kitguru interview | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 30 Mar 2023 15:41:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png kitguru interview | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Gigabyte Worldwide VP Henry Kao exclusive interview https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/leo-waldock/gigabyte-worldwide-vp-henry-kao-exclusive-interview/ Wed, 24 Jun 2015 07:13:55 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=255908 It's tempting for senior officials at every company to regurgitate the ‘About Us' section of their web site. Henry Kao is different. Prior to the cameras being switched on, Henry assured us that we could ask ‘Anything we want'. And so we did. Henry gave us his full, frank opinion on everything from oppressive surveillance …

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It's tempting for senior officials at every company to regurgitate the ‘About Us' section of their web site. Henry Kao is different. Prior to the cameras being switched on, Henry assured us that we could ask ‘Anything we want'. And so we did. Henry gave us his full, frank opinion on everything from oppressive surveillance becoming the norm with wearable technology, to AMD's chances of success with its next gen products and processes.

KitGuru says: We thank Henry for his refreshingly honest overview of the market and his insight into the challenges facing some of the biggest companies in the tech industry today.

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Exclusive interview with Gerjan Blonet from Club3D https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/andrzej/exclusive-interview-with-gerjan-blonet-from-club3d/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/andrzej/exclusive-interview-with-gerjan-blonet-from-club3d/#comments Mon, 19 Jan 2015 08:30:15 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=230454 Club3D has been around for almost 20 years as a graphics card brand and, at one stage, was famous for being the only manufacturer who worked with all of the major GPU producers. They are now highly focused and want to bring more products to the UK market. We managed to catch up with Gerjan …

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Club3D has been around for almost 20 years as a graphics card brand and, at one stage, was famous for being the only manufacturer who worked with all of the major GPU producers. They are now highly focused and want to bring more products to the UK market. We managed to catch up with Gerjan Blonet, an expert on Club3D matters.  

Let's start at the beginning. We asked Gerjan when the company was formed.
“The company was established back in 1997 in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands as a manufacturer of computer components”, he explained. “So we’re in our 18th year of trading now. My colleagues have a wealth of experience; they’re almost walking graphics cards. Not me though, I’ve been with Club 3D since 2012 so I’m no guru yet”.

So what was the driving force behind the company – the inspiration?
“The strong desire of our founders was to establish a brand with a fresh approach on offering a high quality, complete chipset solution at affordable prices”, he said. “A brand that relies on having a European base, close to our customers with short communication lines. Our warehouse is located next to Schiphol airport itself. So we don’t have to ship from the Far East”.

In the KitGuru Annual Awards 2014, we saw a lot of mainstream technology companies using their brand to gain share in the peripherals market, for example, is Club3D 100% focused on graphics?
“In the early days we only did graphics cards”, said Gerjan. “Back in 2001, Club 3D was the first AiB (Add In Board partner) for ATI Technologies. In 2006 we started to diversify our product range by introducing sound cards and in the past years our current range of SenseVision, Power supplies and cables/ adapters”.

Gerjan-Blonet-Club3D-Exclusive-Interview-KitGuru

At one point, Club3D was the only company to offer all 4 major GPUs – what does Gerjan offer now and what are Club3D's plans for the future?
“Correct, he said. “After our partnership with ATi Technologies, our goal was to be the pioneer for a Total Graphics Solution. So we formed partnerships with Nvidia, S3 Graphics and XGI Technology, the latter two probably unknown by your younger readers”.

“Since early 2013 we became an ‘AMD only’ AiB. We share AMD’s vision and believe they have the lead when it comes to technological innovation. In the near future we will continue to focus on our range of PokerSeries gaming cards and expand our innovative SenseVision range of Multi Monitor solutions which mostly use DisplayLink chips”.

Everything through one cable

“SenseVision started in 2011 with an external USB Graphics Card, in 2013 we were the first in the world to launch an MST (Multi Stream Transport) Hub and in 2014 we were the first in the world to launch a USB 3.0 to 4K Graphics Adapter and Docking Station. In the coming years we will continue with more ‘world’s first’ introductions in the SenseVision range. I can’t tell much at this stage, maybe a hint: everything through one cable”.

Graphics card manufacturers have a choice when they set up business. They can push 100% with their own brand, or choose to use their brand for consumers (i.e. cards sold through stores etc) and keep a ‘white label' going for supplying top PC companies. Example?  When we cracked open an HP desktop a while back, it became obvious that the mainboard and graphics card had been made by MSI – although there was no MSI branding anywhere.

