Applied Minds

Bran Ferren and Danny Hillis worked together at Walt Disney Imagineering, where Ferren was president of research & development and creative technology and Hillis his vice president, when they decided to start a new venture that would serve wider industries beyond entertainment. When the pair left to start Applied Minds in 2000, they rented the new company's first warehouse space from Disney.

Applied Minds "quickly acquired a reputation as a sort of military-industrial toy shop." The culture at the company has been described as "laid back, more startup than military, with employees in casual clothes and readily available snacks." According to Applied Minds co-founder and chief creative officer Ferren, potential projects are evaluated on the basis of three criteria: "design and technical excellence, making the world a better place, and making more money than [the company] spends." Ferren "takes a unique approach to building his team" by likening the process to casting roles for "engineers, designers, military strategists, and rocket scientists."

In 2005, the team building a new centralized database to improve Internet searches spun off from Applied Minds to create a separate company called Metaweb Technologies.{{Cite web |title=Deeper understanding with Metaweb |url=https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/deeper-understanding-with-metaweb.html |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Official Google Blog |language=en}} Metaweb's database, Freebase, structured information as millions of related entities, so that software could generate shorter, more relevant responses to users' search queries.{{Cite news |last=Markoff |first=John |date=March 9, 2007 |title=Start-Up Aims for Database to Automate Web Searching |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/09/technology/09data.html |access-date=July 8, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Google acquired Metaweb in 2010 and stated part of the acquisition was to improve search and make the web richer and more meaningful for everyone.{{Cite web |last=Rao |first=Leena |date=July 16, 2010 |title=Google Acquires Metaweb To Make Search Smarter |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/07/16/google-acquires-metaweb-to-make-search-smarter/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=NOSOWITZ |first=DAN |date=July 16, 2010 |title=Google Buys Metaweb, the One Company That Could Revolutionize Google Search |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1671024/google-buys-metaweb-one-company-could-revolutionize-google-search}}

The firm has spun out several companies, including Metaweb Technologies, TouchTable,{{Cite web |title=Terrain, Touch and Symbolic Tables |url=https://walkerart.org/magazine/art-com-northrop-grumman-and-audiopad |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=walkerart.org}} which specializes in interactive mapping visualizations, and Applied Proteomics, whose early-stage cancer diagnostics business was acquired by DiscernDx in 2018.{{Cite web |date=July 11, 2020 |title=Applied Proteomics Sells Assets to DiscernDx for $1.85M {{!}} GenomeWeb |url=https://www.genomeweb.com/proteomics-protein-research/applied-proteomics-sells-assets-discerndx-185m |access-date=July 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711030153/https://www.genomeweb.com/proteomics-protein-research/applied-proteomics-sells-assets-discerndx-185m |archive-date=July 11, 2020 }}

In 2014, Danny Hillis spun off a portion of the company into a venture called Applied Invention.{{Cite web |title=Danny Hillis - Co-Founder at Applied Invention {{!}} The Org |url=https://theorg.com/org/applied-invention/org-chart/danny-hillis}}

File:Eric Angelson, Bran Ferren, US Airforce Applied Minds visit.jpg, Eric Angelson, and Bran Ferren]]

File:CJCS tours Applied Minds 131115-D-KC128-017.jpg Gen. Martin E. Dempsey tours Applied Minds' interactive 3D maps showcase in 2013.]]

Some of the clients involved with Applied Minds include General Motors,{{Cite magazine |last=Jardin |first=Xeni |title=Applied Minds Think Remarkably |url=https://www.wired.com/2005/06/applied-minds-think-remarkably/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}} Intel, Smithsonian,{{Cite web |title=Smithsonian American Art Museum Selects Winner for Renwick Gallery Grand Salon Design Competition |url=https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-american-art-museum-selects-winner-renwick-gallery-grand-salon-design-competiti |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Smithsonian Institution |language=en}} Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Herman Miller, Harris Corporation,{{Cite web |date=March 10, 2005 |title=Harris to build software interface for NSA |url=https://www.militaryaerospace.com/rf-analog/article/16712447/harris-to-build-software-interface-for-nsa |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Military Aerospace |language=en}} Sony, Sun Microsystems,{{Cite web |title=Sun Modular Datacenter |url=https://www.technifex.com/portfolio/sun-modular-datacenter/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Technifex |language=en-US}} and every branch of the United States military.

