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{{Short description|21st-century American entrepreneur and computer chip designer}} {{Short description|American entrepreneur and computer chip designer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox person/Wikidata {{Infobox person/Wikidata
| name = Jeri Ellsworth | name = Jeri Ellsworth
| image = You're_one_baaad_cat.jpg | image = Jeri Ellsworth CAX 2009.jpg
| image_size = | alt = Jeri Ellsworth, 2009
| caption = Ellsworth at California Extreme (Classic Arcade Games Show), 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caextreme.org/ |title=Home |website=caextreme.org}}</ref>
| alt = Jeri Ellsworth
| caption = Jeri Ellsworth, 2008
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|08|14}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|08|14}}
| birth_place = ], United States<ref name="engadget.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/10/17/castar-augmented-reality/|title=castAR bets big on its augmented reality hardware with move to Silicon Valley|work=Engadget|first=Nicole|last=Lee|date=October 17, 2014|access-date=February 7, 2015}}</ref> | birth_place = ], United States<ref name="engadget.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/10/17/castar-augmented-reality/|title=castAR bets big on its augmented reality hardware with move to Silicon Valley|work=Engadget|first=Nicole|last=Lee|date=October 17, 2014|access-date=February 7, 2015}}</ref>
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| known_for = | known_for =
| employer = Tilt Five | employer = Tilt Five
| occupation = ]<br>]er | occupation = ]<br />]er
| nationality = American
| fetchwikidata=ALL | fetchwikidata=ALL
}} }}


'''Jeri Janet Ellsworth''' (born August 14, 1974) is an American ], ] designer and inventor. She gained fame in 2004 for creating a complete ] ] ] housed within a ], called ].<ref>https://esc-sv09.techinsightsevents.com/keynotes/</ref><ref name="nytimes-2004-12-20-Markoff"/> It runs 30 video games from the 1980s, and at peak, sold over 70,000 units in a single day via the ] ].<ref name="nytimes-2004-12-20-Markoff"/> '''Jeri Janet Ellsworth''' (born August 14, 1974) is an American ], ] designer and inventor. She gained fame in 2004 for creating a complete ] ] ] housed within a ], called ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://esc-sv09.techinsightsevents.com/keynotes/|title = Keynote Addresses &#124; ESC Silicon Valley}}</ref><ref name="nytimes-2004-12-20-Markoff"/> It runs 30 video games from the 1980s, and at peak, sold over 70,000 units in a single day via the ] ].<ref name="nytimes-2004-12-20-Markoff"/>


Ellsworth was hired by ] to develop augmented reality hardware, but was let go in 2013. She co-founded ] to continue the work—with permission—but the company shut down on June 26, 2017 without completing development.<ref name="benchoff">{{cite web|last1=Benchoff|first1=Brian|title=CastAR Shuts Doors|url=https://hackaday.com/2017/06/27/castar-shuts-doors/|website=Hackaday|date=June 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theamphour.com/394-jeri-ellsworth-and-the-demise-of-castar/|title=#394 – Jeri Ellsworth and the demise of CastAR|date=2018-05-29|website=The Amp Hour Electronics Podcast|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-27}}</ref> She started another company, Tilt Five, to create AR hardware based on the same principles. Ellsworth was hired by ] to develop augmented reality hardware, but was terminated in 2013. She co-founded ] to continue the work—with permission—but the company shut down on June 26, 2017 without completing development.<ref name="benchoff">{{cite web|last1=Benchoff|first1=Brian|title=CastAR Shuts Doors|url=https://hackaday.com/2017/06/27/castar-shuts-doors/|website=Hackaday|date=June 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theamphour.com/394-jeri-ellsworth-and-the-demise-of-castar/|title=#394 – Jeri Ellsworth and the demise of CastAR|date=2018-05-29|website=The Amp Hour Electronics Podcast|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-27}}</ref> She started another company, Tilt Five, to create AR hardware based on the same principles.


Ellsworth has publicly talked about various homebrew projects, such as how to manufacture semiconductor chips at home.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-04-30|title=#390 – An Interview with Sam Zeloof|url=https://theamphour.com/390-an-interview-with-sam-zeloof/|access-date=2021-02-17|website=The Amp Hour Electronics Podcast|language=en-US}}</ref> Ellsworth has publicly talked about various homebrew projects, such as how to manufacture semiconductor chips at home.<ref>{{Cite podcast|date=2018-04-30|title=#390 – An Interview with Sam Zeloof|url=https://theamphour.com/390-an-interview-with-sam-zeloof/|access-date=2021-02-17|website=The Amp Hour Electronics Podcast|language=en-US}}</ref>


