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Analysis of the article by former uBeam VP of Engineering Paul Reynolds: > In all this time, have reporters still not learned to press on the key questions? "H

Analysis of the article by former uBeam VP of Engineering Paul Reynolds: > In all this time, have reporters still not learned to press on the key questions? "How much power is being received?", "How much is being sent?", "What's the efficiency?", "How much does it cost?", "Have you proved it safe?", and "If this is what you have now, what were all those 'prototypes' you were talking about 2 years ago?". But those are actual questions that matter, and basically we know the same today as we did yesterday (which indicates it was an awesome PR piece, lots of coverage with no actual info). http://liesandstartuppr.blogspot.com/2017/05/whats-in-picture.html http://liesandstartuppr.blogspot.com/2017/05/whats-in-pictur... http://liesandstartuppr.blogspot.com/2017/06/someone-was-paying-attention.html http://liesandstartuppr.blogspot.com/2017/06/someone-was-pay... http://liesandstartuppr.blogspot.com/2017/06/what-does-it-take-to-switch-phone.html http://liesandstartuppr.blogspot.com/2017/06/what-does-it-ta...

averagewall 9y ago
For safety, the transmitter could turn itself off if a receiver isn't receiving enough power. The receiver could radio back to the transmitter to identify its presence and power input.
- aisofteng 9y ago
  Have you considered sending the engineering team thoughts like these, or any other offhand ones?
  - logicallee 9y ago
    You were downvoted, and my interpretation is that people thought you were sarcastic and thought that this was an inappropriate jab, and downvoted for this reason. I think they're right that you're being sarcastic, due to the word "offhand". However, if we read your comment seriously (you are seriously stating it) then I actually agree with it: this means the "wrong" part of your comment is the /s (which you didn't include) and otherwise your comment is very solid. I'd like to defend it. Here are just some of the off-hand ideas that were demonstrated in this video: - Beam forming - Vision for device tracking. (VISION!!! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW OFF-HAND OF AN IDEA THIS IS?) - Inclusion built into every manufactured phone and uBeam beamers located all over the place, so that even a trickle ends up recharging the phone "throughout the course of a day" -- assuming you aren't actually using it. - Have it be something you don't even notice. (So that for this reason it doesn't matter if it barely works). ie if you have your phone in your pocket for an hour while you sit and talk to your friend, it goes from 51% to 83% charge. That is a good and viable definition of "don't even notice it." These are extremely off-hand ideas. It is extremely possible that adding a dozen other extremely off-hand ideas are all that it would take to make this a viable, pervasive technology, built into everything. For example, it was demonstrated on a huge receiver that is much larger than the phone it was attached to. A couple of off-hand ideas about how to make the receiver smaller might be all it takes to make this more interesting. There are further possible off-hand ideas. add in about a dozen and, if they have appropriate patents, they have a monopoly on a charging solution. When you have a choice of two cafes across the street, and if you spend an hour in one of them your battery will be 10% more charged than before you entered, would you choose that one over the other one? You would if you were at 1% battery level and waiting for an important client. Bam. You've just made a case that this brings free users to cafes as a direct competitive advantage, much like having wifi might. And what was this -- oh, right: an off-hand marketing idea I just had. Don't dismiss off-hand ideas. If you like, it's all Steve Jobs ever contributed. Send them - send them all. You might end up making uBeam work. Note: I have no association with the company or any horse in this game.
    - alphakappa 9y ago
      >>>Don't dismiss off-hand ideas. If you like, it's all Steve Jobs ever contributed. That's the most offhand description of what Steve Jobs contributed that I've heard. Let's not minimize the contributions of people when we have no idea what went into making them successful.
      - lern_too_spel 9y ago
        He also took a lead role in reducing software engineer salaries in the Bay Area for years. How's that for a contribution that isn't off-hand?
      - logicallee 9y ago
        You entirely missed my point. individually, any of his contributions can be thought of as an off-hand idea taken to its logical conclusion and actually implemented, but jointly they make success.
- diafygi 9y ago
  That's fundamentally how a wired GFCI works. So, yes, a wireless equivalent should be built in by default.

averagewall 9y ago

For safety, the transmitter could turn itself off if a receiver isn't receiving enough power. The receiver could radio back to the transmitter to identify its presence and power input.

aisofteng 9y ago
Have you considered sending the engineering team thoughts like these, or any other offhand ones?
- logicallee 9y ago
  You were downvoted, and my interpretation is that people thought you were sarcastic and thought that this was an inappropriate jab, and downvoted for this reason. I think they're right that you're being sarcastic, due to the word "offhand". However, if we read your comment seriously (you are seriously stating it) then I actually agree with it: this means the "wrong" part of your comment is the /s (which you didn't include) and otherwise your comment is very solid. I'd like to defend it. Here are just some of the off-hand ideas that were demonstrated in this video: - Beam forming - Vision for device tracking. (VISION!!! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW OFF-HAND OF AN IDEA THIS IS?) - Inclusion built into every manufactured phone and uBeam beamers located all over the place, so that even a trickle ends up recharging the phone "throughout the course of a day" -- assuming you aren't actually using it. - Have it be something you don't even notice. (So that for this reason it doesn't matter if it barely works). ie if you have your phone in your pocket for an hour while you sit and talk to your friend, it goes from 51% to 83% charge. That is a good and viable definition of "don't even notice it." These are extremely off-hand ideas. It is extremely possible that adding a dozen other extremely off-hand ideas are all that it would take to make this a viable, pervasive technology, built into everything. For example, it was demonstrated on a huge receiver that is much larger than the phone it was attached to. A couple of off-hand ideas about how to make the receiver smaller might be all it takes to make this more interesting. There are further possible off-hand ideas. add in about a dozen and, if they have appropriate patents, they have a monopoly on a charging solution. When you have a choice of two cafes across the street, and if you spend an hour in one of them your battery will be 10% more charged than before you entered, would you choose that one over the other one? You would if you were at 1% battery level and waiting for an important client. Bam. You've just made a case that this brings free users to cafes as a direct competitive advantage, much like having wifi might. And what was this -- oh, right: an off-hand marketing idea I just had. Don't dismiss off-hand ideas. If you like, it's all Steve Jobs ever contributed. Send them - send them all. You might end up making uBeam work. Note: I have no association with the company or any horse in this game.
  - alphakappa 9y ago
    >>>Don't dismiss off-hand ideas. If you like, it's all Steve Jobs ever contributed. That's the most offhand description of what Steve Jobs contributed that I've heard. Let's not minimize the contributions of people when we have no idea what went into making them successful.
    - lern_too_spel 9y ago
      He also took a lead role in reducing software engineer salaries in the Bay Area for years. How's that for a contribution that isn't off-hand?
    - logicallee 9y ago
      You entirely missed my point. individually, any of his contributions can be thought of as an off-hand idea taken to its logical conclusion and actually implemented, but jointly they make success.
diafygi 9y ago
That's fundamentally how a wired GFCI works. So, yes, a wireless equivalent should be built in by default.