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#156 - Curiosity as a Catalyst

The Sprinkler Nerd Show

Release Date: 02/23/2024

#181 - Ohio Goes Wireless show art #181 - Ohio Goes Wireless

The Sprinkler Nerd Show

Andy introducing wireless sensor technology to Ohio and riffs about the "RHYTHM" of the landscape.

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#180 - Behind The Scenes - Making LoRaWAN Soil Moisture Sensors show art #180 - Behind The Scenes - Making LoRaWAN Soil Moisture Sensors

The Sprinkler Nerd Show

In this episode, Andy shares his process for manufacturing LoRaWAN wireless soil moisture sensors.

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#179 - Project Harmony Advisory Team show art #179 - Project Harmony Advisory Team

The Sprinkler Nerd Show

      What does the future hold for your landscape business?   Well, if you ask nine experts, you’ll get 10 different answers. Some say we’re heading for a lush, thriving growing season; others predict drought conditions. Some insist we’ll get just enough rain this year—and someone else insists it’s never enough. Let’s be honest, nobody really knows...   But now...there is one surefire way to future-proof your business and how you manage high asset value crops:   Harmony Analytica.   Harmony is the FIRST sensor analytics platform made for...

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#178 - Bespoke or A.I. show art #178 - Bespoke or A.I.

The Sprinkler Nerd Show

In this episode of The Sprinkler Nerd Show, host Andy Humphrey starts off with an unapologetically bold greeting to illustrate the power of authenticity and grab listeners’ attention. He gives a personal shout-out to friends, mentors, and colleagues he connected with during the week—highlighting the importance of real human relationships in an increasingly AI-dominated world. From there, Andy explores the rapid growth of AI and how it’s poised to deliver personalized, mass-produced podcast content—comparing it to Walmart’s ability to provide inexpensive, standardized groceries. But...

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#177 - Canada & Project Harmony Update show art #177 - Canada & Project Harmony Update

The Sprinkler Nerd Show

Hello, friends! I wanted to take a moment to share a quick update on what’s happening this week. I’ll be traveling to Calgary and Edmonton, Canada, for the SiteOne Landscape Supply One Stop events. On Tuesday, I’ll be at the Calgary event, and then on Thursday, I’ll attend the Edmonton event. After that, I’ll head back to the airport Thursday night and fly home on Friday. I had to adjust my travel plans a bit, departing from Grand Rapids instead of my usual airport because, upon my return, I’ll be meeting up with my daughter. We’re headed straight to a volleyball tournament in...

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#176 - Let's Go Out To Dinner And See a Forecast show art #176 - Let's Go Out To Dinner And See a Forecast

The Sprinkler Nerd Show

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#175 - Apple’s Forgotten Founder: Ronald Wayne’s Secret to Tomorrow’s Money show art #175 - Apple’s Forgotten Founder: Ronald Wayne’s Secret to Tomorrow’s Money

The Sprinkler Nerd Show

In this episode, we uncover a remarkable story hidden in plain sight: Ronald Wayne, the often-overlooked third co-founder of Apple. While Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak achieved legendary status, Wayne’s name is hardly mentioned in the tech world—even though he helped draft Apple’s original partnership agreement and designed its first logo. After just twelve days, he chose to walk away from his 10% stake in Apple for a mere $800, a decision that would come to symbolize both the enormity of risk and the unpredictability of life. I share how my son, Drew, and I stumbled upon Wayne at an...

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#174 - The Sandbox Adventure show art #174 - The Sandbox Adventure

The Sprinkler Nerd Show

Today, I’m sharing the story of my six-month recharge. Six months that pulled me out of my comfort zone and into a world of new challenges, new skills, and new possibilities. This wasn’t a vacation—it was six months of diving into the sandbox, experimenting, and solving problems I’d never faced before.   And here’s the thing: If I can do this, you can too. So, join me on this creative adventure as we look ahead to 2025 and all the possibilities waiting for us.   This is the story of my six-month recharge —-- six months that transformed how I think, work, and approach...

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#173 - Field Capacity from Orlando Florida show art #173 - Field Capacity from Orlando Florida

The Sprinkler Nerd Show

Andy Humphrey kicks off the episode with "Little Silver Ring" by The Samples and shares insights from his trip to Orlando for volleyball Nationals, highlighting its economic impact. He then revisits a past episode on field capacity, discussing soil moisture sensors, practical analogies, and their importance in irrigation systems.   (0:00) Andy Humphrey introduces the morning song of the day   (1:31) Andy Humphrey reveals the song: "little silver ring" by The Samples (1:44) Podcast introduction and target audience (2:20) Andy Humphrey talks about being in Orlando for volleyball...

