CES: Chat with People Power CEO Gene Wang

Mark Lee Rollins for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online

I’m not going to call this an “interview” because it wasn’t an interview. I sat down for a late lunch of delicious pulled pork. Said hello and spoke briefly with a couple seated next to me. After they left, a gentleman sat next to me. And we chatted. Good, old-fashioned, face-to-face, person-to-person conversation. No tweeting, no texting, no emoticons; we actually displayed emotion.

After he took a hefty draught from his ice-cold lemonade, we said hello as we munched our way through lunch. Sated a bit, we asked each other what each was doing at CES.

I gave a short history of my recent career changes, and how I’m now a tech writer (nerd) for redOrbit, as well as explaining what redOrbit is and represents. Now you could have knocked me over with a feather when I learned with whom I was speaking.

Gene Wang is Chaiman and CEO of People Power. I have to admit, I didn’t recognize the name People Power, initially; and you may not know either. But after Gene spoke passionately about what they’re doing, I remembered reading about one of their products.

Every day, across the globe, more than 1 million smartphones are set side for a newer model. And by “set-aside,” I mean that many of these devices are still fully functional. So what do you do? People Power offers their Presence app, which turns an iPhone into a security camera.

They also have Presence Pro for Android devices, which does whole-home energy monitoring and smart plug control. This allows you to manage electric use from a smartphone or tablet.

Gene gave some examples where people – using their newly repurposed iPhone as a security camera, discovered unusual things that happen when they are away, such a the dog walker who helps themselves to your prescription medications!

We also spoke about California beer and wines, family and other pleasantries. Besides a business card, Mr. Wang also gave me a CD of their music, as People Power is also a band.

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