"I see IdeaConnection™ as a unique service that links people with totally different skills sets, and provides an opportunity for clients who can use these skills," says Dr. Bernie Harper. He had never worked in a remote environment with a practical project, but says, "University people are used to having network connectivity—it's been in our blood for the past 20 years."

Based in Liverpool, England, Harper teaches media studies at various institutions. He also teaches 3D cinema and retraining for film and TV technicians. And he teaches visual and auditory psychology. Fortunately, his lectures are part-time which allowed Harper to work on this project. And the project gave him the opportunity to turn his design talents, along with visual and auditory perceptions, into a physical invention.

The Team
Although Harper had never met his three team members, they chatted as a group before knowing any details of the projects. Fortunately, they liked each other on the phone and almost immediately, the team was ready to take on a challenge.

"We were very impressed by each other's skills that were perfectly complimentary for this task," Harper says. "We seemed to be able to cover all the bases with very few gaps in our knowledge—and kudos to Paul Wagorn and Scott Wurtele because they realized exactly what the project needed."

But Harper admits there were a few setbacks, mainly technical glitches—such as conversation disconnects on Skype—that hindered communication. And he couldn't experience the physical prototype. "I'd be happy to jump on a plane but it would wipe out about a fifth of our prototype budget to do so," he says with a chuckle. Fortunately geographical boundaries were non-existent: Harper beds down in Liverpool around the same time as team members on the east coast of the US and Canada. "I'm a night owl and always have been," he says.

The Project
"Working on this project was like being thrown in the deep end for the first time and realizing you can swim really well," Harper says. "None of us knew we could really do it but it soon became instinctual and we saw a connecting set of solutions. At first the problem didn't look solvable but we kept persevering; all the team members felt the project was high-level and demanding but we would eventually crack it.

"At first I was a little concerned about meeting the three deadlines. First we agreed to start working as a team; next we had a deadline for the main prototype completion; and third, delivery of the intellectual property materials—a combination of descriptions, plans and videos—which is ongoing. Our next deadline is in a week and barring unforeseen circumstances, we are right on target. The second phase of patenting and pre-production should be possible from the material we deliver at the end of the project.

Harper utilized his visual and auditory skills by way of YouTube. "During the first part of the project our group would search the web, find a video and send the URL to each other as a tech demo," he explains, "and we would all play the video at the same time. Then we would talk about what we are seeing in real time. Two of our ideas came directly from YouTube demos: we merged them together and modified them to the requirements of the prototype."

"The best part of the project was that the prototype appeared almost magically and the engineer made a huge effort to make it work," Harper says. "We think it is a world-beating project, there is nothing like it out there."

Future Projects?
The team is confident that the Solution Seeker wants ongoing projects. "He always hinted it was the first of many projects and now it looks more real," says Harper. "Once the prototype was tested, everyone wanted to be involved in developing it." Harper adds that the Solution Seeker—who works in social computing and VR based solutions—sought IdeaConnection™ because he knows from experience that the web can bring talent together.

Harper believes the potential of IdeaConnection.com is unlimited. "Working on this project has been exciting and I think it will take us onwards and upwards," says Harper. Although it requires lots of enthusiasm, free time and the connectivity of the web, Harper would definitely take on another project. "I think all the members want to work together again and we are hopeful that IdeaConnection™ will recognize us as a useful team."

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