== Early life == == Early life ==
Ellsworth was born in ]<ref name="engadget.com"/> and grew up in the towns of ] and ].<ref name="Ellsworth-talks"/> Her mother died when she was one.<ref name="Ellsworth-talks">{{Citation |last1=Fuller |first1=Brian |date=May 6, 2011 |quote=Jeri Ellsworth, who keynoted at ESC Silicon Valley 2011, talks about her remarkable life and career and innovations with EE Times |title=Jeri Ellsworth, self-taught engineer, talks about her career|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLy0mVkoLio|language=en |via=youtube |access-date=2019-10-23}}</ref> Ellsworth was raised by her father, Jim, a ] car mechanic and ] ] owner.<ref name="nytimes-2004-12-20-Markoff"/> Ellsworth was born in ]<ref name="engadget.com"/> and grew up in the towns of ] and ]. Her mother died when she was one.<ref name="Ellsworth-talks">{{Citation |last1=Fuller |first1=Brian |date=May 6, 2011 |quote=Jeri Ellsworth, who keynoted at ESC Silicon Valley 2011, talks about her remarkable life and career and innovations with EE Times |title=Jeri Ellsworth, self-taught engineer, talks about her career|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLy0mVkoLio |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/cLy0mVkoLio| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|language=en |via=youtube |access-date=2019-10-23}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Ellsworth was raised by her father, Jim, a car mechanic and ] ] owner.<ref name="nytimes-2004-12-20-Markoff"/>


When she was eight years old, she disassembled her toys to learn how they worked. In response her father stopped buying toys, put a empty box at his work saying "bring your broken electronic gizmos", and every few weeks, gave them to her. She started making simple modifications to them.<ref name="Ellsworth-talks"/> She persuaded her father to let her use a ] computer which had been purchased for her brother.<ref name="nytimes-2004-12-20-Markoff"/> She taught herself to program by reading the manual. She earned spending money working for her father, pumpimg gas, cleaning wrenches, replacing oil filters, and other "mechanical things".<ref name="Ellsworth-talks"/> When she was eight years old, she disassembled her toys to learn how they worked. In response her father stopped buying toys, put an empty box at his work saying "bring your broken electronic gizmos", and every few weeks, gave them to her. She started making simple modifications to them.<ref name="Ellsworth-talks"/> She persuaded her father to let her use a ] computer which had been purchased for her brother.<ref name="nytimes-2004-12-20-Markoff"/> She taught herself to program by reading the manual. She earned spending money working for her father, pumping gas, cleaning wrenches, replacing oil filters, and other "mechanical things".<ref name="Ellsworth-talks"/>


In high school, she drove ] with her father and began designing new models in his workshop, eventually selling custom race cars.<ref name="nytimes-2004-12-20-Markoff"/> She ] of high school to continue the business.<ref name="nytimes-2004-12-20-Markoff"/> In high school, she drove ] cars with her father and began designing new models in his workshop, eventually selling custom race cars. She ] of high school to continue the business.<ref name="nytimes-2004-12-20-Markoff"/>


== Computer stores == == Computer stores ==
{{CSS image crop
⚫ ]).<ref>{{cite web |title=COMPUTERS MADE EASY I INC |url=http://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.show_detl?p_be_rsn=67389&p_srce=BR_INQ&p_print=FALSE |website=Business Registry |publisher=] |access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref>]]
|Image = Jeri Ellsworth at her store.jpg
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⚫ |Description = Ellsworth, in front of one of her stores, ''Computers Made Easy'' in 2000<ref>{{cite web |title=COMPUTERS MADE EASY I INC |url=https://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.show_detl?p_be_rsn=67389&p_srce=BR_INQ&p_print=FALSE |website=Business Registry |publisher=] |access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref>
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In 1995, at the age of 21, Ellsworth tired of race track social atmosphere,<ref name="Ellsworth-talks"/> so she and a friend started a business assembling and selling computers based around the ] ]. When she and her partner had a disagreement,<ref name="nytimes-2004-12-20-Markoff"/> Ellsworth opened a separate business in competition. This became a chain of four stores, "Computers Made Easy", selling consumer electronics services and equipment in the ] towns of ],<ref>http://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.show_detl?p_be_rsn=849726&p_srce=BR_INQ&p_print=FALSE</ref> ], ].<ref name="Expo Jeri Ellsworth 1st"/><ref name="Statesman Journal 2006"> In 1995, at the age of 21, Ellsworth tired of race track social atmosphere,<ref name="Ellsworth-talks"/> so she and a friend started a business assembling and selling computers based around the ] ]. When she and her partner had a disagreement,<ref name="nytimes-2004-12-20-Markoff"/> Ellsworth opened a separate business in competition. This became a chain of four stores, "Computers Made Easy", selling consumer electronics services and equipment in the ] towns of ],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.show_detl?p_be_rsn=849726&p_srce=BR_INQ&p_print=FALSE | title=Oregon Secretary of State }}</ref> ], and ].<ref name="Expo Jeri Ellsworth 1st"/><ref name="Statesman Journal 2006">
{{cite news|last=Monahan |first=Matt |date=January 25, 2005 |url=http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050125/BUSINESS/501250320 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060221204134/http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20050125%2FBUSINESS%2F501250320 |archive-date=February 21, 2006 |title=Joy of electronics sticks with woman, sparking invention |newspaper=] |access-date=2011-03-22 |url-status=dead }} {{cite news|last=Monahan |first=Matt |date=January 25, 2005 |url=http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050125/BUSINESS/501250320 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060221204134/http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20050125%2FBUSINESS%2F501250320 |archive-date=February 21, 2006 |title=Joy of electronics sticks with woman, sparking invention |newspaper=] |access-date=2011-03-22 |url-status=dead }}
</ref> </ref>


