Notes From The Field

Field Notes

Observations from the field on hardware, commercialization, innovation ecosystems, trade shows and community building.

Articles & Field Notes

Notes on communities, industry events, hardware ecosystems and technical commercialization.

Published Notes

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8 Notes

Ecosystems & Community • Oct 23, 2026

When I Can't Help, I Make the Introduction

Not every conversation needs to become business for me. If a problem sits outside my wheelhouse and I know someone who may be able to help, I would rather make the introduction.

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Commercialization & Manufacturing • Oct 16, 2026

The Trade-Off Is Part of the Answer

In hardware, the technically possible answer is not always the practical one. Price and lead time can change the recommendation, and being transparent about those trade-offs is part of helping the customer.

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Hardware & Product Development • Oct 9, 2026

Start With the Use Case

When a customer does not yet have clear component requirements, the most useful place to start is often not the datasheet. It is understanding how the product will actually be used.

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Industry & Market Insights • Oct 2, 2026

Reading the Trade Show Floor

When I walk a trade show, I’m looking at more than the products. I pay attention to what keeps showing up, how companies are trying to stand out, and whether customers actually want the technologies everyone is talking about.

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Hardware & Product Development • Sep 25, 2026

Acoustics Beyond the Datasheet

A speaker or microphone can look perfect on a datasheet and still perform very differently once it is inside a product. Some thoughts on why the enclosure, placement, sealing and mechanical design matter just as much as the component itself.

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Commercialization & Manufacturing • Sep 18, 2026

From Prototype to Production

A working prototype can make you feel close to production. In reality, there is still a lot to learn, and rushing through EVT, DVT and PVT can end up costing more time later.

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Ecosystems & Community • Sep 12, 2026

From Networking to Community

Why taking the pressure out of networking can lead to better conversations, stronger relationships and, sometimes, unexpected collaborations.

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Ecosystems & Community • Sep 10, 2026

Networking in San Diego

After moving from the Bay Area to San Diego, I quickly noticed that networking felt different. Conversations were more casual, work and friendships mixed more naturally, and not every relationship needed to start with a business reason.

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