In 2001, I started my first startup, EzValidation, a fingerprint authentication software company. Prior to starting the new venture, I got an opportunity to work as a product consultant for a fingerprint sensor company that designed, developed and manufactured the sensor and developed the matching algorithms. During that period, I learned about the technology, market, and a whole lot.
At EzValidation, I developed an easy-to-use, fingerprint authentication software for the consumer. The idea was to replace user’s Windows credentials (user name and password) with the fingerprint. Worked with companies like AuthenTec (now Apple), Atrua (acquired by AuthenTec), Fujistu Microelctronics, Validity Sensors (acquired by Synaptics), Veridicom (Bell Labs spun off), and one of the largest software company Computer Associates (CA).
To find the product-market fit, we pivoted a few times, started off with a consumer-facing, desktop product to the enterprise solution, back to desktop product, then developed a toolkit (an API) for other biometric technology providers such as face recognition and dynamic signature verification to use our front-end, then developed custom products including a large-scale fingerprint authentication integration with Computer Associates’ SSO (Single Sign-On) product. It was quite a ride!
In 2008, AuthenTec, acquired EzValidation. Here’s the product brief for EzPassort Plus software.
SensorsCon 2013 was held on March 6th, 2013 at Techmart in Santa Clara, CA. I was a member of organizing committee and had an opportunity to moderate a panel discussion on trends, business and career opportunities in sensors. The conference on Sensors - Technology, Design, and Applications (SensorsCon) is a forum to present, highlight and discuss the latest research, development, application, and business opportunities in sensors technology and applications in various fields.The market for sensors and related technologies is expanding at a phenomenal rate. Senior executives and key technologists from Stanford University, Texas Instruments, ST Microelectronics, IDT, Synopsys, Process Relations GmbH, Invensas, Hillcrest Labs and PNI Sensor Corporation participated and shared their views at the conference.
I along with Becky Oh, CEO of PNI Sensor Corporation and a few others were interviewed by Tech Accelerator, a web-based TV technology show.
OPEN Silicon Valley hosted the second LaunchPad event on Thursday, March 28th, 2013 in Palo Alto, CA. The purpose of the program is to bridge the gap between the entrepreneurs and the potential investors. Presenting entrepreneurs had an opportunity to present their pitch to a closed group of people. The judges provided valuable feedback and critique to help the entrepreneurs move to the next level. And, in the process we anticipate that we are able to connect the dots between the entrepreneurs and the potential investors. I have initiated this program at OPEN Silicon Valley, and lead the effort along with my team.
(Photograph taken at Tiger Temple, Kanchanaburi, Thailand.)
Whether you continue to use Instagram or not, this holiday season people will capture and share photos with family and friends on Facebook, Flickr and other photo sharing sites. Photo-enthusiasts with an eye to capture moments put their photos in three buckets:
1. Unusual subjects
2. Unexpected moments
3. Memorable images
Content creation and consumption has seen an amazing transformation. Not too long ago, relatively few people would create, such as paintings, photography, music, films, publications; and many would consume. Today, user-generated content (UGC) is everywhere. Wikipedia, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Yelp are just a few examples. Amongst many issues, this information explosion creates an interesting problem: what’s really worthy of our attention?
We share with others what captures our attention, from funny videos to memorable images to insightful articles. On social web, user attention is the valuable resource, and therefore, becomes the currency of new economy. And when the attention fades people search for new and novel experiences. How does content attract our attention? In simplest terms, it’s something that gains tremendous popularity, such as the ‘Gangnam Style’ music video on YouTube, or an image that offers a window to a unique experience. Most people look for experiences from other people’s lives in today’s consumer photo-sharing culture.
On December 3rd, 2012 I was invited to QUARTZ roundtable dinner conversation, underwritten by Intel, in San Francisco. Steve Clemons, Washington Editor-at-Large of The Atlantic, and Editor-in-Chief QuartzLIVE, moderated the conversation. Our dinner talk touched upon a number of topics and issues, including the mobile economy, the app economy, nowcasting versus forecasting, big data, and sensors everywhere and how the teens and tweens have become the app-generation and feel at-ease with streams of social data (big data).
There were differing opinions about whether technology is moving at a too fast pace and consumers can’t catch up. The consensus was that it’s often the consumer who demands the best of technology and the one who assumes the burden of understanding the complexities and risks of new technologies.
A Quartz article published today by Christopher Mims at http://qz.com/36523/the-five-most-disruptive-technologies-of-2012/ is a good complement to these issues. The article lists the five most disruptive technologies of 2012 with great examples. Mr. Mims’ list includes the following:
- Controlling computers without touching them
- Fusing the real and the virtual
- The world’s most cost-effective energy storage
- The end of cars as we know them
- Five billion people with internet access
We can agree or disagree, and mull over what technologies could be on this list, but as consumers, it’s still up to us to jump on the bandwagon, or not. I’m in, what about you?
The Quartz event was attended by senior leaders from the technology sector and venture capitalists, who joined the conversation. Justin Smith, President Atlantic Media Company; Steve Clemons, Washington Editor at Large, The Atlantic, and Editor In Chief QuartzLIVE; and Stacy Smith, SVP and CFO Intel hosted the dinner gathering. Invited guests included Gregory Chang, Vice President YuMe Inc.; Kirk Dunn, Chief Operating Officer Cloudera; Scott Hartley, Mobile and Consumer Internet Mohr Davidow; Paul Hsiao, Partner New Enterprise Associates; Mike Maples Jr., Managing Partner Floodgate; Jim Zemlin, Executive Director The Linux Foundation; Hal Varian, Chief Economist and Head of Analytics Google Inc.; Steve Kirsch Chief Executive Officer OneID; and many others.
For more information about the business of The Atlantic and Quartz, check out this New York Times article http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/24/business/media/with-digital-only-quartz-atlantic-to-cover-business-world.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0.