Stunt Hackers and Engineers and the dawn of LOUD
by Wade Winright | - 5:30pm
In the mid 20th century there was something new happening and due to the actions of a couple of hackers, it changed the way that we hear the world around us.
A guitar player began experimenting with different guitar construction types to reduce the inherent feedback that guitars of that time would produce. His persistence in his designs and experimentation with his showmanship performances allowed him to create innovations so ubiquitous today that they can be performed on the little light-up rectangles we all carry on our persons.
A radio repairman saw a need for resilient and innovative amplification and did what any good hacker would do and started creating. He created some of the most reliable and easily repairable high powered amplifiers (and guitars) that led to everything from earthshaking displays of awesomeness at a concerts, to audio systems used at conferences to deliver the messages of amazing presenters.
There is a direct correlation in our industry that we should explore; The difference between the stunt hacker who’s antics and exploration become industry changing and the true building prowess of an innovative and seasoned engineer who realised and adapted to the harsh environment that his creations were sure to face. Both have lessons from the past that we can learn from today.
About Wade Winright
“I like to make noise and break things, I like to dress up like a spaceman, my invisible friend’s name is Fred, sometimes I’m afraid of what’s under my bed but…most of all..I like to make noise and break things”. I also have a pretty cool day job as Senior Director of Security at Aiven where I lead a team of rockstars keeping billions of data records secure.