We asked Gerjan about Club3D's focus.

Buying from a local system builder is a no-brainer for me

“We focus on PC Gaming enthusiasts and system builders”, he told KitGuru. “Compared to some other countries it’s interesting to see how popular and well established home-grown system builders are in the UK. But with their high level of enthusiasm, knowledge, quality, service, their selection of the latest components and ability to create bespoke systems at decent prices, buying from a local system builder is a no-brainer for me if I was in the market for a new gaming rig”.

Reference design have been getting better in recent years, but cooling is certainly one area where an AiB can differentiate its offer. What is Club3D's point of view?

“Reference designs set a bar when it comes to the balance between performance, noise/ heat production and power consumption”, explained Gerjan. “However in many cases there is room to improve the cooling performance and noise levels while remaining the reliability by customizing PCB, components and cooler. For that reason we put a lot of effort in our PokerSeries gaming cards which aim to be both cooler and quieter than a reference design. Oh and better looking of course!”

3 fans and 6 copper heatpipes

So how difficult is it to create a custom cooling solution?

“Some years ago we introduced our high performance CoolStream cooling solutions which are now a standard feature on the PokerSeries range”, he told us. “Depending on the GPU it can be quite a task to develop a cooler which is not only nice to look at but does its job cool and quietly under any load. The current generation of CoolStream coolers has up to 3 fans and up to 6 copper heatpipes to dissipate the heat while remaining as quiet as possible. We’re constantly experimenting with new cooling solutions though. Personally I’m particularly impressed by the advanced hybrid cooler on the current Radeon R9 295X2 card”.

Yep, hard to argue that. AMD batted way above its weight when it came to the 295X2 cooling solution.

We see a growing demand… Multiple monitors for everyone

After hunkering down in the bunker for 6-7 years, we can all feel the market being re-energised and resellers look like reporting record sales for parts of 2014/15. Against that backdrop, what goals does Club3D have for 2015?

“According to the latest JPR report the PC Gaming market will continue to grow to $ 23B globally in 2017, we see no recession in the PC Gaming market!”, he exclaimed. “Given the current market share of AMD graphics cards our main goal is to introduce great performing, attractively priced new PokerSeries cards and claim back market share from the competition.
Another goal is to expand our SenseVision range of Multi Monitor solutions by focusing more on B2b channels like the enterprise notebook and professional tablet markets. We see a growing demand and we’re determined to increase our business and market share there. Multiple Monitors for everyone!”

KitGuru also likes the increased focus on screen real estate – more is definitely better for a number of reasons.

Gerjan-Blonet-Club3D-Exclusive-Interview-KitGuru-Desk

Enough about the company and products, let's find out a bit more about Gerjan with KitGuru's standard set of personal questions.

What did Gerjan do before Club3D?
“I’ve been assistant store manager at a mobile phone shop, I sold cars at a Toyota dealership and I worked as a sales rep for a large manufacturer of Sunglasses. But I was always a tech and gadgets nut”. 

So what was your first computer?
“It was an IBM 486DX4 handed down by my dad back in ’95. I got my first decent (gaming) PC back in ’99 when I was 15 years old”.

If you need to impress your friends, what do you cook at home?

“Hehe my friends are usually not impressed by my cooking skills. But my steaks are pretty decent if I say so myself. My home baked cakes are not too bad either, but to say impressive?”

Which food do you love, but you can’t make it right – so you always need to eat it at a restaurant?
“I like Chinese, Japanese and Indian food but I lack the skills and patience for that. Luckily there are some eastern restaurants in my neighbourhood in Haarlem”.

If you could invent one thing, what would it be?
“A health improving alternative for smoking! Or maybe a renewable alternative for Oil”.

KitGuru says: A big THANK YOU to Gerjan for taking the time to speak with us. 

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Exclusive interview with Alvin Chan from Antec https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/interviews/matthew-wilson/exclusive-interview-with-alvin-chan-from-antec/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/interviews/matthew-wilson/exclusive-interview-with-alvin-chan-from-antec/#respond Fri, 17 Oct 2014 07:13:27 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=216937 Today we are interviewing Alvin Chan, Product Development Manager from Antec, gives us his take on why Japanese capacitors are the only choice for him, the importance of energy efficiency in 2015 and where the market will be heading next. Established in 1986, Antec has been a favourite with enthusiasts for many years. Step back to …

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Today we are interviewing Alvin Chan, Product Development Manager from Antec, gives us his take on why Japanese capacitors are the only choice for him, the importance of energy efficiency in 2015 and where the market will be heading next.

