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Publisher's Backpage
By:
Ernest Hancock
I'm traveling back to Phoenix from Las Vegas as I type this immediately after attending the last two days of the Consumer Electronics Show. I'm riding in the passenger seat being driven by Mike Crosswhite. Mike is a friend from Phoenix that is in the IT industry and is also an inventor that hoped to benefit from information at the show. Donna is in Phoenix finishing the Magazine and waiting on the final article to be finished.... this one. I must be quick since the power inverter isn't operating and I have limited time on my laptop. I've reduced the screen brightness to give me more time and I'll provide a link to Monday's radio show (2 days from now) that Donna has already created so that you won't miss any of the details.
For at least the next two weeks I will have many people on the show to share with us their ideas and products that I found inspiring and have the potential to change the world for the better. These stories will provide an inside look at how the world of Invention, Finance, Intellectual Property, Venture Capital, Crowd Sourced Funding, International Trade and Determination shape our lives and influence the future of generations to come.
But let me make this short and to the point while I still have the "power" to do so.
I recognized my initial emotion after the first day of visiting hundreds of displays as the same one I felt in the late 80's when I attended a car show in Phoenix. I've been up close and personal with thousands of cars and when I saw the first Lexus a tear came to my eye as I realized how far American car manufacturing had fallen behind the rest of the world... in every aspect of manufacturing and materials. But it was more than that... we knew it. At about the same time I was becoming acutely aware of the real problems that plagued us and had just begun my efforts to understand what had happened.
My father manufactured a high quality product that was desired internationally ( The Alcan Traveler). and my desire to help my father and export "Made in America' began my understanding of what had really happened and why.
At the CES there were many categories of ' Consumer Electronics' represented. All of them were hoping to find space on retail shelves and online so that they would find their way into your lives as finished products. But there was another part of the event in other buildings and venues that focused on new products in various stages of development that were hoping to inspire others with resources to help them enter the world's markets as a completed product being mass produced for the masses.
I quickly grew weary of the largest displays that took years old tech and made it prettier and smaller or larger or even cheaper. Where were the New products and ideas that would inspire me? It was great to see Mandrick and Alyson from New Hampshire there representing Blockchain (a Bitcoin Smartphone/Computer Wallet App) but while they were very popular, they seemed out of place in an ocean of flashy recycled mediocrity. I did meet several inspiring individuals with great stories that I look forward to sharing with our readers and listeners/watchers but I fear what awaits them as some of the most novice are exposed to the realities of American licensing and regulations that many of the more experienced have long avoided by moving out of the US market (we'll get to hear their individual stories as well on the show).
The more mature individuals with successful products were very eager to share their experiences with me once they realized that I understood their frustrations with American constraints. I look forward to having them tell their stories to us on our radio program.
Day two (Instagram Link to Graphics HERE) was a totally different experience. The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas is a very nice place to visit and experience and was where most of the new tech and original ideas were presented. It was also where China manufacturing made their capabilities known. Hundreds of fully stocked eighty square foot shops displayed every conceivable component needed to fully construct an interplanetary probe that could then transform upon landing to terraform Titan... another tear for America.
I'm looking forward to introducing you all to the young and inspiring minds that have created some of the newest, useful, fun & potentially world changing products of the entire show. I hope as a community we can keep these individuals engaged and encouraged to keep doing exactly what they are doing in spite of all of the known & unknown obstacles I fear waits for them.
But I will share this... 3D printing has changed everything. From concept to a working model in weeks,... or even days for some of the best ideas I've witnessed in a long time. I'm very excited about sharing the behind the scenes stories of two standouts that don't know each other exists but will combine to change entire industries across the world, watch. And with the slightest of effort we are all going to make sure, not only because we'll fall in love with both of the inventors and their Americana classic tales, but because it will be our pleasure and because... We Can :)
Peace,
Ernie
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