Michael J. Freeman
{{Short description|American inventor (born 1947)}}
{{other people||Michael Freeman (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Michael J. Freeman
| image = Michael J. Freeman.jpg
| birth_date = {{bya|1947}}
| alma_mater = City University of New York, Baruch College, City College of New York
| occupation = Inventor, business and government consultant, educator
| known_for = Robotics, electronic educational toys
}}
Michael J. Freeman (born 1947) is an American inventor who works in trend analysis, advanced behavioral systems, programming of smart toys, cable television and robotics. He was a professor at three American universities and a consultant to business and governments.
Education and career
In 1969, Freeman received his bachelor's degree in Economics and Management from the City College of New York, an MBA in 1970 in Business Management and Economics from Bernard Baruch College, and received his doctorate in 1977 from the City University of New York,{{which|reason=Which specific college in the CUNY system?|date=August 2023}} majoring in Behavior Sciences and specializing in mental adaptation techniques.{{Cite journal|date=August 2016|title=Making Learning Fun: Inventor-Innovator Michael J. Freeman|url=http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/magazine/documents/BCAM-FW15-16.pdf|journal=Baruch Alumni}}
Freeman was a professor at Baruch College of the City University of New York, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and at Hofstra University in the Village of Hempstead, New York. Freeman was the keynote speaker at Harvard University on November 14, 2001, at the conference Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the Future.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} He is listed in Who's Who in America 1975–2007.{{Cite book |title=Who's Who in America 1975–2007 |isbn=9780837970066 |volume=61}}{{Rp}}
He commercialized approximately forty US patents, and contributed to the work of approximately twenty-five others{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US5724091|title=Patents|access-date=17 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US5861881|title=Patents|access-date=17 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.google.ch/patents/CA2173996C?hl=de&cl=de|title=Patents |access-date=17 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://patents.justia.com/inventor/michael-j-freeman|title=Michael J. Freeman Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search|website=patents.justia.com|access-date=2016-09-20}} in educational devices, programming, telephony, laser/special effects, cable TV, and others. Core patent claims include telephone push-button tones as input to the home via branching.{{cite web|url=http://www.freepatentsonline.com/bibliography.html|title=Free Patents Online Database|website=www.freepatentsonline.com}} Patent claims also covering cable TV, addressability of cable converter boxes, digitization, interactivity, and smart toys. He programmed and did the voice talent for interactive educational programs. Freeman founded a U.S. NASDAQ corporation to further develop patent claims for movie special effects, laser special effects, Hyper TV, and distance learning systems.{{cite web|title=Actv Inc - Company Profile and News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profiles/companies/IATV:US-actv-inc|access-date=2020-10-06|website=www.bloomberg.com}}{{cite journal |title=Georgia chooses ACTV for major distance learning project |journal=Multimedia Schools |volume=2 |issue=5 |date=November 1995 |page=11 }}{{cite web|url=https://slideplayer.com/slide/8493728/|title=Addressability ACTV's SpotOn DigitalConvergence PlanetPortal Digimarc Streaming Video Digital Connection Digital Island Microcast Internet On TV AOLTVWebTV. - ppt download|website=slideplayer.com}}{{cite web |url=http://patents.justia.com/inventor/michael-j-freeman |title=Michael J. Freeman Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications |website=Justia Patents Search |access-date=17 October 2016}}
Developments
In 1960, at the age of 13, Freeman was awarded first prize in the Westinghouse Science Fair, now known as the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his demonstration of rudimentary computer memory.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vu40AAAAIBAJ&pg=5575,6384306|title=Toledo Blade - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=2016-09-20}} This was one of the first pioneering embodiments of how computer memory could control a physical mechanism. In the 1970s Freeman turned his attention to the future field of verbal output computers.Continental Magazine, October 1990, V-3, #10, Cover story, Pgs 36, 54. 57