Established in 1986, Antec has been a favourite with enthusiasts for many years.

Step back to the end of 2006 and every LAN party was guaranteed to be full of systems built into the legendary Antec 900 – with it's pre-modded lighting and enormous fan in the roof. Some genius R&D derivation process then kicked in at Antec HQ, which led to the launch of the 300 and 1200. At that time, the company was equally famous for its gorgeous HTPC products, under the ‘Fusion' brand.

We mention Fusion for a very specific reason.

Antec was one of the first companies to give focus to the idea of efficiency with power supplies and anyone who bought a Fusion HTPC chassis was likely to have found themselves the proud owner of an ‘Earth Watts' or ‘HE' (High Efficiency) PSU as well.

When the chance came up to chat with Alvin, we were very interested. What has Antec been doing in the PSU market?

KG: Antec recently launched the HCP-Platinum PSU series and the gold-certified EDGE series – how would you describe nowadays challenges in designing high-end power supplies and which role do regional regulations, e.g. for power consumption play?

AC: Antec has invested a lot of R&D resources into developing a number of high-end PSU series products. For example the HCP-Platinum and the our brand new EDGE series.

We are aiming to provide perfect products for Overclockers and enthusiasts. We want them to use Antec PSUs to break world records. It's that simple. You should see what happens when a world-class overclocker links four of our HCP-1300 Platinum PSUs together with OC Link.

Synchronising four PSUs with that much power is not easy, you can face output timing issues etc, but the Antec HCP-Platinum series are totally stable when linked. Perfect for delivering maximum power throughput.

Here is Alvin's relaxed selfie from Taiwan

Alvin photo

KG: 1300w Power supplies is DEFINITELY what we call ‘serious power'. But that is what you have ‘today'. How does Antec prepare PSUs for future components’ needs?

AC: To predict the future, you must have a strong relationship with Intel, AMD and nVidia – to understand their upcoming roadmaps. Then you need to understand all of the regional differences – the kind of PSU that is right for central America might not be right for central Europe. It helps that our production partner is Delta Electronic, the world's largest manufacturer in this market – and we are their only partner for the PC market. That's a huge advantage and really helped us deliver annual revenues over $200 million.

Right now, our products are hand-assembled, but Delta has made huge investment into automated production lines and we will soon be announcing a new series that has been fully assembled by robots. We are aiming to achieve the highest performance and quality possible, but with great value at the same time, and this new range can help us achieve that.

KG: Please explain the Circuit Shield Technology and why no user should be without it.

AC: Circuit Shield Technology is a fully functional PSU protection circuit. It is industrial level PSU protection that not only protects your system from external issues like high AV voltage impact or temperature  problems – it also protects components from each other within your machine.

KG: Can you describe the process of developing a new PSU line? When do you choose a production partner?

AC: The Antec PSU development team has a large array of testing equipment in our test lab, so R&D can easily analyze the components and PSU circuit internally. This is a big advantage. We have a world-class product research team that designs the supply itself and then liaises closely with our production partner to make sure that our vision is delivered to market.

Right now, we are ready to release a brand new PSU topology. For a project of this magnitude, we need to evaluate several partners. Each will be invited down to meet with our product management and R&D teams. We will run through our idea and make sure that each potential partner states the quality level they are able to offer – to minimise the possibility of failure for our customers.

Once we have found the right partner, we sit down and work out the EVT (Engineering Verification Tests), DVT (Design Verification Tests), PVT (Product Versification Tests) and a schedule for Mass Production. Once that has been laid down, we accept no variation. That is how we achieve the highest quality possible.

KG: Has the market for PSUs become more difficult and why?

AC: It is harder because so many companies launch power supplies with what we call ‘tick box marketing'. Antec uses high quality components and does extensive testing to ensure safe delivery of high wattage with continuous output. So many companies operate without a proper technical team, procedures or the equipment needed to deliver quality. They are happy to put stickers on the packaging – claiming all sort of features and standards – but it is false.

When you see a multi-award winning power supply from Antec at a certain price, then a low-cost Chinese copy says that it offers all of the same features at half the price, you know something is wrong. It's not possible and it's dangerous. We only work with premium partners to deliver first class PSUs with honest branding and reasonable price. That is the benefit we bring to Antec's fan base.

