[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.99,0:00:14.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.100,0:00:18.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How's everybody doing?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.79,0:00:21.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are you as nervous as me?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.34,0:00:23.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Probably not.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.11,0:00:24.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So today I'm going to\Ntalk to you about
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.93,0:00:27.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how to be a technology\Ninnovator without
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.50,0:00:30.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an engineering degree or Asperger's.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.46,0:00:35.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you look at something\Nfrom one angle long enough
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.99,0:00:40.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it becomes very difficult to see it \Nfrom a different perspective.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.18,0:00:42.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Check out this picture.\NThis is a burr.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.93,0:00:44.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's one of those prickly\Nplants that gets stuck to
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.91,0:00:47.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your clothes when\Nyou're walking outside.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.78,0:00:53.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what if you could look at\Nthe burr and think of Velcro?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.28,0:00:57.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The burr was the inspiration\Nfor the creation of Velcro.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.87,0:01:00.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I try to think like this whenever\NI learn about a new technology,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.46,0:01:03.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or about how anything\Nin the world works.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.33,0:01:04.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How can one thing,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.62,0:01:08.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one technology be applied\Nto something else in the world?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.40,0:01:10.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An example is a while back \NI learned about a new
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.82,0:01:12.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,waterproof film for electronics.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.63,0:01:14.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I applied this exercise.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.68,0:01:18.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Where else in the world\Nmight a waterproof film be useful?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.93,0:01:23.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then I realized, if you could stick\Na waterproof film into shampoo,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.40,0:01:25.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you could eliminate umbrellas.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.53,0:01:29.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I have no idea if\Nthis is scientifically plausible
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.68,0:01:34.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it seems like a cool idea\Nand it's worth exploring, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.48,0:01:38.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you open your mind you can\Ncome up with really creative ideas
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.07,0:01:41.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by connecting objects and\Ntechnologies that on the surface
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.30,0:01:45.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,seemingly have nothing\Nto do with each other.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.35,0:01:48.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's another example.\NThis is the Breathe Right nasal strip.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.59,0:01:52.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was created by a\NDisney Imagineer, not a doctor.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.12,0:01:55.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one night he went to sleep\Nand his nose was stuffy
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.11,0:01:59.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he realized that if you\Nlift the skin on your nose
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.18,0:02:01.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can breath clearly.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.09,0:02:02.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so he invented \Na strip that does just that
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.99,0:02:07.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the result is \Na multimillion-dollar product.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.89,0:02:10.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Space elevators, \Nenergy derived from water,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.89,0:02:15.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,food that is synthesized from\Nboxes of carbon and oxygen.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.12,0:02:16.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These kind of all seem like crazy ideas,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.71,0:02:20.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but maybe these ideas just\Nhaven't been fully explored yet.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.08,0:02:24.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We live in a world where\Nwe are divided by skill set
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.48,0:02:26.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,according to our\Neducational backgrounds
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.69,0:02:30.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the letters next to\Nour names like PhD and MD.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.11,0:02:32.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These people are considered\Nthe experts in their fields.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.69,0:02:35.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so naturally one would\Nassume that the people
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.34,0:02:37.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that know the most about their fields
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.31,0:02:39.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will be the innovators\Nwithin their fields.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.78,0:02:41.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And often times they are.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.76,0:02:45.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But these people are also hindered\Nsometimes because they know too much.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.97,0:02:47.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They've been trained\Nto think in a certain way
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.80,0:02:50.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so their knowledge\Nand expertise in a field
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.08,0:02:52.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is thus narrowly tied\Nto their own experiences
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.58,0:02:54.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to what they've been taught.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.30,0:02:57.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in this way people are\Nsometimes trained to think
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.02,0:02:59.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,inside of the box.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.36,0:03:02.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Experts often look at problems\Nfrom the same viewpoint
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.29,0:03:04.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it becomes\Nalmost impossible for them
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.17,0:03:07.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see it from\Na different perspective.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.22,0:03:09.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in fact it creates\Na cognitive dissonance or
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.68,0:03:12.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a discomfort in all of us \Nwhen we're forced
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.28,0:03:15.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to view things in a way\Nin which we are not used to.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.73,0:03:18.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in other words,\Nby virtue of having perspective,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.40,0:03:20.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we lack perspective.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.23,0:03:22.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this phenomenon greatly hinders
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.67,0:03:26.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,technological innovation and creativity.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.55,0:03:28.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so it's no coincidence\Nthat most great discoveries
