Well, in the vein of trying to give something back, you might try a simple nondisclosure agreement (NDA). The idea is to preclude a receipient of confidential info from disclosing or using it. Not perfect, since usually NDAs also have exclusions for things already in the public domain or things the receipient already knew about (which gets a bit tricky). On the other hand, they are enough of a stick that some companies won't sign them for fear of getting sued for something they already had in development. But, a decent lawyer and a good NDA might make it worthwhile to make some pitches. |
Where have I seen something that was an original idea of yours that has been implemented by a manufacturer? Not being mean, just wondering where you handywork lies? |
Hi Sean. Nice to see you getting recognition so richly deserved.
I know what you mean about fear of intellectual property theft. I been sitting on an idea for a decade due to lack of connections/experience (I'm Scottish -not far removed from Irish. Probably have that "Lazy" gene too).
I've looked into the patent process and learned:
1. When you file a patent, it is viewable by the public until approved (effectively spilling the beans).
2. Unless your application is PERFECT (by gov standards), it will be rejected.
The implications are obvious. If you mess up your application, anyone can co-opt your idea by filing a corrected application (Jeez, not TOO stressful!).
I also have a question today:
Mine ARC VT-100 has been in storage for 8-9 months.
How long before its capacitors start to go south?
Also have a preamp and CDP in limbo.
When should I start to worry?
Thanks again for your nobel service! |
Thanks to everyone for the kind words. I appreciate it, even though i know that i'm "like a rose". That is, nice to look at from a distance, but up close, you have to watch out for the thorns : )
Jes45: According to IQ tests that i took 25 years ago in high school and other testing that i took for a job ( you wouldn't believe what this place put you through ), Sean is a genius. He is also Irish, making him unmotivated and willing to let others benefit from their efforts.
If you wonder why i bring up being Irish as an "excuse", look at Ireland as a Country. How many other Countries in this modern day and age are still governed by another Country? Irish people are all great talkers and deep thinkers ( just ask them ), but we just aren't motivated enough to follow through with all of our "brilliant ideas".
As such, many of the ideas and research that i come up with end up in other people's product lines. I've done research and development for over a half dozen different manufacturers in the past and still do work for some today as needed. I hope to change that soon for my own financial benefit, but i'm not starting with audio related gear.
Many of my ideas are quite diverse and nothing that i myself would like to market. Given that i don't know how to approach a manufacturer with an idea without having them steal it out from underneath me, i've sat on these ideas / potential products.
If you're wondering how i could design or research a product for other manufacturers and not know how to go about approaching one with an idea, those manufacturers always contacted me first. As such, they presented the idea of what they were looking for / wanted out of a product, we worked out the facts and figures and i gave them what they were asking for. To be honest, many of these "opportunities" came about after they got to know me. How did that take place? Simple. I called them up on a regular basis to yell at them about how they were screwing up their products and offered insight as to how they could make them both better and less costly to manufacture. After getting several earful's and following through on a few of my suggestions, they saw the value in what i had to offer and took advantage of the experience that i have in the field that i work. That field is RF communications.
Walking in off the street with an idea for a marketable product and not having your intellectual properties stolen from you is another matter all-together. I'm not a lawyer, have never played one on TV and don't sleep at a Holiday Inn Express on a regular basis. As to why i haven't contacted a lawyer to go about doing this, figure it out for yourself. I'm Irish : ) Sean
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PS... I've had offers from various audio related manufacturers to work as part of a R&D team on several different occassions. I've always turned them down. The reason ? I love audio. I used to love RF communications before it became a full time job. I still like RF, but it is no longer my main source of enjoyment. On top of that, i enjoy communicating and working with people on the subject of audio and would like to continue to do so without any limitations. Working for audio related companies and then discussing various products from different manufacturers would be a conflict of interest as far as i'm concerned. As such, i'm willing to turn down money in order to maintain what i enjoy as a hobby and source of enjoyment. How much longer that will last, i don't know.
PPS... While talking to Arnie of Audiogon a few years back, i mentioned that i had a very specific audio related business in mind and was working towards making that a reality. Given that it was a few years ago, you can see how well i've followed through on those plans?
Damn that Irish blood. Maybe i need a transfusion. Or a drink : ) |
Everyone knows that Sean is very knowledgable about equipment, but he is also a "stand up" guy, and helpful to people he doesn't even really know.
I bought a phono stage from a guy who took the money, never sent the unit, and then finally after much contact finally returned my money. While this was going on I posted a thread about it. Sean contacted me to find out if the guy was in the Chicago area and said he would go over and get the piece of gear for me. I was very impressed by his offer to help.
Everything worked out ultimately without his involvement, but he was the only person that offered any tangible help. For that he has my respect and appreciation.
Sean, sorry I missed you at the CAS meeting! Keep up the good work! |
If Sean is a "genuis", maybe he should manufacture something? |
Sean is one of the smartest people I have been lucky enough to communicate with. Some may think I've gone too far but he may just be a genius. In my work I communicate with many engineers and scientists. Very few have impressed me with encyclopedic knowledge and the ability to assimilate and then communicate it like Sean. No doubt he posts some big numbers on the IQ tests. Sorry if I made you blush Sean. Thanks for all the help you have given me and others. |
Funny Slappy, I was discussing you with another Agon member and we both agreed that you would be the first Agon memeber we would like to go have a berr with. Maybe one day we'll come a knockin' on your door, but do let the dog hump our legs oK? We'll buy!
