Author Archives: loiswhitmanhess

Flying On Water Pressure 

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In the last few months, I have been meeting up with a number of inventors involved in extreme water sports. They are all interested in developing new ways to thrill daredevils. While I’m keen to let the world know about some of these activities, I wonder how safe they really are. 

One extreme water sport that seems to be gaining momentum in year-round warm weather climates (Miami) is the Flyboard. I never heard of this one before, even though it’s been around for a few years. It basically rockets you several stories high out of the water. 

If you watch the two videos above, you’ll see the stunts that can be performed and how the Flyboard works. There is no question about it, this extreme water sports activity is not targeted to our age group. Hopefully, we have better sense then to try to be a rocket. I still wanted you to know what the young and strong are up to.

The Flyboard works on water pressure. The more water pressure that is applied, the higher the user gets. It also allows them to perform better tricks. Again, watch the first video for great demonstrations.

The Flyboard was created by French water sports master, Frank Zapata. He explains that the Flyboard is comprised of a rider platform that’s connected to a long hose and a water jet. To many our age, the Flyboard resembles a flying snowboard. To those who are under 50, the Flyboard is a great way to show off.  

Update On Expensive Electric Cars

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The tech trades were buzzing today about the latest in electric cars. Here are two noteworthy items. 

Bonhams Auction House recently reported that one of the very first battery-powered electric cars, just sold for $95,000. The 1905 Woods Electric Style 214A originally sold for $3,000. That was considered very pricey at the time. The Woods Motor Vehicle Company was founded in 1899 in Chicago. The top speed of the Woods Electric at the time was about 30 mph.

  Fast forward. 

Tesla just became the only player in the high-end electric SUV market. Fully-loaded, the auto could sell as high as $132,000 or as low as $80,000. The Model X is expected to achieve sales of 50,000 cars in 2015 and 500,000 by 2020. There are 30,000 reservations for the vehicle. Americans love the falcon-wing rear doors.

In 1954, this was my mode of transportation. $12.00. 

  

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Sweet Sixteen

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Keurig Green Mountain is at it again. A few months ago, they announced a partnership with Campbell Soup and now they are entering into the soda business.   

Just what I need, more sugar.  Keurig is introducing a dedicated soda machine called Keurig Kold (they use “K” like the Kardashians). Prices run from $300 to $370. Ouch, that is expensive!

Keurig justifies the higher price because it eliminates the bulky CO2 canisters. The Kold machine also chills the soda, ice tea, and sports drinks, so no ice is needed. 

Keurig sells packages of four flavor cartridges from $4.49 to $4.99. Each drink is about $1.12 to $1.25

The company said the Keurig Kold produces a cold drink in just over one minute. ( Coca-Cola, Sprite, Coke Zero and other Coca-Cola flavors, as well as Dr Pepper). Keurig has developed some of its own brands. 

Okay,  this all sounds very exciting but my kitchen counter is already filled with all kinds of goodies. Keurig doesn’t want me to position the Keurig  Kold in the kitchen.
The company sees the machine displayed in the den, the family room, the bedroom, and the porch.  Soda machines always have to be in the vicinity of entertainment areas. 

I haven’t tasted the Keurig beverage yet, but I’m willing to bet it will be adored by current Keurig users. Amen ! 
 

Print Refuses To Die

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Much to my surprise, the sales of print books are still showing signs of life. I thought Eliot, the collector, was the only one who still reads printed books. That’s why a recent story in Engadget caught my eye. I  wanted to share it with you.

The Association of American Publishers claims that sales of e-book dropped 10 percent during the first five months of 2015. That’s good news for print. It seems that many folks like to mix it up. If they are home, they read print. If they are commuting, traveling, or even going out for the day, they opt for an e-reader.

Forrester Research revealed that 12 million reading devices were sold last year in 2014. That’s a sharp decline from 20 million in 2011. 

Eliot loves to read mysteries in the printed version but has no trouble transferring to a Kindle when we travel. However, I don’t think he reads the same story both devices. If he starts a story in print, he stays loyal to that format. He can easily read a few different books at one time.

I prefer the digital format. I like to know that all of my favorite books are in one device. It makes me feel secure and productive. I also feel that way about newspapers and magazines. I read everything on a digital device. 

The trend may swing once again now that Amazon is introducing very inexpensive reading tablets. I predict that some Amazon tablets will be less expensive than a hardcover book. 

The jury is still out on what choice Americans will  make in the future. I think it will always be a combination of the two.

Read more on this topic.
 

 

 

  

Go Ahead, PhunkeeDuck 

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I first saw a PhunkeeDuck two years ago, at CES, in Las Vegas. I didn’t think much of it then, but today is the third time in two weeks that someone whizzed by me on a PhunkeeDuck. This one was not going to get away. Watch the video.

What is a PhunkeeDuck? It’s a Segway without the handle bars. It’s a balancing bar on wheels. It’s a snowboard.  It’s a new form of transportation. 

Make sure you watch the video to the end. The gent demonstrating the PhunkeeDuck claims his 55 year old mother is using the PhunkeeDuck. 