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.99,0:03:31.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were made by people\Nearly in their careers.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.64,0:03:34.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's no coincidence that\Nmost Nobel Prize winners
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.12,0:03:36.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,came up with their \Ngroundbreaking research
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.10,0:03:37.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,during or soon after their graduate studies.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.97,0:03:41.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And yet these people are\Noften not awarded their big prizes
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.25,0:03:43.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until decades after their research.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.58,0:03:47.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Until the implications of \Ntheir research are in common use.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.52,0:03:50.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I propose that it's the people\Nwho don't look at new fields
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.89,0:03:54.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a jaded eye, who are not\Ntied to five, ten, twenty years
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.65,0:03:57.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of training who are able\Nto come in and look at a problem
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.28,0:04:00.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from an entirely fresh perspective.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.02,0:04:02.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They can come in with\Na fresh way of looking at problems
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.35,0:04:04.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,departing from the traditional approaches
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.28,0:04:07.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that have been followed by the experts.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.21,0:04:09.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And without constraints\Nof an ingrained framework
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.60,0:04:12.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they can look at problems\Nwithout decades of prejudice,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.66,0:04:15.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and be able to come\Nup with big connections
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.17,0:04:17.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between objects and\Ntechnologies that seemingly
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.78,0:04:21.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have nothing to do with each other.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.31,0:04:23.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So last October while I was\Nan undergraduate at Penn
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.68,0:04:26.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I came up with a way\Nto wirelessly transmit power
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.30,0:04:28.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through the air in just two days.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.85,0:04:30.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just by thinking about\Nthe problem differently
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.82,0:04:33.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and by asking a lot of questions.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.17,0:04:37.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was not an engineer\Nand I did not have Asperger's.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.36,0:04:39.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My experience has shown me\Nthat there is a lot
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.80,0:04:41.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of creativity in this world\Nthat is not being harnessed
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.96,0:04:45.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because people don't have\Nthe right letters next to their names.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.24,0:04:47.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And because people are\Ntoo afraid to push forward
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.66,0:04:53.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their ideas that can't possibly work\Nbecause they thought of it.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.13,0:04:57.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I looked at my wireless laptop\Nwith a 15-foot wire
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.58,0:04:59.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,dangling from its power socket
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.62,0:05:02.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wondered\Nhow can I get rid of that cord?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.52,0:05:04.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How could I beam\Nenergy to my computer
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.55,0:05:06.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that I didn't have to\Nplug it in to charge it?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.84,0:05:10.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How could I make\Ncharging more like Wi-Fi?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.52,0:05:12.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I began by thinking about objects
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.17,0:05:14.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that beamed energy through the air.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.23,0:05:15.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I asked really simple questions.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.98,0:05:18.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Things that people in this room\Nprobably already know.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.06,0:05:19.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like,\Nhow do remote controls work?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.88,0:05:22.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How do lasers work?\NHow does Wi-Fi work?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.83,0:05:24.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I googled the wireless\Npower landscape
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.86,0:05:27.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and realized that there were\Na few viable solutions.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.37,0:05:29.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But each solution had\Nits own set of problems
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.25,0:05:33.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that would get in the way\Nof its commercialization.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.86,0:05:36.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I realized that you\Ncould beam the entire
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.19,0:05:38.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,electromagnetic spectrum,\Nwhich is basically everything
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.38,0:05:41.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from radio waves to gamma waves.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.06,0:05:43.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the right half of the spectrum\Nwas too dangerous to beam.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.26,0:05:45.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, you wouldn't want\NX-rays whizzing through your body
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.70,0:05:47.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just to be able to charge your cell phone.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.50,0:05:50.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the left half of the spectrum\Nwas either too inefficient
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.29,0:05:53.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or too tightly regulated by the government.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.19,0:05:56.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I had to approach the problem creatively.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.19,0:05:58.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I looked into harnessing\Nthe energy from vibrations
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.70,0:06:03.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that constantly surround us like \Nthe road bumps you feel in your car.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.15,0:06:06.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But how could my electronic devices \Nharness this energy?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.72,0:06:09.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I knew that no one would want to stick \Na shaker to the back of their phone
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.93,0:06:13.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or stick bulky energy\Nharvesting plates in their shoes.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.67,0:06:19.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I had to figure out a way\Nto send vibrations through the air.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.21,0:06:22.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then I realized sound does that.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.77,0:06:25.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sound travels through the air\Nby vibrating air particles
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.60,0:06:28.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and because sound is a form of energy,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.38,0:06:31.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can harness\Nthe vibrational energy of sound.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.53,0:06:33.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I started doing research on ultrasound