When profit margins shrank,<ref name="entrepreneur-2017-Gaudiosi"> When profit margins shrank,<ref name="entrepreneur-2017-Gaudiosi">
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] ]


In 2000, Ellsworth unveiled a prototype video expansion for the C64 at a Commodore Exposition.<ref name="Expo Jeri Ellsworth 1st">{{cite web |author1=Raymond Day |title=Expo Jeri Ellsworth 1st |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB3j911ldY0 |website=] |language=en |date=April 10, 2014 |quote=This is old video when I was at a commodore Expo and first seen Jeri Ellsworth. This is were she burn out a Altair and had a order come right to this place before the Expo started. She was 25 years old in this video, so in 1999.}}</ref> Ellsworth then began designing digital circuits that mimicked the behavior of the Commodore 64. In 2002, she designed the chip used in the ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.c64upgra.de |title=C-One website |publisher=C64upgra.de |access-date=2011-03-23}}</ref> as an enhanced Commodore 64 which could also emulate other home computers of the early 1980s, including the ] and ]. She and a fellow developer displayed the C-One at a technology conference, which led to Mammoth Toys, a Division of NSI International, NSI Products (HK) Limited<ref> In 2000, Ellsworth unveiled a prototype video expansion for the ] at a Commodore Exposition.<ref name="Expo Jeri Ellsworth 1st">{{cite web |author1=Raymond Day |title=Expo Jeri Ellsworth 1st |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB3j911ldY0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/nB3j911ldY0| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|website=] |language=en |date=April 10, 2014 |quote=This is old video when I was at a commodore Expo and first seen Jeri Ellsworth. This is where she burnt out an Altair and had an order come right to this place before the Expo started. She was 25 years old in this video, so in 1999.}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Ellsworth then began designing digital circuits that mimicked the behavior of the C64. In 2002, she designed the chip used in the ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.c64upgra.de |title=C-One website |publisher=C64upgra.de |access-date=2011-03-23}}</ref> as an enhanced C64 which could also emulate other home computers of the early 1980s, including the ] and ]. She and a fellow developer displayed the C-One at a technology conference, which led to Mammoth Toys, a Division of NSI International, NSI Products (HK) Limited<ref>
*https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_15-cv-06997 *{{cite web|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_15-cv-06997|title=15-6997 - Mustafa v. NSI International, Inc. et al|website=govinfo.go}}
*https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47261/680487_128.pdf
*https://www.leagle.com/decision/infdco20161116g15
*{{cite web |last1=Spangenthal-Lee |first1=Jonah |title=In Other Neighborhoods. . . |url=https://www.thestranger.com/seattle/in-other-neighborhoods-/Content?oid=532250 |website=] |access-date=25 September 2021 |language=en |date=March 13, 2008 |quote=... a New York company called Mammoth Toys. Company president Frank Landi says Mammoth...}} *{{cite web |last1=Spangenthal-Lee |first1=Jonah |title=In Other Neighborhoods. . . |url=https://www.thestranger.com/seattle/in-other-neighborhoods-/Content?oid=532250 |website=] |access-date=25 September 2021 |language=en |date=March 13, 2008 |quote=... a New York company called Mammoth Toys. Company president Frank Landi says Mammoth...}}
*{{cite web |title=MAMMOTH TOYS AND GAMES LLC :: New York (US) |url=https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ny/5850181 |website=OpenCorporates |access-date=25 September 2021}} *{{cite web |title=MAMMOTH TOYS AND GAMES LLC :: New York (US) |url=https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ny/5850181 |website=OpenCorporates |access-date=25 September 2021}}
*{{cite web |title=Mammoth Toys Div Of Nsi Products |url=https://www.importgenius.com/suppliers/mammoth-toys-div-of-nsi-products-h |website=ImportGenius |access-date=25 September 2021}}</ref> hiring her to design the "computer in a chip" for the ] C64-emulating joystick. She began the project in June 2004 and had the project ready to ship by that Christmas. It sold over a half-million units, in the US, Europe, and elsewhere. She didn't receive payment, nor the commission she was owed,<ref name="Ellsworth-talks"/> but a story in the '']'' brought her to the public eye.<ref name="nytimes-2004-12-20-Markoff">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/20/technology/a-toy-with-a-story.html|title=A Toy With a Story|last=Markoff|first=John|date=2004-12-20|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-10-23|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="Ellsworth-talks"/> *{{cite web |title=Mammoth Toys Div Of Nsi Products |url=https://www.importgenius.com/suppliers/mammoth-toys-div-of-nsi-products-h |website=ImportGenius |access-date=25 September 2021}}</ref> hiring her to design the "computer in a chip" for the ] C64-emulating joystick. She began the project in June 2004 and had the project ready to ship by that Christmas. It sold over a half-million units, in the US, Europe, and elsewhere. She did not receive payment, nor the commission she was owed,<ref name="Ellsworth-talks"/> but a story in the '']'' brought her to the public eye.<ref name="nytimes-2004-12-20-Markoff">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/20/technology/a-toy-with-a-story.html|title=A Toy With a Story|last=Markoff|first=John|date=2004-12-20|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-10-23|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="Ellsworth-talks"/>