The top speed for PhunkeeDuck is 12 MPH. One charge will last for over 10 miles. So, who goes first? 

Fly Like A Bird 

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If you have ever wondered what it’s like to fly around like a bird, here is your chance. There’s a new type of drone, called the FLYBi, that will be coming out early next year. It will allow you to see the world from a bird’s eye view. The  FLYBi comes with a wrist remote control, an app, and head-tracker goggles. 

Currently being pitched on Indiegogo, the FLYBi will retail for $1,285.00. I just may buy one. I’m not a fan of flying or being situated high above the ground, but I do like the idea of experiencing what it’s like to fly. 

Watch the video to learn all about the FLYBi’s capability and features. Click here  to read more about the project. 

Problem Solved 

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Thank you Jason Henriques of HWH PR for figuring out why I couldn’t insert pictures on my DigiDame blog post. I ran out of photo memory space after four years of blogging.  All I  needed to do was spend $100 for additional storage space. The  Wordpress people put me back into business. Money talks.

I wanted to describe my lifestyle with a Livescribe pen yesterday but then I got interrupted because of technology issues.

   
  
I talked about Livescribe three years ago when it was first introduced. Now, I have been using it, so I wanted to give you my first hand experience.

No one over 50 should be without a LiveScribe pen when you go to a doctor, your lawyer, your accountant, a lecture, or a personal/business meeting. You want a LiveScribe pen with you to understand or recall information.

I recently bought the Livescribe Echo smart pen because I am conducting a lot of interviews, and I have to be sure to get complete, accurate information. The pen allows me to takes notes while recording. The best part is that you don’t have to take detailed notes, just keywords. If you use the companion notebook, all you have to do is tap on a word and the recording plays that segment back to you. The notebook has starter dot paper that has heen programmed to be completely interactive.

The Livescribe website says: 

1-Echo Desktop software allows you to save, organize and play back interactive notes from your Mac or Windows computer.

2-Share notes and pencasts as images.

3-Price: $119.95

The website constantly reminds everyone that we  have to let people know that he or she is being recorded. 

At first, the Livescribe pen seems overwhelming to use. After a while, all of the features became intuitive. 

Give it some thought. Our age group has a lot to remember from the past, and  hopefully a lot more coming up. Make your life a little easier. Learn how to use  a Lifescribe Echo smart pen. You won’t miss a thing. 

Any questions? Call me.

Technology Not Working 

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I worked on this post for two hours last night. No matter what I tried to do, I couldn’t upload the photos I wanted to post. This happened the other day as well. I will try to cure this today, but I am at the mercy of others.

I received a quick notice that said I was at my capacity and had to free up some storage space. I’m not sure if that quick message on my iPhone was referring to my camera roll or the number of pictures I used in WordPress, the app for DigiDame. 
The thought of removing old posts so I can post new ones bothers me. I want everything archived. It can’t be that. I have over 1000 photos on my iPhone but they post to Facebook without any problem.

I use the iPhone for most of my work. I now may be forced to use my laptop to post DigiDame. Ugh.

It’s now 5:38am. I just tried again. No luck. I will hunt for some younger person to help me. Getting older, makes us so vulnerable. Double Ugh! 
            

        
    

   
     

  
   
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Mobile Synagogue  

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If you can’t get to Synagogue, the synagogue comes to you. Thank you digital technology. Welcome to JBS-Jewish Broadcasting Service, America’s Jewish Television 

Click here to enter the JBS holiday service.

http://www.shalomtv.com/

     

   

Sketch by Melanie Hope Greenberg http://melaniehopegreenbergillustrations.blogspot.com/

  
    
 

Kickstarter Must Have Gotten A Kick In The You Know What…..

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image: Adi Studio

 
Call me “cynical,” I don’t care. I don’t buy the sudden altruistic business model Kickstarter is suddenly adopting. In the last day or two, the company has issued statements saying it’s now a Benefit Corporation, BC.

 What the heck is that?  It’s a company that shoots for profits, but its focus is on the betterment of society. For years, most tech companies just tried to please shareholders. 

Kickstarter said they want to be more socially responsible so they have legally defined goals to achieve the Benefit Corporation status. 

 While this is all very commendable, I haven’t seen one newspaper or tech site carefully questioning why Kickstarter has all of a sudden become so humble. I smell a larger story. Other companies that have joined the ranks of BC’s are: Patagonia and This American Life. 

As a new BC company, Kickstarter has pledged to donate 5% of annual post-tax profits to arts education and organizations fighting inequality. Kickstarter now goes from Kickstarter Inc., to Kickstarter BC.

Just as a recap, the Crowdfunding company reports that 92,733 Kickstarter projects have been funded by more than 9.4 million people. The Pebble Time smartwatch is still the most lucratively funded project on Kickstarter with more than 78,000 backers pledging $20.3 million. 

I know I am sounding a little negative, but I’m anxious to know how and why Kickstarter became a BC company. Kickstarter is a genius idea and we can all learn from its evolution.

Read about Kickstarter on CNET and the New YorkTimes.