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.19,0:06:36.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it was too high in frequency\Nfor you to be able to hear it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.74,0:06:38.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in my research \NI learned that ultrasound
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.53,0:06:42.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was used to create acoustic weapons.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.12,0:06:44.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I figured that if there was\Nenough energy from ultrasound
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.81,0:06:50.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to create a bomb, you could probably\Ncharge your cell phone with it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.37,0:06:53.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So how does a Paleobiology major at Penn
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.07,0:06:56.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,learn how to convert\Nultrasound into electricity?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.88,0:07:00.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I literally just googled it.\NAnd I found a --\N
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.46,0:07:05.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.78,0:07:08.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I found a material that did just that.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.67,0:07:10.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is less than 48 hours after
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.75,0:07:13.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the original idea \Nof creating wireless power.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.96,0:07:17.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ultrasonic wireless power.\NIt seemed like an awesome idea,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.75,0:07:22.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I figured that if I thought of it\Nthere was no way it could work.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.53,0:07:24.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why hadn't somebody else \Nthought of it before?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.85,0:07:28.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why hadn't the ultrasound expert\Nthought of it before?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.50,0:07:31.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I didn't know enough about the technology\Nto determine if it could work or not.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.68,0:07:34.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I was a little hesitant\Nto tell any real engineers about it.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.71,0:07:37.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because honestly, I thought\Nthey would laugh at me.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.24,0:07:39.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought they would think I was stupid.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.78,0:07:41.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But about a week or so later I decided
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.52,0:07:43.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to tell my physics professor\Nabout the idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.89,0:07:46.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when I did, \Nhe told me that it wouldn't work.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.24,0:07:48.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That there was no way \Nthat I could get enough energy
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.30,0:07:51.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,out of ultrasound to be able\Nto charge a cell phone.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.49,0:07:57.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was crushed, but I kept thinking\Nabout that acoustic bomb.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.98,0:08:00.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I knew that I needed to do more research,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.06,0:08:04.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I read paper after paper on ultrasound\Nand I devised the basic system.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.92,0:08:07.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I tried to teach myself\Nas much as I possibly could.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.63,0:08:09.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was reading\N"Electrical Engineering For Dummies"
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.47,0:08:14.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and begging professors to teach me\Nextra concepts after class.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.69,0:08:17.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And as outlandish as it sounds,\NI decided to submit the idea
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.20,0:08:19.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the Penn Invention Competition.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.75,0:08:23.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I ordered a few ultrasonic\Ntransmitters and receivers online.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.42,0:08:25.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And got an electrical engineering student
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.68,0:08:28.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to help me wire a few things together.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.44,0:08:32.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We were able to prove that you could beam
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.44,0:08:36.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a tiny amount of power over about an inch.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.25,0:08:39.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was enough to keep me going.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.22,0:08:41.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We won the student invention competition.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.73,0:08:45.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And a few days later,\NI was told that Walt Mossberg,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.12,0:08:47.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the senior technology columnist\Nfor the Wall Street Journal
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.90,0:08:50.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wanted to speak to us.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.82,0:08:55.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was crazy. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.02,0:08:58.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He told us that if we could build \Na real prototype of this technology
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.40,0:09:01.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we could demo it \Nat his annual tech conference.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.20,0:09:04.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, at the time I didn't know\Nmuch about Walt or his D conference.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.07,0:09:07.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I soon learned that this was \Nthe premier tech conference of the year.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.50,0:09:10.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That this was where\NSteve Jobs debated Bill Gates.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.98,0:09:13.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I knew I needed to get to this conference.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.08,0:09:16.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I had absolutely no idea\Nif I could really build it.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.83,0:09:20.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had one month.\NThe race was on.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.61,0:09:22.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So to make this thing work,\NI had to scale it up
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.70,0:09:26.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from basically what was a tiny little toy\Nto a decent sized prototype.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.64,0:09:29.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now remember, I was\Nthe idea person, you know.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.02,0:09:31.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I could tell you about the science \Nand how it works,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.43,0:09:34.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I had absolutely no idea\Nhow to wire anything together.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.61,0:09:37.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I found an engineer in Indiana\Nand I begged him
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.21,0:09:39.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to help me build this prototype.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.80,0:09:42.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I simplified the design\Nusing off the shelf parts.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.69,0:09:46.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we worked together day and night\Nfor two straight weeks over the phone
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.64,0:09:50.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,building this prototype and we finished\Nit just two days before the conference.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.55,0:09:52.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I got it working only 10 minutes
Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.46,0:09:56.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before I had to demo it for the first time.\N(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.28,0:09:59.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Talk about anxiety.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.01,0:10:01.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it worked and that was so cool.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.92,0:10:04.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We beamed energy over three feet \Nand at about thirty times
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.93,0:10:07.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the amount of power that we got out
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.15,0:10:10.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the initial proof of concept model.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.35,0:10:12.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The conference was an enormous success.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.96,0:10:15.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it surprisingly spurred \Na lot of anger and criticism
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.96,0:10:18.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from real engineers.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.25,0:10:21.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.09,0:10:24.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They told me that it could\Nnever work on a larger scale,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.17,0:10:26.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was no way you could actually
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.18,0:10:27.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,use ultrasound to charge a cell phone,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.78,0:10:30.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that what I was trying to do was impossible.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.74,0:10:33.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I also knew \Nthat no one could really determine
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.30,0:10:35.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if the technology could work or not.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.49,0:10:37.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because the technology didn't exist yet.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.75,0:10:40.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what I had shown there on the D stage
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.17,0:10:41.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was using off the shelf parts.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:41.71,0:10:44.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We hadn't even tried to push it further.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.60,0:10:46.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I kept hearing the same story about
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.28,0:10:48.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how one person would say\Nsomething was impossible,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.07,0:10:50.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then somebody else would figure it out.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.48,0:10:53.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But despite my optimism, \NI still felt insecure
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.40,0:10:56.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because so many people\Nwere trying to knock me down.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.26,0:10:58.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I flew around the country\Ntalking to the top professors
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.64,0:11:00.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in acoustic research.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.69,0:11:03.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I was happy to find that \Nmost of them thought it could work.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.66,0:11:06.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But with a few questions.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.32,0:11:09.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And probably the biggest\Nnagging question was:
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.10,0:11:14.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If this thing could work,\Nwhy hadn't it been done before?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.54,0:11:16.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it also seemed that\Nfor every positive opinion I got
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.81,0:11:18.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was another negative one.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.89,0:11:21.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I couldn't believe how\Nthere were such different
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.74,0:11:25.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,opinions by experts in the same field.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.40,0:11:29.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But despite my frustration, this was\Na very important lesson for me to learn.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.97,0:11:32.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This taught me to be skeptical of experts,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.24,0:11:36.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that expertise represented\Na narrow way of looking at things,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.50,0:11:39.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that experts knew what they knew \Nbased on their own prior studies.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.53,0:11:42.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And since ultrasonic\Nwireless power didn't exist yet,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.92,0:11:44.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no one had prior studies with it.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.46,0:11:49.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So no one could really determine\Nif this could work on a larger scale.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.24,0:11:51.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And nobody really \Nfully understood the problem.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.85,0:11:56.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so no one could\Naccurately answer my questions.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.15,0:11:58.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I realized that it was up to me to solve it.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:58.51,0:12:00.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this was a very daunting prospect
Dialogue: 0,0:12:00.28,0:12:03.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,considering my scientific background\Nwas at the undergraduate level.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.77,0:12:07.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And my engineering was largely self-taught.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:07.66,0:12:12.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So asking seven people the same\Nquestion and averaging the answer
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.89,0:12:15.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was a very inefficient way about doing things,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.78,0:12:18.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it did push the concept forward.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.58,0:12:20.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the further that I dug \Ninto the technology
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.100,0:12:24.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the theory behind it
Dialogue: 0,0:12:24.59,0:12:28.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the more complex\Nthe technological hurdles became.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:28.01,0:12:30.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And with each new hurdle\Nanother engineer would tell me:
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.58,0:12:32.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not going to work.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.88,0:12:36.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But because I already learned\Nto not trust one person's opinion
Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.10,0:12:38.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I became immune to the naysayers.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:38.87,0:12:42.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For each technological hurdle\Ndeemed insurmountable by the experts
Dialogue: 0,0:12:42.06,0:12:44.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would spend just a few hours\Nthinking about the problem
Dialogue: 0,0:12:44.74,0:12:46.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from a variety of approaches.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.89,0:12:51.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As Steve Jobs said,\NI had to think differently.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:51.32,0:12:55.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I found solutions based on\Nthe acoustics of musical instruments,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:55.62,0:12:58.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,based on other technologies\Nand from basic research,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.67,0:13:03.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,such as -- from authoritative\Nsources such as Wikipedia.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:03.61,0:13:06.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when I would present\Nmy progress to the engineers
Dialogue: 0,0:13:06.73,0:13:10.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they'd say,\N"Yeah, that could work."
