Is it possible that the very best of digital is still yet to come—even without 5G? Padraic McFreen, Father of Smart Technologies, says “…absolutely”
In this Five Article Series, we’re introduced to Padraic McFreen, we learn just a bit of information behind the origin of Smart Technologies, gain an understanding of how some of the technology was conceived and are given a clear view into what is on the horizon of technology—everything Silicon Valley doesn’t want us to know.
Origin of Smart Technologies
While managing computer labs while attending the University of Texas in 1998, Padraic McFreen had an idea: a technology-rich (software and hardware based) network similar to a university campus, but the size of a city, a state, a country and why not the entire planet? “We can very economically scale information technologies and associated networks similar to those used for college campus several orders of magnitude. The result would very likely be an Ethernet network encompassing the globe.” According to Padraic McFreen, “the network would essentially make everything important to me and my life readily accessible and within arms reach—’right here'. The network would present to me my view of the world.”
There were mountains of rational justifications for his idea not to work, namely, technical limitations, telecommunication networks and associated architectures, human resources and costs—not to mention politics, industry alliances, prior investments and good old fashioned resistance to change. Undaunted, Padraic McFreen pushed forward with his idea.
The Internet—Secret Behind Smart Technologies
Padraic McFreen named his idea MiVu—an acronym for Multiservice internet Virtual universe. At the time, conventions dictated the word Internet to be capitalized; however, in his MiVu, Padraic McFreen deliberately spelled internet with a lowercase “i”. Simply put, the internet in his idea was the pre-existing architecture of the World Wide Web.
Instead of using the Internet as a supplement for businesses—brick and mortar businesses—the Internet could be so much more. The Internet has all the essential components of an “universe.” The only thing missing: “a big bang.”
His idea, MiVu, did not include adding anything to the Internet, but would become the occupant of the Internet and coexist within its very confines—wherever the Internet extended, MiVu would be there too. No matter who or what connected to the Internet, MiVu would be connected too. No matter where a user wanted to go on the Internet, MiVu would instantaneously present the desired destination. To simplify, MiVu’s internet universe becomes the Internet—think of it as a symbiotic relationship between two unlikely entities coming together for a single outcome—maximum proliferation.
The complete and full realization of MiVu is a totally wireless and uncluttered universe. All of the components now exist and have existed for some time—since MiVu’s introduction to industry.
MiVu would exist within the Internet and not outside of it, nor push through it. This new and revolutionary idea of a network existing within the pre-existing network of the Internet formed the foundation for his idea—an always on, always connected network. But, that’s only a fraction of his idea—albeit, a most significant element.
Padraic McFreen’s idea, MiVu, contains many technical elements which are too many to list and discuss here; however, a simple view of the most critical elements of his idea are: the national video and content distribution network; the touchscreen application tile responsive thin client devices; and the fiber-to-the-node and bundled stream technologies.
Combined, these inventions form the actual networks in use today as well as the prototypes for what consumers understand to be the DirectConnect, Facetime, iPhones/Smart Phones, U-verse and Internet Protocol Television, High Definition Radio, Application Stores, streaming video and all things you and I refer to as Smart or digital technologies.
All of these wonderful innovations were envisioned, fully vetted and designed by Padraic McFreen. The obvious question is how did he come up with all of these innovations seamlessly connected to one another?
Padraic McFreen injected his years of radio operations and management experiences, media and networks management, computer hardware and software understandings as well as communications sciences and threw most of those learnings and understandings out the window.
Conventional wisdom would not solve for MiVu. He began with a blank white page and asked the simple question—”why not?”
Padraic McFreen’s Startup, MiVu, LLC, Was Absorbed by Lucent Technologies in October-November 2000; Lucent Technologies Reorganized/Rebranded Itself as an Internet Network Company—the MiVu Business Model—Just a Few Months Later
Fast forward to the year 2000, Padraic McFreen had completed his idea and design phases for MiVu—having resolved all of the technological limitations presented by MiVu. In order to proceed to his implementation phase for MiVu, Padraic McFreen partnered with Lucent Technologies/Bell Labs.
Within a few short months, Padraic McFreen’s MiVu was being discussed globally. By 2003, telecommunications giants both domestic and international, were all initiating Beta-tests of key elements of MiVu. By 2007, MiVu had become the white label technological innovation behind, AT&T, Sprint, Apple, Samsung, MiViewTV, Telefonica, Bell, Rogers, and the list continues—expanding to every telecommunications company and continent on the globe.
Padraic McFreen’s MiVu had achieved the impossible for a Black startup technology company and digitally transformed the entire planet. Amazing, right? Not so fast.
Next Installment
In the next installment, Padraic McFreen discusses the MiVu National Video Distribution Network which makes IPTV and video streaming possible, MiVu Last Mile Single Point Access technologies which eliminates buffering, MiVu Bundled Stream Technologies which is the basis for the telecom industry’s Bundled Services Offerings and the MiVu Fiber-to-the-Node Network element which allow you to use any device, anywhere and anytime—always on, always connected.
Want to Learn More
Please send an email to support@chillandhiphop.com. Please include: “Want To Know More” in the subject line. We need to inform others of the origins of Smart technologies and encourage everyone we know to become involved in the digital revolution. We cannot be left behind in an industry that originated with us. Also, read more about Padraic McFreen’s work at iMiVu.com.