Screen Shot 2014-10-16 at 12.20.35

KG: Are users really becoming more conscious about saving energy or is the whole thing more of a marketing claim?

AC: Users definitely care about energy saving!  Over the past 10 years, users are becoming more and more aware that the price of electricity is going up as supply is constricted. Global warming is also an issue and you can see from the number of electric and hybrid cars being released. At Antec, we believe that it's our responsibility to improve the situation, by bringing high energy saving products to market. We are dedicated to staying ahead of the latest ErP regulations.

KG: PSU vendors often emphasise the usage of Japanese capacitors – what makes these better than others?

AC: Japan is the leading nation for capacitor manufacturing and material technology. In addition, Japan makes the best aluminum foil in the world, but refuses to sell that foil to Taiwan or China. The reason is simple, because Japan wants to protect its own industry.

At the same time, the quality of Japanese capacitor manufacturers is unmatched, because they are very strict when it comes to ensuring specifications are matched. You can always trust that they will deliver. In order of quality, the capacitors call into these groups: Tantalum > Solid > Japanese Electrolytic > Taiwanese Electrolytic >>>>> Chinese Electrolytic.

KG: We have seen trends like Bitcoin Mining over the last couple of years – has this trend died? What's the next big thing?

AC: Bitcoin Mining is still a factor, but no where near as strong as it was at the end of 2013. Some retailers are taking Bitcoin, so it will stay around, but the days of major mining are probably behind us.

KG: Antec’s OC Link Technology seems to allow two HCP PSUs to work in tandem for more demanding system. What kind of user needs that technology?

AC: OC Link Technology is a safe way to connect two PSUs to work together for something like a serious Bitcoin Mining machine and extreme liquid nitrogen overclocking systems. Some of our overclocking clients modify these to allow up to four HCP-1300 Platinum PSUs to work together in order to smash world records.

KG: Finally, which trends do you predict for the hardware sector in the next few years?

AC: By Computex 2015, in Taipei in June, you will see serious competition in the 80Plus Titanium category from every PSU manufacturer – and we hope to be standing at the front.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Thanks to Alvin Chan from Antec for speaking with us.

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Exclusive interview with LN2 OC Guru Petri Korhonen https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/faith/exclusive-interview-with-ln2-oc-guru-petri-korhonen/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/faith/exclusive-interview-with-ln2-oc-guru-petri-korhonen/#comments Thu, 05 Dec 2013 08:20:41 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=165805 Two days ago, KitGuru Lab staff cast their eyes over a photo of a brand new product. It looked amazing and seemed to offer a level of flexibility in LN2 cooling that you don't often see. That product is the EK-SF3D Critical Point. We have been lucky enough to get an exclusive interview with co-creator …

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Two days ago, KitGuru Lab staff cast their eyes over a photo of a brand new product. It looked amazing and seemed to offer a level of flexibility in LN2 cooling that you don't often see. That product is the EK-SF3D Critical Point. We have been lucky enough to get an exclusive interview with co-creator Petri Korhonen. KitGuru dons the safety gear and begins the questioning.

First, a very short grounder on cooling. When you put electricity into components, they get hot. In general terms, more performance means more power and more heat. At the low end, you can leave CPUs, GPUs etc to fend for themselves (passive cooling with heatpipes and fins). One step up involves a fan. Next you have liquid cooling, using materials that are not likely to harm a toddler. At the very high end, when the amount of current being used would fry most chips for dinner, you have liquid nitrogen. LN2.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB0JodKgZ0A']

Second, let's  have a quick look at EK. In 1999, Edvard König got hold of his first PC and quickly realised that ‘passive' and ‘air' were not for him. Over the next 4 years, while he was studying, Edvard began working on water block prototypes – aptly named EK-1, EK-2 and EK-3. From there grew one of the most respected specialist cooling companies in the world. Just how good are they?  Well, when YOYOTech wanted to create the Aurum 24K with a custom liquid cooling solution for £8,000 – EK was their first and only choice. As well as KitGuru's own gallery on that stunning looking system, you can also find it on Forbes.

That brings us to the focus of our piece, Petri Korhonen AKA SF3D and the EK-SF3D Critical Point solution for LN2 record breakers.

He is probably most famous for his part in the AMD ‘Experiment' in Las Vegas on 10th January 2009, when he used liquid helium for the first time in public to take a quad core processor past 6.5GHz and smashed the record for 3DMark 05 with a score that passed 45,000 – as the temperature close to key components approached absolute zero. Impressive stuff.