Happy Listening. |
Slappy's better than Jay L. (Paints a funny picture with words,well)---(Think I peed my pants)--- Ok, back to audio. Do we need crazys here?? Don't give me that; "we're all crazy here" line.--- I've heard that before. As a bottom feeder and the man in charge of getting out the word to the masses re. Home Depot silver wires, I too have a purpose. Do you suppose Sean is really Carl_E after the lobotomy? You know when a guy can explain something I know nothng about;and make me think"now I do" hey, that's a gift. Thanks Sean. |
Buscis: "open mouth, insert foot" category? Sheesh, i'll be busy with both of these going at the same time. The scary thing is that i wear a size 15EEE. At least now you folks can see where and how i got the big mouth. Maybe sometimes i shouldn't try to fit BOTH feet in there at the same time : )
Thanks for loving and / or putting up with me folks. We are like a big family here, in-breeds and all. Does this mean i can show you my scars now? : )
I know that some think of me in some ways as the "older brother" aka "the know-it-all". Sometimes though, i'm sure that i'm closer to being the "younger brother". That is, the one that "speaks before thinking" : )
Either way, don't hesitate to hit me with the "stupid stick" when i get out of line. Just remember, i might like it, so use it sparingly : ) Sean
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PS... Me and Slappy together as an audio talk show??? Sheesh, i can't begin to imagine. As "un-organized" as i am in real life and as much of a "lovable knucklehead" as he is on these forums, i think that the only thing that ever got finished between the two of us would be a LOT of bottles and cans. CRANK up the tunes : ) |
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Huh? What?... sorry, was clipping my dog's toenails.
Thinking of my dog...
I have a dog named Jagermeister. She is a german shepard mix, a mutt. Good dog too. My fiancee has a pure bread siberian husky named Malibu (yes there is a booze theme)from a very impressive lineage.
My dog is older and bigger therefor the most dominant. She would sometimes display this dominance by humping the holy hell outta malibu.
Everytime i saw her doing it i would praise her and shout out "Hump jager, Hump! Good Girl! Hump Jager!"
Eventually she put 2 and 2 together.
Now anytime my fiancee gets on my nerves i tell jager "Hump" and she happily bounds over to Malibu and gives her a good strong humping.
I absolutly love it. When im an old man on my deathbed, that will definatly be one of my fondest memories.
The moral of this story is, take advantage of opportunity, cause you never know when it can brighten yer day and piss yer girl off at the same time.
:)
Wait... What was the question? |
It's good to see so many followers. Sean, even if you're just repeating previous info, at least you remember it. Some of us are at an age when much of our info takes on a dyslexic form when we are fortunate enough to remember it. We need reminding. Thanks again.
Slappy is simply an inspiration to us all!
Ok, lets have another round of posts! Oh, sorry...it seems I've had too many posts already....... |
As long as Slappy asks the questions and Sean gives the answers. :-) |
I think Sean and Slappy need to get together and do a question and answer show. Should make for some insightful answer and laughs.
I hope nobody takes this the wrong way. I enjoy reading both Slappy's and Sean's post.
Thanks, |
Sean is a busy guy and it is all the more remarkable that he can afford the time necessary to discuss and answer in such detail questions ranging from obvious to impossible. I have nominated him for "altruist of the year " in another post in the past and feel as strongly as you do in this regard. Clueless is correct , he is not human and resides in a jar in Waco . He is a program that is liquid in form and passive in nature. To answer an obvious and lingering question that will no doubt be a topic of discussion for years to come ; he is not Jay Leno and is actually a well known pornstar nicknamed the Tripod. Hope this clears up the mystery that consumes us all..... concerning Sean. |
Clueless: Thanks for the kind words : ) Sean
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PS... BWA-HAHaha... : ) |
Thanks for the kind words Mt10425. I do what i can, when i can and am glad that i can help. Having said that, Tubino is absolutely correct. I've already got a big mouth and don't need any type of "throne" to give me an even bigger head. On top of that, i need to spend LESS time on the computer in order to get more things done AND maintain my own learning. After all, i'm only repeating / expounding upon subjects that have already been covered by those that are truly deserving of recognition.
If i personally had to say "THANK YOU" to someone, it would be:
1) my Father for exposing me to "audio", which led into other forms of "electronics" in general.
2) J. Peter Moncrieff of International Audio Review ( IAR ). He showed me what it was to be an "audio scientist" and made me want to understand in explainable form the how's and what's rather than to guess at them or believe what i was told by "guesser's" aka "GESR's" ( Golden Eared Subjective Reviewer's ).
3) David Spiegel of Audio General Incorporated ( AGI ) for being both a visionary and demonstrating that audio can be both "spectacular" and "reasonably priced".
With the education that i received from those mentioned above and my background in RF ( radio frequency ), i think that it has allowed me to look at / examine AF ( audio frequency ) from a slightly different point of view than that of most other "audiophiles". With that in mind, it sometimes amazes me that AF guys overlook some design attributes that us RF guys take for granted / assume should be "standard issue". Then again, the folks that design and work with devices that work at "ultra-mega-super-duper high frequencies" probably laugh at all of us "low frequency fools", me included.
We've all got our place in audio / electronics. So long as we keep learning and climbing up the ladder, we'll make room for someone below us to pass that knowledge on to as they start their climb. If we all take the time to share what we've learned, people won't be shopping for audio gear at Best Buy for very long : ) Sean
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PS... If we all knew what we should know about the subject and passed it on, "high end" wouldn't exist as we know it today. As much as it would upset some people, "Snake oil" would no longer be available for sale : ) |
Hi Mt:
This is a common newbie mistake. Sean is not really a person. It is obvious, once you think about it at all, that no one person could type, much less know that much, about audio.
S.E.A.N, is actually an acronym for "Syndicate of Encyclopedic Audio Nuts," has thousands of active members, and is rumored to be located in a big building near Waco.
Sincerely
I remain, |
How about an "Open Mouth-Insert Foot" category also? |
a little bit of empowerment is a dangerous thing |
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We already have the Ask Sean.....throw out a question and he answers........ |