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#172 - Eyes Wide Open show art #172 - Eyes Wide Open

The Sprinkler Nerd Show

  TL;DR::::::: Embrace an Open Mindset: Keeping an open mind is crucial for discovering new opportunities and innovations. Importance of New Conversations: Engaging with new people and ideas can lead to significant breakthroughs. Technology and Innovation: Encountering groundbreaking technology that could revolutionize the irrigation industry. Overcoming Initial Bias: It's essential to look beyond initial skepticism or bias towards new ideas and products. Creating Luck: Luck is often the result of continuous effort and openness to opportunities rather than mere chance. ...

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Background on the Invention:
In certain areas of the country where dry climatic conditions prevail, sprinkling and irrigating systems are generally maintained for prolonged periods of time. Obviously, however, means are required for automatically closing down said systems when there is rainfall or when moisture conditions in the atmosphere are excessive. Also, upon completion of the rainfall, automatic reopening of the sprinkling system is desired. Moisture-responsive actuators have been known to operate in response to the weight of rainfall captured in a receptacle attached thereto or in response to certain types of moisture absorptive mechanisms associated therewith. Also, ground sensors and probes have been used. However, such devices have proven to be inefficient, of short life, and relatively costly to manufacture.
 
Can you guess what the Patent is?
 
I'll give you a moment to think.
 
Let me repeat the first sentence: In certain areas of the country where dry climatic conditions prevail, sprinkling and irrigating systems are generally maintained for prolonged periods of time. Obviously, however, means are required for automatically closing down said systems when there is rainfall or when moisture conditions in the atmosphere are excessive.
 
Can you guess?
 
RAIN SENSOR. Although for the purpose of a Patent, the name is, MOISTURE RESPONSIVE SWITCH ACTUATOR.
 
Why am I mentioning this to you?
 
Because this patent was issued on August 11, 1972
 
We are still using a device that supposedly makes an irrigation controller, "SMART", that was invented in 1972.
 
Now I'd like to read you the Patent Abstract to add a bit of clarity.
 
Patent Abstract:
A moisture-responsive actuator is employed for controlling the operation of a fluid-operated sprinkling or irrigating system or the like. The moisture-responsive actuator is provided with hygroscopic material which expands in response to contact with rainwater to de-press a switch to deactivate the sprinkling system, the hygroscopic material contracting upon a drying thereof to release said switch whereupon the sprinkling system is activated.
 
WHY?
 
Why are we still using this technology?
 
I don't have an answer, I'm simply offering you the opportunity to ask.
 
It is thisexample fo Curiosity, that may lead you to your next big breakthrough. The breakthrough can be anything, not necessarilty a product invention. It could be a new way of doing something in your business, and new way of organizing something in your home.
 
It is the act of being Curious, to question things, to ask why, the evokes change and growth.
 
With this in mind, I'd like to propose that Curiosity is a Catalyst for Innovation.
 
Curiosity as a catalyst for innovation highlights impact of asking "What if?" and "Why not?" "I wonder what would happen if.."
 
This mindset has the potential to propel us beyond accepted norms, challenging us to reimagine possibilities. Curiosity can breakdown barriers to innovation, urging us to explore the unknown and question the status quo.
 
It's a reminder that the pursuit of knowledge is endless, and it's through this curious mindset that it becomes possible to uncover new paths to progress and solutions to our most complex problems.
 
Like, why are we still using a Rain Sensor that was invented in 1972, and doesn't actually "SENSE" the rain?
 
It is actually more like a Sponge/Switch. When the sponge is wet, it swells, and trips the switch.
 
Yet, every manufacture today still uses it.
 
Yes, My own curiosity kicked in and I do have a new apporach to this, but I'm not going to share it with you today. You'll need to come to my keynote speech next week in Ontario Canada to find out..
 
My final thought for today is on the potential to nurture a world that is continuously evolving and enhancing, and that embracing curiosity unlocks limitless opportunities, showing that the pursuit of knowledge and the bravery to question are fundamental to progress and, even, human advancement