On December 3, 2010 Ellsworth released information on how to build a TSA "naked" scanner using repurposed satellite antenna parts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hackaday.com/2010/12/03/make-your-own-tsa-naked-scanner/ |title=Make Your Own TSA "Naked" Scanner |publisher=Hackaday |date=December 3, 2010 |access-date=2011-03-23}}</ref> Ellsworth has worked on numerous subjects as diverse as homemade semiconductors (2009),<ref name="Maker Faire Bay Area 2009"/> homemade electroluminescent (EL) displays (2010),<ref name="lcd-into-el"/> EL phosphor manufacture from common ingredients and ways to make transparent EL backplanes and phosphor without using expensive indium-tin-oxide coated glass and hard-to-obtain chemicals.<ref name="lcd-into-el">{{cite web |url=http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/06/jeri-ellsworth-turns-an-lcd-into-el.html |title=Jeri Ellsworth turns an LCD into an EL display |publisher=blog.makezine.com |date=June 11, 2010 |access-date=2011-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426032250/http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/06/jeri-ellsworth-turns-an-lcd-into-el.html |archive-date=April 26, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On December 3, 2010 Ellsworth released information on how to build a TSA "naked" scanner using repurposed satellite antenna parts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hackaday.com/2010/12/03/make-your-own-tsa-naked-scanner/ |title=Make Your Own TSA "Naked" Scanner |publisher=Hackaday |date=December 3, 2010 |access-date=2011-03-23}}</ref> Ellsworth has worked on numerous subjects as diverse as homemade semiconductors (2009),<ref name="Maker Faire Bay Area 2009"/> homemade electroluminescent (EL) displays (2010),<ref name="lcd-into-el"/> EL phosphor manufacture from common ingredients and ways to make transparent EL backplanes and phosphor without using expensive indium-tin-oxide coated glass and hard-to-obtain chemicals.<ref name="lcd-into-el">{{cite web |url=http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/06/jeri-ellsworth-turns-an-lcd-into-el.html |title=Jeri Ellsworth turns an LCD into an EL display |publisher=blog.makezine.com |date=June 11, 2010 |access-date=2011-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426032250/http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/06/jeri-ellsworth-turns-an-lcd-into-el.html |archive-date=April 26, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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==Augmented reality== ==Augmented reality==
⚫ In early 2012, Ellsworth and other hardware hackers were hired by ] to work on gaming hardware.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.valvetime.net/threads/im-working-at-valve-on-nextgen-gaming-hardware-jeri-ellsworth.187331/ | title = "I'm working at Valve on nextgen gaming hardware" – Jeri Ellsworth | date = March 10, 2020 | publisher = valvetime.net }}</ref> Along with several other Valve employees, Ellsworth was terminated the following year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/jeriellsworth/status/301521067816669184|title=Jeri Ellsworth on Twitter: "Yup. Got fired today. Time for new exciting projects."|publisher=Twitter.com|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/186592/Several_out_of_work_as_Valve_makes_large_decisions_about_its_future.php|title=Gamasutra: Several out of work as Valve makes 'large decisions' about its future|date=February 13, 2013|publisher=Gamasutra.com|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/02/13/valve-gabe-newell-layoffs-statement/|title=Engadget: Valve's Gabe Newell on reported layoffs|author=Ben Gilbert|work=Engadget|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref>
]
⚫ In early 2012, Ellsworth and other hardware hackers were hired by ] to work on gaming hardware.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.valvetime.net/threads/im-working-at-valve-on-nextgen-gaming-hardware-jeri-ellsworth.187331/ | title = "I'm working at Valve on nextgen gaming hardware" – Jeri Ellsworth | publisher = valvetime.net }}</ref> Along with several other Valve employees, Ellsworth was dismissed the following year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/jeriellsworth/status/301521067816669184|title=Jeri Ellsworth on Twitter: "Yup. Got fired today. Time for new exciting projects."|publisher=Twitter.com|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/186592/Several_out_of_work_as_Valve_makes_large_decisions_about_its_future.php|title=Gamasutra: Several out of work as Valve makes 'large decisions' about its future|publisher=Gamasutra.com|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/02/13/valve-gabe-newell-layoffs-statement/|title=Engadget: Valve's Gabe Newell on reported layoffs|author=Ben Gilbert|work=Engadget|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref>


