Category Archives: digital

Caseco Bluetooth Beanies ! 

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There may be a heat wave out there, but if I don’t remember to tell you about these Caseco beanies now, I just might forget when the weather gets cold.

I found this company at CE Week, a recent trade show. I couldn’t believe my eyes. These cute little wool hats with Bluetooth speakers built into the fabric. You can listen to music or even talk on your cell. You will hear everything for six hours. Then you need to recharge the built-in batteries. Fifty-five styles to choose from. Here are a few. Available on Amazon. 


My Work With Breakthrough Miami 

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For the last few days, I have been diligently working to get editorial coverage for Breakthrough Miami, an academic enrichment program for promising students from low-income homes in the Miami-Dade County communities. 

I thought I would share my activities with you because I am so proud of what Breakthough Miami has been doing in the world of tech.

The students are participating in a three week summer program, called Project Growlight, at FIU College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts (CARTA) Miami Beach Urban Studios (MBUS) on Lincoln Road, one of the largest art/design-oriented 3D printing centers in the United States. The students work with faculty and students from FIU’s Department of Architecture on design projects similar to those that first-year college students pursue.

 
  

David Rifkind, Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Students, College of Communication, Architecture + the Arts Florida International University and the Coordinator for Project Growlight, said, “This program introduces the students to digital modeling and 3D printing. They use software applications that allow them to create items in 3D and print them in plastic. Using Makerbot 3D printers, the students made models of kiosks and benches, and full-size cups. They were taught to think creatively and develop critical problem solving skills.”

Project Growlight, was created by Elissa Vanaver, CEO, Breakthrough Miami and John Stuart, AIA, Associate Dean for Cultural and Community Engagement, FIU College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts and Executive Director, Miami Beach Urban Studios.

 Breakthrough Miami is 25 years old this year and nearly 1,300 middle and high-school students benefit from the school-year and summer programs the organization runs across the county. Saturday and summer programs operate year-round on the campuses of Ransom Everglades, Miami Country Day, Palmer Trinity, Carrollton and Gulliver and the University of Miami

The pilot for Project Growlight has been funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, with matching funds from Philanthropy Miami.

I will let you know my progress.

For Inquiring Minds 

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You never know where and when you are going to hear about a popular app. At lunch today, at the Vegan restaurant, Candles Cafe,  two friends (top right and center right) Nito and Carlos told me about Quora. 

I don’t remember exactly why they even mentioned it, but I’m glad they did. This app will help me with a lot of unanswered questions. Over 500,000 people use it all the time, according to Wikipedia.

Quora is a question-and-answer website. You ask a question and you get an answer by a group of users. You get to pick 10 plus categories of interest and even get to view “trending” topics. That means you get to see the most popular questions. 

I decided to ask my first question. As you can see, I’m waiting for my answer.

More info on Quora. 

If you try Quora, let me know. My friends claim they are learning new things all the time. 

Staying Afloat 

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Kingii 


This seems too good to be true.

Kingii is a wristband that helps you to stay afloat. All you have to do is pull the lever and an inflation bag keeps you afloat.

I am so sad that this wasn’t invented long ago. How many lives could have been saved? I would like to try this myself. 

It’s $80 on Amazon. The Kingii can be used over and over just by replacing the CO2 cartridge inside. 

The company warns, “The Kingii Wearable provides additional buoyancy, but cannot replace a life vest.”

Tom Agapiades, Founder and President, said he invented the Kingii Wearable because he had a very good friend who died from drowning. “Even the most experienced swimmer can experience a water emergency, and my friend paid the price for being unprepared. The Kingii is the smallest inflatable in the world but should not replace a life vest.”

I would love to see every child wearing one when swimming or playing near water. Anxious to hear from those that tested this  product. We all really want this to work. 

For Sale 

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I love it when I see others help others. Why can’t it always be like that? Happy July 4th. 

Photos by Eliot Hess

Eliot and I want to sell some of our furniture to the highest bidder.  Email me at loisw@hwhpr.com. Cash and carry.  

Our First Visit To Martha’s Vineyard  

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It’s difficult to believe that Eliot and I have traveled all over the world but we have never been to Martha’s Vineyard. We are here for five days because the oldest daughter, of our long time friend and former client, Marty Homlish and his wife Joanne, is getting married on their estate tomorrow night. Joanne and Marty have four adult children. 

Marty has had a brilliant career in tech. He was one of the top executives at Sony, SAP, and HP. I met him almost 40 years ago when he was a marketing manager at JVC. All six Homlish’s vacationed with us a number of times in the Hamptons. We are thrilled to be celebrating with them.

Cecilia, the first Homlish grandchild born five weeks ago.


We have been touring around a lot but absolutely fell in love with the Queen Anne architecture in Oak Bluffs. Even though we are devoted fans of contemporary design, we do appreciate the details of the style that was so popular from 1880 to 1910. 

The first house we were swooning over belongs to Peter Norton, the successful computer programmer, software publisher, author, and philanthropist. 


Norton’s house draws tourists from all over the world. Many people try to enter because they think it’s a hotel. He had to post a sign at the entrance that says  “Private Home” in order to keep strangers from congregating on his porch. 



Other houses we admired below. All photos: Eliot Hess.

Make Your Photo Come To Life 

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I don’t know if you are aware of it, but there is a new trend to print digital photos. Young people love printing their photos. Everything old is new again. 

LifePrint is a wireless photo printer. It works with most smartphones. LifePrint is very much like the Polaroid Zip Instant Mobile Printer. LifePrint is $129 and Polaroid Zip is $129.95. 

The big difference is that LifePrint can print videos. If you want to print from a video, or a moving image, you get to select the exact still frame you’d like to have printed. 

Moving images that get printed as still photos are referred to as HyperPhotos. You can use the LifePrint app’s augmented reality viewfinder to bring these HyperPhotos back to life.

It’s really wild.  Watch the video.

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CE Reunion At CE Week

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After weeks and weeks of planning, 50-plus consumer electronics veterans got together to celebrate our careers and relationships. Some of us know each other almost 50 years.

We held the event at CE Week, a trade show in the consumer electronics business. Event organizers Eric Schwartz and Robin Raskin provided the lounge area at the Metropolitan Pavilion in NYC.  Thank you again.

It was so much fun to watch old friends greet each other. Some of us havent’t see each other for decades. A few cried. Everyone hugged. We all went home feeling a little bit more connected.



Passing On News Without Reading  

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I was not that surprised this morning when the Today Show announced a big misconception.  A new study finds that nearly 60 percent of the links people share on emails and social media have never been read by the sender.

If you click here, you can watch the Today Show announcements. 

That explains the ridiculous and insane political emails I receive from people who I thought were my friends. The study suggests they read the headlines of a story and have no patience to read the rest. 

Researchers say “this suggests that people tend to form an opinion, without bothering to get the full story.”
That’s a scary thought. 

A New York Kind Of Day

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Today, I sent the first satellite text in NYC on a cell phone. Here I am with client Rob Reis of Higher Ground. Woohoo. 

Sitting on the terrace of friends who overlook Central Park,

It was just one of those picture perfect nights.

Happy Fathers Day.