A few of you might know I've stepped away from pool over the last few years in order to develop brain-computer interfaces and other non-tactile (voice-free, touch-free & look-free) computer input methodologies. A few years ago, I made a post somewhere on AZB shortly after I made a major breakthrough announcing that the technology I created could change the lives of many quadriplegics around the world. One of our AZB members sent me a PM telling me a VERY sad story about a friend's kid who, at the time, recently broke his neck during a high school football game. I want to say this was 2015/2016-ish. His story deeply affected me and somewhat gave me "purpose" during the early years of my technical R&D--- it went from "Hey mom, look what I just made" to "Oh my God, I need to help people." I started waking up earlier, working later, and was just more focused, generally-speaking. I promised that AZB member that I'd take good care of his friend's son if I was ever able to raise capital and develop a product.... but was super careful to not give false hope, etc., because raising capital is super hard.
Since that time, just like I seem to ALWAYS do.... I accidentally deleted that PM and completely forgot who sent me that private message. In the relatively near future, we'll be reaching out to individuals who live with the above conditions in order to test a next-generation "Smart Earbud" that will allow an individual to control his/her wheelchair without the need of sip-puff straws, ocular sensors, head-based pressure pads, tongue-based joysticks or basically anything else. Users will also be able to control their environment such as TVs, computers, phones and basically any information system without speaking, touching or looking at what's being controlled.
Our first goal, however, is to help those in need control their wheelchair with nothing but the earbud. After all of this time, I never forgot about that private conversation with this AZB member and the moment I see the screenname, I know I'll remember it. I DESPERATELY want to make good on my promise, if the universe will allow me the opportunity. My lab just sent me a video of our first test-drive with our rough-draft earbud and it was really, really good... that reminded me to make this post.
Mike Howerton, I know this isn't pool-related outside of this original conversation happening on AZB. I was wondering if you would make this post a sticky and help me find which member sent me that story via PM and help me connect with his friend's son. While I'm at it, if any of our members or family members suffer from the above conditions and struggle with interacting with their environment, please send me a PM. I can't promise I can include anyone and everyone in our testing, because funding isn't unlimited, but my team will do our best to triage the list and help those who have the most severe conditions.
Best regards,
Dave
Since that time, just like I seem to ALWAYS do.... I accidentally deleted that PM and completely forgot who sent me that private message. In the relatively near future, we'll be reaching out to individuals who live with the above conditions in order to test a next-generation "Smart Earbud" that will allow an individual to control his/her wheelchair without the need of sip-puff straws, ocular sensors, head-based pressure pads, tongue-based joysticks or basically anything else. Users will also be able to control their environment such as TVs, computers, phones and basically any information system without speaking, touching or looking at what's being controlled.
Our first goal, however, is to help those in need control their wheelchair with nothing but the earbud. After all of this time, I never forgot about that private conversation with this AZB member and the moment I see the screenname, I know I'll remember it. I DESPERATELY want to make good on my promise, if the universe will allow me the opportunity. My lab just sent me a video of our first test-drive with our rough-draft earbud and it was really, really good... that reminded me to make this post.
Mike Howerton, I know this isn't pool-related outside of this original conversation happening on AZB. I was wondering if you would make this post a sticky and help me find which member sent me that story via PM and help me connect with his friend's son. While I'm at it, if any of our members or family members suffer from the above conditions and struggle with interacting with their environment, please send me a PM. I can't promise I can include anyone and everyone in our testing, because funding isn't unlimited, but my team will do our best to triage the list and help those who have the most severe conditions.
Best regards,
Dave