In 2005, through a partnership with Herman Miller, Applied Minds created a technology to scramble conversations for the privacy and productivity of office workers. Called Babble, the device uses a sound processor to capture voices within range and then repeats back random segments of speech to create an undecipherable hum of background noise.{{Cite news |last=Markoff |first=John |date=May 30, 2005 |title=No Privacy in Your Cubicle? Try an Electronic Silencer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/30/technology/no-privacy-in-your-cubicle-try-an-electronic-silencer.html |access-date=July 8, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Jardin |first=Xeni |date=June 14, 2005 |title=Talk Freely Behind the Fortress of Babble |url=https://www.npr.org/2005/06/14/4702851/talk-freely-behind-the-fortress-of-babble |website=NPR}} Babble earned several awards for Herman Miller in 2005: the Best of Innovations Award from the Consumer Electronics Association,{{Cite web |title=New in Box Herman Miller Babble Voice Privacy System |url=https://acmemidcentury.com/products/new-in-box-herman-miller-bable-voice-privacy-machine |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Acme Mid-Century + Modern |language=en}} Best of NeoCon Gold Award in Workplace Technology,{{Cite web |date=June 17, 2005 |title=NeoCon'05: A Gold award for Babble by Sonare, voice privacy without walls |url=https://www.fmlink.com/articles/neocon05-a-gold-award-for-babble-by-sonare-voice-privacy-without-walls/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=FMLink |language=en-US}} and inclusion on Esquire Magazine's annual "Best and Brightest" list.{{Cite web |date=February 25, 2007 |title=Innovations of the Year: Babble |url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a2298/esq1205babble/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Esquire |language=en-US}}

The Air Force through its Air Force Research Lab were researching ways to minimize and prevent helicopter brownout conditions, which occur when rotors kick up fine sand, dust, and debris, reducing visibility and leading to three out of four chopper accidents overseas.{{Cite web |last=Ray |first=Jonathan |date=April 1, 2010 |title=Beating Brownout |url=https://www.aviationtoday.com/2010/04/01/beating-brownout/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Avionics International |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=August 28, 2007 |title=AFRL Develops Partial Solution to Helicopter Brownout |url=https://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/401207/afrl-develops-partial-solution-to-helicopter-brownout/https://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/401207/afrl-develops-partial-solution-to-helicopter-brownout/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Wright-Patterson AFB |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Applied Minds produced a prototype for a Photographic Landing Augmentation System for Helicopters (or PhLASH),{{Cite web |date=October 27, 2006 |title=AFRL Looks to Camera to Solve Brownout |url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/1070afrl/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Air & Space Forces Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2009 |title=Flying Blind in Iraq: U.S. Helicopters Navigate Real Desert Storms |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a5540/4199189/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Popular Mechanics |language=en-US}} which uses high-intensity infrared strobes to capture a series of high-resolution images of the landing area before brownout occurs.{{Cite web |last=Colucci |first=Frank |date=August 1, 2007 |title='Sandblaster' Gives Helicopter Pilots Hope for Safer Landings |url=https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2007/8/1/2007august-sandblaster-gives-helicopter-pilots-hope-for-safer-landings |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=www.nationaldefensemagazine.org}}{{Cite web |last= |date=May 29, 2007 |title=Brown, not out - helicopter shoot-downs in Iraq |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/brown-not-out-helicopter-shoot-downs-in-iraq/73971.article |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Flight Global |language=en}} The system then processes these images into a video-like display that is geo-rectified to the aircraft's current position, so the pilot can navigate the simulated landing area from the instrument panel regardless of visibility conditions outside.{{Cite web |last=Ray |first=Jonathan |date=April 1, 2010 |title=Beating Brownout |url=https://www.aviationtoday.com/2010/04/01/beating-brownout/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Avionics International |language=en}} In 2007, the Office of the Secretary of Defense selected the PhLASH "see and remember" prototype system to receive quick-reaction funding to develop a permanent installation onboard military helicopters.