With that kind of history, it's easy to see what attracted EK to the partnership.

KG: So what was the driving force behind this inspired new design?
PK: “I have been using my own LN2 cooler designs since I started to use LN2 more frequently. After that they have evolved and first commercial product was launched in 2009. We made a cooperation deal with EKWB in the end of 2012 and first EK-SF3D products saw daylight in spring 2013. EKWB can produce very high quality products and the price is still competitive. This company is the only one who can really produce this type of devices properly”.

This little beauty is the result of a special collaboration between Petri and EK
This little beauty is the result of a special collaboration between Petri and EK.  To be honest, one look at Petri and the heat probably just leaves voluntarily.

KG: We have seen people try and create universal sittings before, but then the graphic card companies make changes to the board and they are redundant. How ‘flexible' is this design?
PK: “We offer the mounting system for most common graphics card types and in the future if something changes, we can deliver the new bracket with very low cost. Most of the mounting hole distances are covered, so I believe there will be no issues with mounting in the future”.

KG: From the first time you ‘sat down' with a pen and paper – how long did it take to get (a) the initial samples ready and (b) the final solution  ready to sell?
PK: “First we did some online meetings about Memory LN2 cooler and CPU LN2 cooler. During CEbit 2013 we made final design for GPU LN2 cooler and made launch schedule for the products. We have been able to launch them all during this year and there is something new coming out shortly”.

KG: Sometimes in life, you trade flexibility for ‘straight line speed' do you expect world records to be set with this unit?
PK: “Memory LN2 cooler have been already used in WR setups and there will be records coming with the other units as well, because they can handle whatever you like to do with them. We make no compromises, so we have a plan to win the whole race”.

KG: Any unusually difficult technical problems you had to overcome?
PK: “The new mounting system for CPU pot was a bit difficult to create but we did overcome those things fast. We wanted to avoid basic errors there have been in previous products and we can offer for example highest pressure over CPU to LN2 cooler contact and always 100% similar and accurate contact”.

KG: At low temperatures, is Gelid GC-Extreme really the best?
PK: It is one of the best there are at the moment. It have worked very well in many different situations and never failed very badly. LN2 cooling and extreme heatloads are combination which would need product designed only for that situation and it is not commercially usable product. That is the reason we won’t see that type of “LN2 only” thermal pastes on market.

After a quick visit from Mr Freeze
After a quick visit from Mr Freeze

KG: For you, what part of this product makes you most proud?
PK: Every part of it! The quality, design, looks and performance.

Petri first began collaborating with EK back in 2010, but it became more serious in 2012. So what got him started and what makes this multi-record-breaking designer tick?

KG: So what was your proudest moment in overclocking?
PK: “There are plenty of moments to be proud of and none of them can be named separately. Best moments are the AMD ‘Experiment' in Las Vegas where we used Liquid Helium first time on computer parts and broke 3Dmark05 world record. Later first 7GHz AMD result and so on. All the World records which have been broken make me still proud. I have been also competing in many live competitions etc. and those have been best moments of the career”.

KG: What was your first job ever?
PK: “Hard question! First job where I got some money was in 1997 and I was helping my dad in some building projects”.

KG: What was your first PC ever?
PK: “I think it was 1988 when my dad bought our first PC. There was really nothing to do with it at that point, so it took years to get something better. I think it was 1993 when I started to play games and after that I have been using PC’s quite a lot”.

Finland produces some amazing drivers and overclockers - add a little Slovenian precision engineering and you have a potent mix
Finland produces some amazing drivers and overclockers – add a little Slovenian precision engineering from EK and you have a potent mix

Enough of that – time to get very personal

KG: If you have to impress friends, what would YOU cook?
PK: “Depends a lot about which friends they are, but I can make very good BBQ food or some Asian dishes. I really love to make food so I actually cook a lot to my friends as well. My wife really likes this side of me”.

KG: What do you LOVE eating, but cannot cook – so you need to go to a restaurant?
PK: “Sometimes it is nice to go restaurant just to do nothing but eat. But I am not so interested to make sushi, so that is what I need to get from restaurants”.

