"Where Are They Now" is our series catching up with some of the most memorable people and topics we've covered on Haighteration.
When we first wrote about Aaron Latzke back in April of 2012, we thought we were just profiling a local resident who had made clever use of limited space by modifying his bedroom. We had no idea it would become our most-viewed story ever.
But when tech-loving Reddit readers got wind of it, the story quickly went viral. The crush of traffic brought our site down for hours. It was the single busiest day in Haighteration history.
So naturally, we wanted to know what Aaron's been up to lately. As it turns out, he's been working on an even more impressive project.
We should begin by revisiting why Aaron built a retractable floor in his bedroom in the first place. It was because he had quit his job to work on a new startup, and needed a home office space. At the time, we could only tell you this about his plans:
The Atom is a small device that converts the rotation of your bike's rear wheel into usable energy for your USB-powered devices. To install it, you remove the wheel, affix the Atom to the axle, and reinstall the wheel. This makes the Atom pretty difficult to steal, assuming your rear wheel is locked up while your bike is parked.
The battery pack, on the other hand, is easily removable. That way you can take it with you after your ride, and keep charging your devices as needed. You can also run a cord up your frame to a charging station under your seat, to charge your phone while you ride.
Aaron says there are a few competing products on the market, but that the Atom is lighter, easier to install, and just plain better looking. The removable battery park is also unique.
The Atom, which will initially retail for $105, is the first product from Aaron and his partner Dave Delcourt's company, Siva Cycle. The name "Siva" was actually inspired by an urban legend about the Chevy Nova. As the story goes, the car was a flop in Latin America because "no va" means "it doesn't go" in Spanish. The story has been debunked, but Aaron found the cautionary tale humorous enough to give his company the opposite name -- "Sí va," or Siva. As in "yes, it goes."
While the Atom may be useful for the gadget-toting commuter or cyclist, it could be a life-changer for people in developing nations without reliable access to electricity. So Siva's planning to give away one Atom to people in the developing world for every ten sold. As production ramps up and costs come down, Aaron is hoping to get more Atoms into the hands of those who might need them most.
When we met up at Cafe du Soleil recently, Aaron showed us a prototype of the device, though there are still a few remaining issues to resolve before the Atom hits the market. Aaron wants to add a rubber gasket to the USB port to help protect against potential water damage. And of course, there's money to be raised. The company is running a Kickstarter campaign to fund the Atom. With three days left, they've cleared their initial goal, but additional funding will help them build more functionality into the device. Aaron also tells us he's been operating income-free for more than a year, so every extra dollar helps.
So, that's what Aaron's been up to for the past year. But what about the bedroom? Well, we have some sad news to report. Firstly, Aaron is no longer a local. He and his girlfriend moved to the East Bay a few months ago. Though he misses the neighborhood, as the afternoon fog rolled in during our meeting, he was quick to point out that the East Bay has a definite advantage when it comes to weather. Secondly, in moving out, he had to dismantle the mechanized bed he had worked so hard to construct.
While destroying your own invention seems like it would be traumatic, Aaron sounds at peace with it. He had always known the bed would have to be removed at some point. And it served its purpose -- giving him the space he needed to get Siva off the ground. Besides, destroying something temporary isn't so difficult when you're also building something to last.
Thanks to Aaron for updating us on his efforts this past year. If there's a former Haighteration story you'd like an update on, let us know -- tips [at] haighteration {{dot}} com.
We should begin by revisiting why Aaron built a retractable floor in his bedroom in the first place. It was because he had quit his job to work on a new startup, and needed a home office space. At the time, we could only tell you this about his plans:
"He had an idea for a pretty ingenious product. It’s still under wraps, but in broad terms, it harnesses energy from an everyday activity and uses it to power common devices."Now we can report that the product is ready to launch. It's called the Atom -- and if you own a bike, you're probably going to want one.
When we met up at Cafe du Soleil recently, Aaron showed us a prototype of the device, though there are still a few remaining issues to resolve before the Atom hits the market. Aaron wants to add a rubber gasket to the USB port to help protect against potential water damage. And of course, there's money to be raised. The company is running a Kickstarter campaign to fund the Atom. With three days left, they've cleared their initial goal, but additional funding will help them build more functionality into the device. Aaron also tells us he's been operating income-free for more than a year, so every extra dollar helps.
So, that's what Aaron's been up to for the past year. But what about the bedroom? Well, we have some sad news to report. Firstly, Aaron is no longer a local. He and his girlfriend moved to the East Bay a few months ago. Though he misses the neighborhood, as the afternoon fog rolled in during our meeting, he was quick to point out that the East Bay has a definite advantage when it comes to weather. Secondly, in moving out, he had to dismantle the mechanized bed he had worked so hard to construct.