In 2010, a Mayflower test satellite built by Applied Minds in partnership with Northrop Grumman became the first commercial CubeSat deployed into orbit by SpaceX,{{Cite web |last=ShareX |date=May 12, 2011 |title=Northrop Grumman/Applied Minds announce success of Mayflower test microsatellite launched on Falcon 9 in December |url=https://twitter.com/spacex/status/68700511670517760}}{{Cite web |title=Newsroom |url=https://news.northropgrumman.com/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Northrop Grumman Newsroom |language=en}} and the first spacecraft to prove the viability of a novel solar cell deployment system.{{Cite web |date=May 11, 2011 |title=Mayflower Test Satellite, Jointly Developed by Northrop Grumman and Applied Minds, Proves Successful During Recent SpaceX Mission |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna42990390 |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=NBC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=MAYFLOWER: NEXT GENERATION CUBESAT FLIGHT TESTBED |url=https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1124&context=smallsat |website=digitalcommons.usu.edu}}

In 2013, an Apple lawsuit against Samsung over the pinch-to-zoom feature was invalidated because the function was previously patented to Applied Minds cofounders Ferren and Hillis in 2005 to describe multi-touch gestures.{{Cite patent|number=US7844915B2|title=Application programming interfaces for scrolling operations|gdate=2010-11-30|invent1=Platzer|invent2=Herz|inventor1-first=Andrew|inventor2-first=Scott|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US7844915/en}}{{Cite web |last=Mueller |first=Florian |title=Tentatively invalid: the most valuable multitouch patent asserted by Apple at Samsung trial |url=http://www.fosspatents.com/2012/12/tentatively-invalid-most-valuable.html |access-date=July 8, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Rougeau |first=Michael |date=July 30, 2013 |title=Apple's pinch-to-zoom patent meets its second end |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/apple-loses-another-patent-relevant-to-samsung-case-1169838 |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}

To enable troops to build on-demand solutions to their challenges, Applied Minds worked with the Army's Rapid Equipping Force (REF) to create deployable Expeditionary Lab – Mobile (ELM) modules.{{Cite web |last=Parsons |first=Dan |date=May 1, 2013 |title=3D Printing Provides Fast, Practical Fixes |url=https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2013/5/1/2013may-3d-printing-provides-fast-practical-fixes |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=www.nationaldefensemagazine.org}} Enclosed in a standard 20-foot container that can be transported by helicopter, the ELMs include 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters, plasma cutters, welding equipment, and other rapid prototyping tools.{{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Matthew |date=October 31, 2017 |title=Mobile Labs Build On-the-Spot Combat Solutions |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2012/08/17/mobile-labs-build-on-the-spot-combat-solutions.html |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Military.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Barrie |first=Allison |date=March 24, 2015 |title=Star Trek replicators for the Army |url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/star-trek-replicators-for-the-army |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}} The mobile laboratories enable engineers to design and fabricate technologies to address the problems they encounter in remote outposts, where it typically takes years to deliver new technologies.{{Cite web |last=Tarantola |first=Andrew |date=August 22, 2012 |title=The Army's New Mobile Fab Lab Is a Front Line MacGyver Factory |url=https://gizmodo.com/5936350/the-armys-new-mobile-fab-lab-is-a-front-line-macguyver |website=Gizmodo}} The first ELMs were deployed to forward operating bases by the Army in 2012 and 2013.{{Cite web |title=US army sent 2nd mobile 3D printing lab to Afghanistan |url=http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130114-us-army-sent-2nd-mobile-3d-printing-lab-to-afghanistan.html |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=3ders.org |language=en-US}}

