CEO Blog

I was recently at a conference in Orlando and as we gained altitude flying north, I could see Cape Canaveral in the distance, backlit by the morning sun. As the Cape slid past the window, I thought about what the Apollo Space Program had meant to me.

During those missions, I would wait each evening for my father's silhouette to appear at the top of the street, as he walked the two blocks from the bus stop to our home. I would race to grab the paper under his arm, so I could see the latest pictures and diagrams about the moon landing. I would read every article and study the elliptical paths showing the spacecraft's trajectory. My schoolteacher, observing my enthusiasm, appointed me to keep the class updated, and each evening I cut out articles to be posted in the class. I huddled over the radio listening to the astronauts reading " one, zero, zero, one, one, zero, one, ...", transfixed by the technology I didn't understand.

As my Orlando flight edged north up the Florida coast, I sat back and thought about the power of Apollo, and the power of American dreams to inspire people across the globe. Kennedy intended the space program to inspire Americans to become engineers and scientists. But I wasn't an American child. I was halfway round the world growing up in South Africa. And were it not for Apollo 11, I would not be an engineer.

Posted by Clive Smith in Blog at 03:39 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0)

A recent question was posted regarding the Recording Package and the new iPods, so here are a few answers:

Q. What iPod comes with the Stethoscope Recording Package?
A. Right now, we're shipping the 2Gig 2nd Generation iPod nano. That's the tall thin one, not the new square one with video. The reason - the Xtrememac Micromemo recording attachment isn't yet available for the new nano, so even though the new nano records, the accessory isn't available yet. So until this changes, we're doing our best to stock 2nd generation nanos along with matching Micromemos so customers have a recording solution.

Q. Is there any way to record on the new nano?
A. Yes, there is. If you use the Xtrememac Micromemo for VIDEO, it will actually plug into the NEW nano and you can record.

Q. Can I use any other mp3 recorder to record heart sounds?
A. Yes. The ds32a Digital Stethoscope includes cables with standard 3.5mm plugs that allow you to connect to any device that records, and that is floating (battery operated). So If there are other brands that you'd like to use for recording, that's no problem. We like the iPod for its recording quality and outstanding user interface. It's a solution that works well, and it easy to use.

Q. When will you ship the Stethoscope Recording Package with the new nano?
A. We don't have a date on the availability of the next generation Micromemo recording accessory. As soon as its available and we've tested it, we'll switch over to the new generation.

Posted by Clive Smith in Blog at 23:18 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

A doctor was telling me today about his recently purchased PC that he's returning to the store due to technical problems. He complained that he had spent days uninstalling all the junk software thrown on by the manufacturer, and now he'd have to do this again when he exchanges his PC for another brand.

Computers have become billboards for dozens of software companies to try and sell their products and subscriptions. Boot any computer today and it pops up with all manner of offerings.

Don't these companies get it? All we want is basic functionality so we can get on with our work. Since this is so hard to come by, here's a suggestion for PC manufacturers - sell the junk-laden PC's if you insist, but give us the option to pay an extra $50 to have a simpler version without all the "features". We'd gladly pay more for less.

Apple is famous for its iPod design which provides simplicity and functionality at the same time. We've focused on the same thing - give doctors all the features they need in a stethoscope, and NOTHING ELSE.

In this technological age, features are easy, complicated is easy, unnecessary is easy. The best designs are those that resist all these temptations and keep things simple.

As Apple has shown, simple is worth paying for.

Posted by Clive Smith in Blog at 01:15 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

Around this time of year, American college kids migrate across the country to colleges far from home. It's not like this in every country. In Europe, Australia, and South Africa where I grew up, kids typically go to college in their home town. So this rite of passage, this educational journey, is not to be taken for granted. It's a challenging, wonderful growth experience for those privileged to partake and no doubt contributes to the adaptability of young Americans.

In China, a small but growing percentage of students are also going to college, but the large educational migration occurs when high school graduates leave their rural homes for the large industrial cities. Like their American counterparts, they'll live in dormitories, meet new people, party, and see things they've never seen before. But they'll be working in large factories pumping out clothing, sneakers, iPods, notebook computers, and stethoscopes.

Besides the obvious differences between factory life and college life, there's another striking contrast. In China, kids send money back home to support their parents. In America, we send money to support our kids education. We also need to provide for them - clothing, sneakers, iPods, notebook computers, and for medical students, stethoscopes.

Posted by Clive Smith in Blog at 03:07 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Paul Paresky, CEO of stethoscope.com, is riding the Pan Mass Challenge tomorrow, a bike-a-thon to raise money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. It's Paul's fourth year riding the Challenge, and tomorrow he'll be doing it in 93 degree heat.

Nine years ago, Paul finished treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Unable to travel for business, he started stethoscope.com, and he's been selling the Thinklabs Digital Stethoscope since we released it almost four years ago.

When we see patients and doctors deal with adversity and triumph over a disease, and people giving back to help others, we can't stand on the sidelines. So we're sponsoring Paul's team by donating money to PMC for every Thinklabs stethoscope purchased from stethoscope.com, for the next 2 weeks.

I wrote recently about the movie Sicko, and the trouble with healthcare in America. This is about what's right in American healthcare - people working together to beat cancer.

Paul, best of luck to your and your team.

Paul's Story
Pan Mass Challenge
Thinklabs ds32a at Stethoscope.com

Posted by Clive Smith in Blog at 00:48 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)