=Leachim=
In 1974, he created Leachim, a {{Convert|6|ft|cm|abbr=on}}, {{Convert|200|lb|kg|abbr=on}} robot assistant teacher who Freeman programmed with the class curricula, as well as certain biographical information on the 40 students Leachim was programmed to teach. Leachim demonstrated that voice branching could be done quickly enough to replicated understandable speech (i.e. verbal output). This method combined phonemes, words, and sentences to form verbal responsive messages. Leachim was also programmed with biographical information on students, and to simulate 'infinite patience.'Cover Story, Scholastic Newstime magazine, Vol 44, No. 13, May 9, 1974 Leachim was tested in a fourth-grade classroom in the Bronx, New York.{{Cite journal |date= May 9, 1974 |title= The Robot in Room 317 |journal= Scholastic Magazine |volume=44 |issue=13 }}{{Cite journal |date= July 30, 1979 |title= The Robots Are Coming |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=bNECAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40 |journal= New York Magazine |volume=12 |issue=30 }} In 1975, Leachim was reported stolen from the truck transporting Leachim back to New York from a one-hour appearance on The Phil Donahue Show, located in Chicago. Lloyd's of London offered a $7,500 reward based on the insured value of $75,000.[https://www.nytimes.com/1975/07/17/archives/lloyds-is-offering-7500-for-return-of-machine-robot.html]{{dead link|date=February 2020}} Corporate espionage was suspected.Insurance Reports, Vol=17, Transcript #422
Cable television
{{Multiple image
| align =
| direction =
| width = 129
| image1 = Telephone branching.JPG
| caption1 = The world's first Telephone Branching Machine invented by Freeman in 1979
| image2 = LEONARD NIMOY WITH Dr. MICHAEL FREEMAN.jpg
| caption2 = Leonard Nimoy giving Dr. Freeman the Vulcan nerve pinch
}}
=ACTV Incorporated; two-way cable TV=
In early 1984, Freeman created core patents for interactive TV and started an American corporation named ACTV Inc., providing cable TV subscribers with interactive programming.{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US4602279A/en|title=Method for providing targeted profile interactive CATV displays}}{{cite web |title=Waycross Journal-Herald - Google News Archive Search |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QlRaAAAAIBAJ&pg=5514,4078411 |access-date=2016-09-22 |website=news.google.com}} He took the company public in 1990 with The Washington Post owning a 25% share, as well as Atari founder Nolan Bushnell.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-07-fi-404-story.html|title=MTV Whiz Jumps From Hyperactive to Interactive : Entertainment: The free-spirited John A. Lack must persuade cable firms to try the new hands-on TV technology.|date=June 7, 1992|website=Los Angeles Times}}{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19840523&id=Q61PAAAAIBAJ&pg=6970,4315336|title=New TV System Lets You Create Own Programming|website=Ocala Star-Banner - Google News Archive Search news.google.com|access-date=2016-09-23}} It became a publicly held corporation on May 4, 1990, and partnered with NBC TV and Showtime to test programming.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-04-21-ca-2285-story.html|title=NBC Tests High-Definition Signal|date=April 21, 1989|website=Los Angeles Times}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.dmnews.com/news/actv-prepares-web-test-with-showtime/article/63044/ |title=ACTV Prepares Web Test with Showtime - DMN |access-date=2016-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012155055/http://www.dmnews.com/news/actv-prepares-web-test-with-showtime/article/63044/ |archive-date=2016-10-12 |url-status=dead }} It was listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vu40AAAAIBAJ&pg=5575,6384306|title=Toledo Blade - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=2016-09-22}} Freeman was the company's CEO and president until 2001.{{Cite journal|date=November 1988|title=Do-It-Yourself TV|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZZLk-jN3PnkC|journal=Popular Science|volume=233|issue=5|page=60|issn=0161-7370}} Leonard Nimoy was the company spokesperson.{{cite web|url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/319544536043743661/|title=Leonard Nimoy|website=Pinterest|access-date=2016-09-22}}{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2001/09/01/309477/index.htm| website=money.cnn.com|access-date=2016-09-22 |title=Almost Famous Interactive television company ACTV has been the next big thing in the entertainment field for 18 years. Here's how the startup has managed to keep the dream alive. Sort of.}} In 1992 Freeman hired John Lack, the founder of MTV, to be president of ACTV Inc.
