Eric grew up in Swampscott, MA – 25 minutes or so north of Boston.  As a boy scout he became fascinated with Ham Radios, went on to get licensed, and has been using them ever since.  A passion for radio, coupled with his father’s encouragement, led him to attend Wentworth Institute of Technology where he received his EE degree.

He has worked for a few Tech companies in the Boston area over that past several years, notably spending 6 years as a test engineer at MIT Lincoln Labs.  During this time he pursued additional studies at Tufts University, focusing on RF and Microwave applications.

I was enamored by everything Eric was telling me about Ham Radios.  Whereas a CB Radio is more local, Ham Radios have the ability to communicate globally.  Depending on atmospheric conditions, geographic location, antenna configuration and operator skill, one can speak around the world.  Eric has been able to speak with others in Australia, and even had a conversation with members of the Royal Family in Jordan.  With a Ham radio on his bicycle, one in his truck, and his set-up at home – Eric is always able to see who is on the air and chat with them.

I was amazed to hear about how often various frequencies and operators use Morse code to communicate.  Many can approach 40 words a minute and are able to have flowing conversations.  He has been in severalcompetitions locally and finished 5^th or so last year in the ARRL Field Day Competition.

Be sure to check out Eric’s myspace pages for music (he plays the drums in two bands) and to also check out some of his photography.

PM Blues
Rumbletones

Eric’s LinkedIn

Feel free to contact Liam Morris if you are interested in being featured in one of these short bios. Contact Information is in the authors section of the blog.

Photo Taken From Capinor.com - Click to Go to their Website

But would Sex Appeal increase Circuit Board sales??  There are a variety of angles (or curves) that you have to consider.  I welcome you to join the debate in the comments section of this article.  We’re very interested in what  you have to say.

One of the most significant goals of Advertising is to increase brand recognition.  You hope that when a consumer hears your name, they know your product, or that when they see/need your product, they think of you.  Web Hosting – GoDaddy.  Why do I know GoDaddy so well?  I watched the Superbowl.  Oh, and there’s the GoDaddy girl.

The sex appeal of various advertisements however, do not necessarily relate to the product being promoted.  In my research on this topic, I have run across a ton of ads that sex appeal seems so out of place.  Vacuums, Toilet Paper, Web-Hosting, the Nissan Pathfinder.

I think the key is to know your market.  Your Target Market is more of an indication of whether you should air a risque ad.  Scott Allen from About.com writes in his article Sex Sells? Oh Really? that “One thing’s for sure — to include sexuality in your advertising will almost certainly alienate some of your audience, but done well, may be more memorable and effective. Don’t be afraid to polarize your audience, though. It’s far better to be loved by some and hated by others than to be forgotten by everyone.”  But what percentage of our Customer Base would we cause to hate us?

I would personally want to be aware of the fine line between Attraction and Association.  You want to attract a potential customer to your Ad/Product, but you may not necessarily want them to associate your products/brand with something racy, crude, irrelevant, provocative, etc.  This ties in closely with Brand Recognition.  What are you known for?  What do people think of when they think of you?  Do they think of professionalism and prestige as one might when they think of Goldman-Sachs?  Do they think cutting edge/contemporary like Sharper Image?

My opinion is that that since the Circuit Board industry is very B2B oriented, as well as government and big business focused, sexy won’t sell.  In a large consumer market, the odds and tastes are in your favor, but trying to secure a deal for 2000 Mil-Spec Circuit Boards with the Chief Purchasing Officer for a Prime Contractor by flashing some skin will only hurt.

What are your thoughts?

It is amazing how flexible circuits allow intricate and complex electronics continue to decrease in size.  As flex and rigid-flex are developed, unique applications will continue to arise.  This picture really makes you wonder how complex in the inner workings of our most common, taken for granted, electronics are.