KG: If you were driving in the perfect car, along the Pacific highway. What would the car be?  What track is playing on the radio? Who is the passenger?
PK: “This is hard question. I have AUDI now, so it would be R8 or RS6. The song from the radio is some decent dance/trance which suits for that moment. Passenger is my wife of course” [Safe choices! – Ed]

KG: Brings us onto our last question: If you could invent anything, what would it be?
PK: “In related to computers it would be automatic LN2 cooling devices which could control temperature in milliseconds and the system would monitor all possible things on setup. If I could invent anything what could be possible I would do first working fusion nuclear reactor which would solve the energy issues we will have in the future. That would be good enough I think.”

KitGuru says: There you have it – insight into the co-designer of the EK-SF3D Critical Point cooling solution. Now all you need is a tray of expensive processors, 200Kg of LN2 and some spare fingers. BIG THANKS to Petri for answering our questions.

If you want to know more about the serious end of overclocking, please join KitGuru over on Facebook. Discuss this interview over here.

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Via helps boost 3D creativity with JAM https://www.kitguru.net/channel/event/jules/via-helps-boost-3d-creativity-with-jam/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/event/jules/via-helps-boost-3d-creativity-with-jam/#respond Wed, 22 May 2013 08:04:22 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=135450 Founded in 1987, Via Technologies is a fabless creator of chipsets, processors, memory and other electronics products. Right now, they are causing a stir in the market for a different reason. Jam. Nope, it has nothing to do with cooked fruits and sugar. This Jam is all about creativity – through the new science of …

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Founded in 1987, Via Technologies is a fabless creator of chipsets, processors, memory and other electronics products. Right now, they are causing a stir in the market for a different reason. Jam. Nope, it has nothing to do with cooked fruits and sugar. This Jam is all about creativity – through the new science of 3D printing. KitGuru prepares for sticky fingers.

Back in the late seventies a tall, young English chap called Richard Brown developed an interest in the Far East. We're talking about a time in the UK when everything from ‘outside' was viewed with huge suspicion. Each town would have one or two Chinese takeaways – all of which had to adapt their menus to accommodate weak stomachs that liked only fish and chips, bangers and mash.

Richard ended up studying for a degree at London University's School of Oriental and African Studies. His year out was spent in parts of China, he fell in love with the place and never looked back. After joining Via, he rapidly made his way up through the company's ranks and he's now Via's VP for International Marketing. Highly unusual for a non-Chinese person to be playing at that level in China – believe us!

Enough background, what's all this about the Jam?

Via firmly believes that 3D printing will change the world in ways that we don't yet fully understand. While there is concern in the USA that children will be able to print guns and kill each other even more, there is a very cool, totally safe side to 3D printing that Via is trying to encourage.

Richard told us, “3D printing is starting to take off in Taiwan but still in its early stages”.

So what's the event about?

“It's a two day event where we teach people how to create and print 3D files. The aim is to get people to learn the technology and hopefully show their creativity”, said Richard. “We've held a couple of events so far and it's gone really well”.

We all know what it's like when presented with a brand new way to ‘do stuff'. It takes a while, and a little encouragement, to wrap your head around it and to see the possibilities. We have to applaud Via for its foresight here.

Judging from the Jam shots Richard sent over, creativity seems to start ‘close to home' – doll's houses in this case. So what is the most practical application Via has found for this new technology?

“With jam, our aim is to promote creativity”, he explained. “With Via, 3D printing has allowed for fast prototyping – for example the cases for our APC board”.

For those not familiar with APC, it was launched as a ‘complete system on a board' – complete with OS and NAND – for around $49. Technically, we suppose it could be called a Neo-ITX, but whatever label you give it – it is small, it is cheap and it is cool. Which leaves you the possibility of designing your own custom case for it. Enter 3D printing.

Here are some shots from Via's latest Jam session in Taiwan:-

Welcome sign for Via's 3D Printing Jam
Welcome sign for Via's 3D Printing Jam
Group hug for all the happy people involved
Group hug for all the happy people involved
Teams hard at it in the design stage
Teams hard at it in the design stage
3D printing in action. It's almost like watching paint dry. Almost.
3D printing in action. It's almost like watching paint dry. Almost.
Watch out Ikea!  It's the Via 3D Printing Jam on the attack!
Watch out Ikea! It's the Via 3D Printing Jam on the attack!

.

KitGuru says: We find this whole area fascinating. For those of us who grew up with IBM golf ball printers – with Start Trek replicators on our TV screens – the idea of practical, affordable 3D printing for all is very appealing.

Comment below, in the KitGuru forums or join us online over at Facebook.

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