On May 18, 2013, Ellsworth announced that she had developed an ] development system named ] with fellow ex-Valve engineer Rick Johnson,<ref>{{citation | url = https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/18/4343382/technical-illusions-valve-augmented-reality-glasses-jeri-ellsworth-rick-johnson | title = How two Valve engineers walked away with the company's augmented reality glasses }}</ref> with the blessing of ]'s ],<ref>{{citation | url = https://www.engadget.com/2013/05/18/cast-ar-hands-on-with-jeri-ellsworth-at-maker-faire-2013 | title = cast AR hands-on with Jeri Ellsworth at Maker Faire 2013|publisher=Engadget.com|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> and would be funding it via ] later in the year. Her start-up company, ], started developing castAR.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.technicalillusions.com | title = Technical Illusions|publisher=Technicalillusions.com|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> On May 18, 2013, Ellsworth announced that she had developed an ] development system named ] with fellow ex-Valve engineer Rick Johnson,<ref>{{citation | url = https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/18/4343382/technical-illusions-valve-augmented-reality-glasses-jeri-ellsworth-rick-johnson | title = How two Valve engineers walked away with the company's augmented reality glasses | date = May 18, 2013 }}</ref> with the blessing of ]'s ],<ref>{{citation | url = https://www.engadget.com/2013/05/18/cast-ar-hands-on-with-jeri-ellsworth-at-maker-faire-2013 | title = cast AR hands-on with Jeri Ellsworth at Maker Faire 2013|publisher=Engadget.com|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> and would be funding it via ] later in the year. Her start-up company, ], started developing castAR.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.technicalillusions.com | title = Technical Illusions|publisher=Technicalillusions.com|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref>


Ellsworth later revealed she had been secretly working to make ] have "true VR and true AR" in addition to the previously announced projected AR capabilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc2NQVQK69A|title=CastAR VR / AR System – The 18 Month Story|work=YouTube|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> The castAR Kickstarter,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/technicalillusions/castar-the-most-versatile-ar-and-vr-system|title=castAR: the most versatile AR & VR system|work=Kickstarter|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> launched on October 14, 2013, reached its goal of $400,000 in 56 hours and finished with $1.05&nbsp;million, 263% of the original goal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kicktraq.com/projects/technicalillusions/castar-the-most-versatile-ar-and-vr-system|title=castAR: the most versatile AR & VR system|publisher=Kicktraq.com|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> The project didn't deliver the devices and paid back the funds to backers before shutting down the company in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/27/15879700/castar-augmented-reality-glasses-shutdown-layoffs-report|title=Ambitious augmented reality startup CastAR reportedly shuts down|last=Robertson|first=Adi|date=2017-06-27|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> Ellsworth later revealed she had been secretly working to make ] have "true VR and true AR" in addition to the previously announced projected AR capabilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc2NQVQK69A| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014163717/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc2NQVQK69A| archive-date=2013-10-14 | url-status=dead|title=CastAR VR / AR System – The 18 Month Story|work=YouTube|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> The castAR Kickstarter,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/technicalillusions/castar-the-most-versatile-ar-and-vr-system|title=castAR: the most versatile AR & VR system|work=Kickstarter|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> launched on October 14, 2013, reached its goal of $400,000 in 56 hours and finished with $1.05&nbsp;million, 263% of the original goal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kicktraq.com/projects/technicalillusions/castar-the-most-versatile-ar-and-vr-system|title=castAR: the most versatile AR & VR system|publisher=Kicktraq.com|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> The project didn't deliver the devices and paid back the funds to backers before shutting down the company in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/27/15879700/castar-augmented-reality-glasses-shutdown-layoffs-report|title=Ambitious augmented reality startup CastAR reportedly shuts down|last=Robertson|first=Adi|date=2017-06-27|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref>