Educational toys
=2-XL=
{{Main|2-XL}}
In 1975, Freeman licensed 2-XL, considered the first smart toy,{{cite web|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/87066/remembering-first-smart-toy-2-xl|title=Remembering the First Smart Toy: 2-XL|date=October 13, 2016|website=www.mentalfloss.com}} to the Mego Corporation,{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/retro-tech-megos-2-xl/|title=Retro Tech: Mego's 2-XL|access-date=2016-09-22}} a US-based toy company. The toy was "monumentally successful", a bestseller in the late 1970s.{{cn|date=October 2019}} The programs were translated into six foreign languages. A number of board games were created in conjunction with the 2-XL robot.{{cite web|url=http://www.megomuseum.com/megolibrary/interviews/mcnett/mcnett.html|title=Mego Museum Spotlight : John and Linda McNett|website=megomuseum.com|access-date=2016-09-22}}
In 1992, the toy was reintroduced to the marketplace by Tiger Electronics, an American toy company based in Vernon Hills, Illinois. As before, the programmed tapes were translated into many foreign languages and sold internationally. Renowned basketball player Michael Jordan was the official brand ambassador for the new version of 2-XL.{{cite web|url=http://www.2xlrobot.com/moreinfo/tv.html|title=World of 2-XL: The More Information Button: 2-XL on TV|website=2xlrobot.com|access-date=2016-09-25}}
2-XL became one of the most successful toys in the world, and soon spun off an education division created to sell tapes to school and school systems. These tapes were different from the ones for the public market, and 2-XL is heralded{{by whom?|date=October 2019}} as an important step in the development of toys and in particular, educational toys.{{cite book |first1=Paula |last1=Taylor |title=Kids' Whole Future Catalog |page=101 |isbn=0-394-850904|year=1982 }}
=TV game show spinoff=
{{Main|Pick Your Brain}}
Freeman was one of the executive producers and licensor for a game show spin off of 2-XL named Pick Your Brain starring host Marc Summers. It was a syndicated TV game show.{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112121/fullcredits|title=Pick Your Brain (TV Series 1993–1994) - IMDb|via=www.imdb.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/pick-your-brain/|title=Pick Your Brain|website=TV.com}} The show starred a giant-size 2-XL robot mock-up; Freeman did not voice the character.
=Talk 'n Play=
{{Main|Talk 'n Play}}
In 1984, Freeman created an educational game console system named Talk'n Play (also called Electronic Talk'n Play).{{cite web|url=https://bestofthe80s.wordpress.com/2011/12/20/electronic-talk-n-play/|title=Electronic Talk 'n Play|date=2011-12-20|website=Best of the 80s|access-date=2016-09-23}} It was first made by CBS Toys under the brand name Child Guidance in 1984 as Electronic Talk 'n Play. It was later produced by Hasbro under the brand name Playskool in 1986 as Talk'n Play.
