the US masses for less than 15 years and video recording is now  possible with a device smaller than a toaster oven. Moreover, today we can send pictures take n immediately, without wires, to our facebook accounts and record in HD movies like a professional for less than a few hundred dollars. Batteries are shrinking and lasting longer, computer speeds are always climbing, optics are improving and wireless networks are growing. This convergence of technology will lead to some more controversial ideas and we will be forced to talk about the lasting social implications.

 This small, wearable jewelry piece basically records whatever we view from our own perspective.  Imagine a 2-3" in diameter broach of sorts about .25" thick that can clip onto your jacket, or purse or set atop any surface. It is an all knowing eye that is with us from walks in the park to our first time driving. a car. Omni EYE lets users view video recordings from the same area as the lens. Imagine a 2 way mirror into real time data, a portal into anywhere in the world. A small microphone hole allows for voice and ambient feedback. Simply tell it to start/stop recording or put it on auto letting omni EYE sense your environment for conversations. GPS, WiFi, auto focus and customizable soft keys are included on this future wearable device. Think of it as a more discrete helmet camera for adventurers, but without the helmet!

 Conceptually, this small package features a battery capable of over 8 hours of HD video recording. A quick charge will take only 15 minutes by clipping it onto the docking station (not shown.) All the data is streamed instantly to a desired storage space on the cloud where you can access it on the device, or  through an internet browser. So, you can even watch another person's life in real time through their point-of-view. The camera recognizes faces and location allowing a host of data and applications to pair with your omni EYE. Maybe it only goes on when you visit your family and friends. Maybe it shuts off while at the office. If it can recognize one voice, should it recognize others? If so, can you mine their image and your interactions with them? You can prove your friend's argument wrong, or really learn from your mistakes by reliving them like an old movie. Can't remember that long night after too many drinks? Walking through a bad neighborhood? Are we simply concerned with putting our stamp in the history books to live forever on Google within a searchable database? Maybe our whole life's memories can live in a safe place where we, or our ancestors can view them.

 Put one on your child as they go to preschool to monitor their care. Wear it during family events, special occasions, or just anytime you want to record life as it happens, through our successes and  through the darkest times. This  begs the questions, who will own our memories and our experiences? Who can gain access to our personal, unaltered truths? Can this be used for more than just advertising and public profiling? Hopefully, we use something like this as a tool for self improvement and historical reference. rather than for profit only. With this we can share our stories of friends and loved ones, hear their voices with our own and witness those experiences in it's most raw form. We might someday come to accept this product like we have accepted camera phones, instant messaging and touch screen gestures. We've come so far in our comfort with sharing our life's moments in such a short period of time. We are re-wiring our brain and changing our very idea of what it means to be human. In the end, we are left with more questions as we enter a new period of "heightened awareness" where future products can be used to make us feel more secure and also more fearful at the same time.

This is the first in what I hope is an ongoing series of little projects that are designed in 1 day or less. This first mini-project took only a couple of hours total modeling and rendering. I went straight to CAD but in the future will show the sketches that led up to the final designs. I welcome any comments or critiques!

TINLY is a 4' long, 30'' wide, 20" tall coffee table with powder coated legs that are welded together. The top is constructed from one piece of sheet metal, welded and folded along the top edges to make a ledge for the sheet metal top to rest. Each leaf of the top hinges from the center exposing the hollow interior where magazines and other items can be stashed. An "X" shape stands proud of the on each leaf that gives a surface change, but also helps with rigidity across the large area. Not shown are the interior ribs that create a stiff frame as sheet metal boxes tend to bow, or feel flimsy if not properly reinforced.

This is a minimal, industrial solution to the cheap and often retired MDF coffee tables that show wear and provide limited storage capacity. This design avoids the heft of wood and can be customized with many different colors. Once problem could be denting or scratching from sharp objects...and keep your feet off please.

I have the company, the website, the elevator pitch and suited up with all the optimism of a self-made millionaire. It's hard to take away a lot from these events but I soon realized that just attending these events is the first big hurdle. Scanning through website and shooting e-mails to possible clients does not cut it even in today's connected world. Often, even the most keenly devised e-mail fall into the "spam" box and many decision makers are not quick to respond. Face to face communication is still key as it creates a relation built on something all humans can relate to, images.

You still have to hit the streets and talk to people without any hesitations, or reluctance. Making that important first contact is crucial to getting over the digital divide that separates most in in cyberspace.  I've found that hitting up the first person at a meeting is a nice primer to break down the social inhibitions many have built up. Also, that person in the corner of the room may just be your next client or partner. Assuming the less outwardly put together person does not have something to offer you is stupid at best. It tends to be quite the opposite I've found, as the quiet ones are usually the most brilliant.

From NWEN, to Biznik to Meetup and nPost and Techfoam, to Seattle 2.0.....they all have their pros and cons but serve as a great starting point to any budding entrepreneur. or person looking to start a small business. Many offer free events or events with low costs.

The key is to stay persistent and leave with as few business cards as possible. So far I've been able to build a network of young, talented professionals who are hungry and most importantly, passionate. Self-starters and big thinkers take the initiative to get out there! I won't be caught on my heels when the economy picks up and it seems that these people won't either.

Wouldn't it would be nice to have a mobile phone that also incorporates a charger into the design? We have not seen a lot of standardization among all the mobile phone manufacturers to date. Even with many of the companies using mini (B) USB now, there is always a need to charge your phone, and it always happens at the worst time.

It looks like this person has the same idea, and has a patent on it. I figure it is only a matter of time until we can get the charger portion in a small enough profile to make this happen. Perhaps there are also other safety and regulatory issues that surround the execution. Even iphone's proprietary small form factor connector and "wall wart" are still too cumbersome, and well...are still another thing to carry.

This also opens up other ideas of what your mobile phone can do while plugged into an outlet...a remote security camera(camera on front), a night light, or just a nice place to store the phone in an easy to remember place.

Hopefully it remains a well designed movie that lives up to it's geekdom. Now, only if they will re-make the Labyrinth or Voltron! Awesome light cycle BTW.

It took a while but eventually the United States Patent Office awarded me with my first design patent for the LinkRunner Pro Network Multimeter while working at Fluke Networks.

This was my first project there and it set the foundation for other handheld devices I designed. The circular 5-way keypad would be incorporated into future designs and the distinctive shape and material choice make this everyday tool a rugged looking and professional feeling solution.

Big thanks to the friends and family at Fluke Networks especially Wayne Hoofnagle who also teamed up on the design and the"Mic Jagger" of Mechanical Engineering, Bill Burke who made this all fit together and brought this product through tooling and production.