In September 2019, Ellsworth initiated a Kickstarter for a new device based on the same principles of the castAR, called Tilt Five.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/24/20881355/tilt-five-castar-augmented-reality-glasses-jeri-ellsworth-kickstarter|title=Jeri Ellsworth's unique AR glasses are back from the dead|last=Hollister|first=Sean|date=2019-09-24|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> This Kickstarter exceeded the previous one, hitting its initial target of $450,000 in 17 hours, and eventually gaining $1,767,301. Initially scheduled to deliver Kickstarter product by June 2020, the manufacturing was delayed by the Covid pandemic, but has continued to sign gaming contracts.<ref>Liam Dawe. Gaming on Linux. June 24, 2021. https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/06/tilt-five-an-upcoming-tabletop-holographic-gaming-system-developed-with-linux</ref> In September 2019, Ellsworth initiated a Kickstarter for a new device based on the same principles of the castAR, called Tilt Five.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/24/20881355/tilt-five-castar-augmented-reality-glasses-jeri-ellsworth-kickstarter|title=Jeri Ellsworth's unique AR glasses are back from the dead|last=Hollister|first=Sean|date=2019-09-24|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> This Kickstarter exceeded the previous one, hitting its initial target of $450,000 in 17 hours, and eventually gaining $1,767,301. Initially scheduled to deliver Kickstarter product by June 2020, the manufacturing was delayed by the Covid pandemic, but has continued to sign gaming contracts.<ref>Liam Dawe. Gaming on Linux. June 24, 2021. https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/06/tilt-five-an-upcoming-tabletop-holographic-gaming-system-developed-with-linux</ref>
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==Personal life== ==Personal life==
Ellsworth is a ] ] and owns over 80 pinball machines.<ref name="engadget.com"/> In 2016, she became a licensed ] operator, holding an Extra Class license.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=3859543|title=FCC ULS Search|access-date=19 November 2016}}</ref> Ellsworth is a ] ] and owns over 80 pinball machines.<ref name="engadget.com"/> In 2016, she became a licensed ] operator, holding an Extra Class license<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=3859543|title=FCC ULS Search|access-date=19 November 2016}}</ref> with callsign AI6TK.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.qrz.com/db/AI6TK |title=QRZ.com|access-date=17 October 2022}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
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Latest revision as of 00:02, 5 October 2024

American entrepreneur and computer chip designer

Jeri Ellsworth
Jeri Ellsworth, 2009Ellsworth at California Extreme (Classic Arcade Games Show), 2009
Born (1974-08-14) August 14, 1974 (age 50)
Georgia, United States
OccupationEntrepreneur
Integrated circuit designer
EmployerTilt Five
Websitehttps://www.jeriellsworth.com/ Edit this on Wikidata

Jeri Janet Ellsworth (born August 14, 1974) is an American entrepreneur, computer chip designer and inventor. She gained fame in 2004 for creating a complete Commodore 64 emulator system on a chip housed within a joystick, called Commodore 30-in-1 Direct to TV. It runs 30 video games from the 1980s, and at peak, sold over 70,000 units in a single day via the QVC shopping channel.

Ellsworth was hired by Valve Corporation to develop augmented reality hardware, but was terminated in 2013. She co-founded castAR to continue the work—with permission—but the company shut down on June 26, 2017 without completing development. She started another company, Tilt Five, to create AR hardware based on the same principles.

Ellsworth has publicly talked about various homebrew projects, such as how to manufacture semiconductor chips at home.

Early life

Ellsworth was born in Georgia and grew up in the towns of Dallas, Oregon and Yamhill, Oregon. Her mother died when she was one. Ellsworth was raised by her father, Jim, a car mechanic and Mobil service station owner.