=Kasey the Kinderbot=
Kasey the Kinderbot toy was designed, developed, and sold by Fisher-Price, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel, using an interactive robot concept licensed from Michael J. Freeman.{{cite web|url=http://www.theoldrobots.com/Kinderbot.html|title=Kasey the Kinderbot by Fisher Price - The Old Robots Web Site|website=theoldrobots.com|access-date=2016-09-23}}
The toy won awards as best educational toy in 2002, and the Gold Seal award from the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio 2003.{{cite web|url=http://investor.shareholder.com/mattel/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=96201|title=Fisher-Price Reports Strong Retail Sales For Kasey The KinderbotTM (NASDAQ:MAT)|website=investor.shareholder.com|access-date=2016-09-23}} Although Kasey's voice was digital, professional female voice artist Kamala Kruszka studio-mastered the initial recordings.{{cite web|url=http://www.csub.edu/theatre/about/faculty/Kruszka.html|title=Theatre: Kamala Kruszka {{!}} California State University, Bakersfield|website=csub.edu|access-date=2016-09-23}}{{Citation|last=Sune Nagusi|title=Kasey the Kinderbot's appearance on CNN-fn|date=2013-12-18|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UJ1Sx0T8DI|access-date=2016-09-23}}
In 2004, the Kasey the Kinderbot line expanded with the introduction of two lower price-point toys named Toby the Totbot and Fetch the Phonicsbot, plus a DVD featuring stories about Kasey.{{cite press release|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040209005264/en/Fisher-Price-Announces-Learning-Platforms-Major-Expansion-Existing|title=Fisher-Price Announces Two New Learning Platforms and Major Expansion of Existing Systems for 2004 {{!}} Business Wire|website=businesswire.com|access-date=2016-09-23}}. Kasey sold out of Toys R Us.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1039739403652914393|title=Some Suppliers Stop Shipping To Troubled FAO Schwarz|first=Lisa Bannon and Joe PereiraStaff Reporters of The Wall Street|last=Journal|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=December 13, 2002|via=www.wsj.com}}
=Interactivision=
{{Main|View-Master Interactive Vision}}
In 1986, Freeman licensed a video game system to the View-Master Ideal Toy Company Inc. This system encompassed digital interactivity considered advanced for that time period, and video games were produced by the Walt Disney Company and CTW (Children's Television Workshop).{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZZLk-jN3PnkC&q=actv,+freeman&pg=PA60 |title = Popular Science|date = November 1988}} The games initially released were Sesame Street: Let's Learn and Play Together, Sesame Street: Magic on Sesame Street, Sesame Street: Let's Play School, Sesame Street: Oscar's Letter Party, The Muppet Show: Muppet Madness, The Muppet Show: You're The Director, and Disney Cartoon Arcade.{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/gallery/tkG1V|title=Let's take a look at the View-Master Interactive Vision Television System (VMTV) console|website=Imgur}}
=Author =
In 1976, Freeman authored a book entitled Writing Resumes, Locating Jobs, and Handling Job Interviews. The book was originally published by Richard D Irwin, Publishers but was later bought out by McGraw Hill.{{cite web|url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/writing-resumes-locating-jobs-handling-job-interviews-m-freeman/1001779161|title=Writing Resumes, Locating Jobs, Handling Job Interviews|Paperback|first=Barnes &|last=Noble|website=Barnes & Noble}}{{cite book|author=M. Freeman (Author) |title=Writing Resumes: Locating Jobs and Handling Job Interviews: M. Freeman: 9780256018714: Books |id={{ASIN|0256018715|country=ca}} }}{{Cite web |url=https://xenbook.gq/current/ebooks-box-writing-resumes-locating-jobs-and-handling-job-interviews-a-comprehensive-guide-for-the-job-hunter-rtf-0256018715-by-michael-j-freeman.html |title=EBooks Box: Writing Resumes, Locating Jobs and Handling Job Interviews : A Comprehensive Guide for the Job Hunter RTF 0256018715 by Michael J. Freeman | Download Free Books as PDF |access-date=2017-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019111755/https://xenbook.gq/current/ebooks-box-writing-resumes-locating-jobs-and-handling-job-interviews-a-comprehensive-guide-for-the-job-hunter-rtf-0256018715-by-michael-j-freeman.html |archive-date=2017-10-19 |url-status=dead }}
Family
Freeman is married to Lowis Sherfey and has five children and three grandchildren.{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:City University of New York alumni
Category:Baruch College alumni
Category:City College of New York alumni