Dialogue: 0,0:13:10.46,0:13:12.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I was able solve problems
Dialogue: 0,0:13:12.61,0:13:14.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when the PhD experts couldn't
Dialogue: 0,0:13:14.43,0:13:18.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with just a few hours of really simple research.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.06,0:13:20.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Every single argument over\Nwhy the technology couldn't work
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.98,0:13:23.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has been indisputably wrong.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.36,0:13:25.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And for every objection that's been raised
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.76,0:13:28.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've found solutions.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.35,0:13:31.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was another very important\Nlesson for me to learn.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:31.02,0:13:33.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Engineers are inherently\Nlinear thinkers
Dialogue: 0,0:13:33.46,0:13:37.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and tend to take a very binary approach \Nto solving problems.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.26,0:13:41.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When faced with a problem they think:\NCan this work, or can this not work?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:41.88,0:13:44.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I would think,\NHow can I make this work?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:44.94,0:13:47.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As a non-expert \NI had an advantage because
Dialogue: 0,0:13:47.21,0:13:48.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I could look at a problem\Nfrom different angles
Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.95,0:13:51.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I just didn't know it was possible.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:51.64,0:13:54.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Being naive is sometimes a good thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.20,0:13:58.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because without constraints\Nthe world is truly your oyster.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.39,0:14:02.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now this is not to say that experts \Naren't necessary, that is entirely false.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:02.58,0:14:06.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Experts are extremely critical\Nin carrying scientific visions forward
Dialogue: 0,0:14:06.90,0:14:10.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and driving ideas to reality.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:10.28,0:14:13.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And now eight months later\NI have four of the top
Dialogue: 0,0:14:13.34,0:14:17.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ultrasonic engineers in the world\Nworking for me, or working with me.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:17.44,0:14:19.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:14:19.76,0:14:24.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And developing my prototype\Naccording to my design.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:24.53,0:14:26.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's going to work and\Nit's going to be awesome.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:26.97,0:14:28.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I can't wait\Nto give the middle finger and smile
Dialogue: 0,0:14:28.87,0:14:31.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to all the engineers\Nthat criticized the crap out of me.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:31.53,0:14:35.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:14:38.99,0:14:41.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My experience also made me wonder
Dialogue: 0,0:14:41.51,0:14:44.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how many game changing,\Nbrilliant ideas out there
Dialogue: 0,0:14:44.28,0:14:48.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thought of by laypeople, teenagers,\Nstore clerks, paleobiologists
Dialogue: 0,0:14:48.39,0:14:50.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have been squashed by experts that said:
Dialogue: 0,0:14:50.78,0:14:52.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"That can't work."
Dialogue: 0,0:14:52.41,0:14:53.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know that if I weren't\Nas stubborn as I am
Dialogue: 0,0:14:53.90,0:14:56.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would have chucked this\Nentire idea eight months ago.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:56.36,0:15:00.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because I was told that\Nmy idea was impossible.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:00.40,0:15:03.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But by thinking differently,\Nby thinking outside the box,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:03.47,0:15:08.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by thinking around corners\Nyou can outthink the top thinkers.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:08.03,0:15:10.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They say that the most\Nrevolutionary ideas in the world
Dialogue: 0,0:15:10.96,0:15:15.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were considered crazy up until the point\Nthat they became revolutionary.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:15.45,0:15:17.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The world was flat.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:17.82,0:15:20.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Earth was at the center of the Universe.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:20.12,0:15:25.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Electricity could never be tamed\Nand ultrasound can't charge your iPhone.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:25.18,0:15:28.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that was then and this is the future.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:28.30,0:15:30.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So dream out loud. Ask questions.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:30.68,0:15:33.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Take risks. Never give up.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:33.26,0:15:35.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Keep pushing and believe in yourself
Dialogue: 0,0:15:35.05,0:15:37.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even when no one else does.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:37.00,0:15:38.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:38.32,0:15:40.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)