When she was eight years old, she disassembled her toys to learn how they worked. In response her father stopped buying toys, put an empty box at his work saying "bring your broken electronic gizmos", and every few weeks, gave them to her. She started making simple modifications to them. She persuaded her father to let her use a Commodore 64 computer which had been purchased for her brother. She taught herself to program by reading the manual. She earned spending money working for her father, pumping gas, cleaning wrenches, replacing oil filters, and other "mechanical things".

In high school, she drove dirt track racing cars with her father and began designing new models in his workshop, eventually selling custom race cars. She dropped out of high school to continue the business.

Computer stores

Ellsworth, in front of one of her stores, Computers Made Easy in 2000 Ellsworth, in front of one of her stores, Computers Made Easy in 2000

In 1995, at the age of 21, Ellsworth tired of race track social atmosphere, so she and a friend started a business assembling and selling computers based around the Intel 486 microprocessor. When she and her partner had a disagreement, Ellsworth opened a separate business in competition. This became a chain of four stores, "Computers Made Easy", selling consumer electronics services and equipment in the Willamette Valley towns of Canby, Monmouth, and Albany, Oregon.

When profit margins shrank, she sold the chain in 2000 and moved to Walla Walla, Washington to attend Walla Walla College, studying circuit design. She left after a year because of a "cultural mismatch". Ellsworth said that questioning professors' answers was frowned upon.

Hardware design

Ellsworth at Bay Area Maker Faire 2009

In 2000, Ellsworth unveiled a prototype video expansion for the Commodore 64 at a Commodore Exposition. Ellsworth then began designing digital circuits that mimicked the behavior of the C64. In 2002, she designed the chip used in the C-One as an enhanced C64 which could also emulate other home computers of the early 1980s, including the VIC-20 and ZX81. She and a fellow developer displayed the C-One at a technology conference, which led to Mammoth Toys, a Division of NSI International, NSI Products (HK) Limited hiring her to design the "computer in a chip" for the C64 Direct-to-TV C64-emulating joystick. She began the project in June 2004 and had the project ready to ship by that Christmas. It sold over a half-million units, in the US, Europe, and elsewhere. She did not receive payment, nor the commission she was owed, but a story in the New York Times brought her to the public eye.

On December 3, 2010 Ellsworth released information on how to build a TSA "naked" scanner using repurposed satellite antenna parts. Ellsworth has worked on numerous subjects as diverse as homemade semiconductors (2009), homemade electroluminescent (EL) displays (2010), EL phosphor manufacture from common ingredients and ways to make transparent EL backplanes and phosphor without using expensive indium-tin-oxide coated glass and hard-to-obtain chemicals.

Ellsworth was named "MacGyver of the Day" on February 25, 2010 by Lifehacker.

Ellsworth is a freelance ASIC and FPGA designer.

Augmented reality

In early 2012, Ellsworth and other hardware hackers were hired by Valve to work on gaming hardware. Along with several other Valve employees, Ellsworth was terminated the following year.

On May 18, 2013, Ellsworth announced that she had developed an augmented reality development system named castAR with fellow ex-Valve engineer Rick Johnson, with the blessing of Valve's Gabe Newell, and would be funding it via Kickstarter later in the year. Her start-up company, Technical Illusions, started developing castAR.

Ellsworth later revealed she had been secretly working to make castAR have "true VR and true AR" in addition to the previously announced projected AR capabilities. The castAR Kickstarter, launched on October 14, 2013, reached its goal of $400,000 in 56 hours and finished with $1.05 million, 263% of the original goal. The project didn't deliver the devices and paid back the funds to backers before shutting down the company in 2017.

In September 2019, Ellsworth initiated a Kickstarter for a new device based on the same principles of the castAR, called Tilt Five. This Kickstarter exceeded the previous one, hitting its initial target of $450,000 in 17 hours, and eventually gaining $1,767,301. Initially scheduled to deliver Kickstarter product by June 2020, the manufacturing was delayed by the Covid pandemic, but has continued to sign gaming contracts.

Public speaking and webcasts

Ellsworth was a keynote speaker at the Embedded Systems Conference on May 5, 2011.

From December 2008 until March 2009, Ellsworth hosted a weekly webcast, Fatman and Circuit Girl, together with musician George Sanger. On May 30, 2009, Ellsworth demonstrated her Home Chip Lab at Maker Faire Bay Area 2009.

Personal life

Ellsworth is a pinball aficionado and owns over 80 pinball machines. In 2016, she became a licensed amateur radio operator, holding an Extra Class license with callsign AI6TK.