In 2015, Applied Minds debuted the KiraVan at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas,{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=Travel Channel to Film Special Episode of "Extreme RVs" at the SEMA Show |url=https://www.sema.org/news-media/enews/2015/43/travel-channel-film-special-episode-extreme-rvs-sema-show |website=SEMA}} after five years of development on the custom built expedition mobility platform. The KiraVan is a 51,700-pound expedition vehicle that serves as a public showcase and experimental demonstrator for technologies developed by Applied Minds.{{Cite magazine |last=Crucchiola |first=Jordan |title=A 51,000-Pound RV Made for a Little Girl Is Coming to Vegas |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/11/a-51000-pound-rv-made-for-a-little-girl-is-coming-to-vegas/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}} It is a successor to the earlier MaxiMog{{Cite web |title=MAXIMOG |url=https://www.maximog.com/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=www.maximog.com}} vehicle that was showcased at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-22 |title=HISTORY |url=https://unicatexpeditionvehicles.com/history/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=passion for perfection |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Kipnis |first=Jeffrey |date=2001-06-01 |title="Workspheres" |url=https://www.artforum.com/events/workspheres-176972/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Artforum |language=en-US}}

In 2011, it was announced that Applied Minds was leading the design work on the Clock of the Long Now ("10,000-year clock") for the Long Now Foundation,{{Cite magazine |last=Sterling |first=Bruce |title=The Long Now Clock. They're actually building it. |url=https://www.wired.com/2011/06/the-long-now-clock-theyre-actually-building-it/ |date=Jun 18, 2011 |access-date=2025-04-23 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}} which was founded by Hillis in 1996.{{Cite web |date=2013-07-31 |title=The Clock Of The Long Now |url=https://blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk/the-clock-of-the-long-now/ |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Science Museum Blog |language=en-GB}} He had begun working on the clock in 1989.{{Cite web |title=10,000 Year Clock |url=https://www.10000yearclock.net/learnmore.html |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=www.10000yearclock.net}}

The Smithsonian American Art Museum named Applied Minds as the winner of its international design competition to renovate the Renwick Gallery's Grand Salon in 2013. The company's concept proposes deploying high-definition projectors and speakers to create an immersive and changeable display environment without altering the building's historic structure.{{Cite web |last= |date=June 15, 2013 |title=American Art Museum Announces Winner for Renwick Gallery Grand Salon Design Competition |url=https://museumpublicity.com/2013/06/15/american-art-museum-announces-winner-for-renwick-gallery-grand-salon-design-competition/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Museum Publicity |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Institution |first=Smithsonian |title=Renwick Grand Salon - Capitol |url=https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/photos/renwick-grand-salon-capitol |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Smithsonian Institution |language=en}}

In 2016, Applied Minds was awarded the Coolest Tech Award at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada for its submission in partnership with Genworth, a long-term care insurance company.{{Cite web |date=January 7, 2016 |title=Digital Trends Top Tech of CES 2016 award winners |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/top-tech-of-ces-2016-award-winners/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Digital Trends |language=en}} The Genworth R70i Aging Experience is a wearable exoskeleton designed to provoke a national conversation about aging by simulating its effects on the wearer's hearing, vision, and mobility.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=January 7, 2016 |title=CES 2016: The Coolest Technology We've Seen So Far |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/ces-2016-coolest-technology/story?id=36099118 |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=ABC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2016 |title=I Aged 40 Years In A Minute & Here's What I Learned |url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/151649-i-aged-40-years-in-a-minute-heres-what-i-learned |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=Bustle |language=en}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.appliedminds.com/}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051001050615/http://battellemedia.com/archives/000712.php A tour of the Applied Minds site]
• Wired Magazine: [http://archive.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2005/06/67951 "Applied Minds Think Remarkably"]
• CA Technologies: [https://web.archive.org/web/20190405121010/https://www.ca.com/us/modern-software-factory/content/peek-inside-the-applied-mindsinnovation-factory.html "Peek Inside the Applied Minds Innovation Factory"]
• PCMag: [https://www.pcmag.com/news/a-conversation-with-applied-minds-chief-bran-ferren "A Conversation With Applied Minds Chief Bran Ferren"]
• Cathy Lazere and Dennis Shasha, Out of Their Minds: The Lives and Discoveries of 15 Great Computer Scientists, 1995. ({{ISBN|978-0-387-98269-4}})

{{Commons category|Applied Minds}}

Category:Companies based in Burbank, California

Category:Technology companies of the United States