Smartflix recently caught up with Mikey Sklar of Electric Clothing. You may remember him after he implanted himself with an RFID a few years ago.
SmartFlix - What was your most memorable project? You seem to have quite a bit of interesting variety?
Mikey Sklar - My most memorable project was "The High-Lighter". This device can convert most any trampoline into a flame thrower. I spent nearly six months working pretty much full time on this device to reach v1.0. The plexiglass case which I fabricated myself came directly from SmartFlix’s video tutorial on plexiglass. This project was also a culmination of all my skills from surface mount soldering, microcontroller programming, LP-GAS control through solenoid valves, metal welding, metal cutting and RFID knowledge.
SmartFlix - Have you been working on anything interesting recently?
Mikey - Now that the trampoline is complete I will be studying to get my contractors license. I’ve recently purchased a hot spring in Truth or Consequences, NM that I will be creating a eco-friendly B&B.
SmartFlix - A year ago, you implanted yourself with an RFID. How has that worked out for you? Have you found it to be useful?
Mikey - The self implanted RFID tag in my left hand has been somewhat useful. I have a electric deadbolt device I put together and "The High-Lighter" (fire trampoline) is secured requiring my tag be present for the device to start up. The fire trampoline RFID security definitely came in handy at Burning Man since a nearby camp tried to use the trampoline without my presence and were disappointed to see they could not. More than anything else the tag allows me to speak publicly about the dangers of RFID technology in regards to privacy.
SmartFlix - You started out with mostly wearable electronics. Have you found the skills useful in your current projects?
Mikey - Wearable electronics were a excellent starting point for me. I learned a lot about making projects robust enough that they could hold up while being worn by a person. It was also a lot of fun to wear the projects I made and get instant feedback from people about what they liked and did not like about them. The most relevant part of my wearable projects is that it got me making circuit boards and doing microcontroller work. Those skills really got the idea into my head that "I can make anything".
SmartFlix - You quit your job on Wall Street to become a full-time inventor. How has that been?
Mikey - Probably the best decision I made in years was to leave my Wall Street job and New York city to invent full time. Nothing has been so rewarding in my life as actually doing what I want with my time. Most people never seem to follow their dreams.
SmartFlix - If someone new wanted to follow in your footsteps, what would you recommend?
Mikey - I would recommend to others who want to do the same as me to do the following.
1. Figure out what you love doing more than anything else
2. Save up some $$$
3. Move to a place that is inexpensive
4. Work your butt off making stuff day and night
5. Do not listen to others that are critical about the work you are doing. This is what you love, remember.
6. Promote your work through blogs, small print media, and eventually let it trickle up to mainstream media.
SmartFlix - Any last thoughts, words of advice to our readers, or anything else you wish to add?
Mikey - I’ll just say that I would not have nearly the confidence I have today with regards to building things if it were not for SmartFlix.
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