References

  1. "Home". caextreme.org.
  2. ^ Lee, Nicole (October 17, 2014). "castAR bets big on its augmented reality hardware with move to Silicon Valley". Engadget. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  3. "Keynote Addresses | ESC Silicon Valley".
  4. ^ Markoff, John (December 20, 2004). "A Toy With a Story". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  5. Benchoff, Brian (June 27, 2017). "CastAR Shuts Doors". Hackaday.
  6. "#394 – Jeri Ellsworth and the demise of CastAR". The Amp Hour Electronics Podcast. May 29, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  7. "#390 – An Interview with Sam Zeloof". The Amp Hour Electronics Podcast (Podcast). April 30, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  8. ^ Fuller, Brian (May 6, 2011), Jeri Ellsworth, self-taught engineer, talks about her career, archived from the original on December 12, 2021, retrieved October 23, 2019 – via youtube, Jeri Ellsworth, who keynoted at ESC Silicon Valley 2011, talks about her remarkable life and career and innovations with EE Times
  9. "COMPUTERS MADE EASY I INC". Business Registry. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  10. "Oregon Secretary of State".
  11. ^ Raymond Day (April 10, 2014). "Expo Jeri Ellsworth 1st". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. This is old video when I was at a commodore Expo and first seen Jeri Ellsworth. This is where she burnt out an Altair and had an order come right to this place before the Expo started. She was 25 years old in this video, so in 1999.
  12. Monahan, Matt (January 25, 2005). "Joy of electronics sticks with woman, sparking invention". Statesman Journal. Archived from the original on February 21, 2006. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
  13. Gaudiosi, John (April 10, 2017). "How This Female Inventor Succeeded in Male-Dominated Industries". Entrepreneur. Retrieved September 29, 2021. Jeri Ellsworth is launching a consumer-friendly augmented reality platform, castAR, this fall.
  14. "C-One website". C64upgra.de. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  16. "Make Your Own TSA "Naked" Scanner". Hackaday. December 3, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  17. ^ "Events filled with DIY projects, science, demos, recycling, entertainment, and fun". Maker Faire. Archived from the original on December 18, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  18. ^ "Jeri Ellsworth turns an LCD into an EL display". blog.makezine.com. June 11, 2010. Archived from the original on April 26, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  19. ^ Torrone, Phil (February 25, 2010). "MacGyver of the Day: Electronics Hacker Jeri Ellsworth". Lifehacker.com.
  20. Ganssle, Jack (May 9, 2011). "Fun at the ESC". Embedded.com. Jeri Ellsworth gave Thursday's keynote. A high school dropout, she's now a freelance ASIC designer. Jeri has some quite innovative YouTube videos, and her life story is truly that of the up-from-nothing American entrepreneur.
  21. ""I'm working at Valve on nextgen gaming hardware" – Jeri Ellsworth". valvetime.net. March 10, 2020.
  22. "Jeri Ellsworth on Twitter: "Yup. Got fired today. Time for new exciting projects."". Twitter.com. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  23. "Gamasutra: Several out of work as Valve makes 'large decisions' about its future". Gamasutra.com. February 13, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  24. Ben Gilbert. "Engadget: Valve's Gabe Newell on reported layoffs". Engadget. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  25. How two Valve engineers walked away with the company's augmented reality glasses, May 18, 2013
  26. cast AR hands-on with Jeri Ellsworth at Maker Faire 2013, Engadget.com, retrieved October 6, 2014
  27. "Technical Illusions". Technicalillusions.com. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  28. "CastAR VR / AR System – The 18 Month Story". YouTube. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  29. "castAR: the most versatile AR & VR system". Kickstarter. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  30. "castAR: the most versatile AR & VR system". Kicktraq.com. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  31. Robertson, Adi (June 27, 2017). "Ambitious augmented reality startup CastAR reportedly shuts down". The Verge. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  32. Hollister, Sean (September 24, 2019). "Jeri Ellsworth's unique AR glasses are back from the dead". The Verge. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  33. Liam Dawe. Gaming on Linux. June 24, 2021. https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/06/tilt-five-an-upcoming-tabletop-holographic-gaming-system-developed-with-linux
  34. Branwyn, Gareth (April 28, 2009). "Latest Fatman and Circuit Girl vids". Make. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  35. Joyce, Matt (June 25, 2009). "Fatman and Circuit Girl (Jeri Ellsworth – Rollerderby Superstar) Cover Noah's AR Rig at Notacon". NYC Resistor. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  36. "FCC ULS Search". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  37. "QRZ.com". Retrieved October 17, 2022.

Bibliography

  • Osborn, Steven (2013). "Jeri Ellsworth, Founder, Technical Illusions". Makers at Work: Folks Reinventing the World, One Object Or Idea at a Time. Berkeley, CA. ISBN 978-1-4302-5993-0. OCLC 854612458.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

External links

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