Two Bit Circus – TEDxSMU 2013
Brent Bushnell is the CEO of Two Bit Circus, a Los Angeles-based “make tank” focused on products at the crossroads of amusement and education. The interdisciplinary team strives to make entertainment more enriching and education more fun. Most recently the team launched STEAM Carnival, a modern re-imagining of the midway to inspire kids about science, technology, engineering, art and math. Previously he was the on-camera inventor for the ABC TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. He was the CEO of Doppelgames, a mobile game platform company that sold to Handmade Mobile in 2012; he’s a founder of Anti-Aging Games, a company creating casual games that reduce the risk of early memory loss; was a founder of Syyn Labs, a creative collective combining art and engineering to create high engagement for large brands and bands including Google, Disney and responsible for the viral hit Rube Goldberg music video for OK Go that garnered 40 million views on YouTube. In his spare time, Brent mentors teens in game development and entrepreneurship via programs such as Spark and NFTE. He publishes at brentbushnell.com and @brentbushnell
Eric Gradman, CTO & Mad Inventor, Two Bit Circus Eric Gradman is an inventor & entertainer who makes others see technology as magic. He has a colorful history as a circus performer, professional whistler & roboticist.For 15 years he has designed and built cutting-edge technology products including 3d-touch displays, virtual reality systems, satellite control systems, intelligent robots, concept cars, assistive devices, and crazy games that will blow your mind. He is at the forefront of a revolution in personal manufacturing tools that make inventing accessible to all.He is cofounder of Two Bit Circus: a Los Angeles idea factory making entertainment more enriching and education more fun. He is one of the brains behind the STEAM Carnival, reimaginging the carnival with robots, lasers, and fire.Eric is on television: as an on-screen inventor for ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition, a talking head for Outrageous Acts of Science (Discovery Science), and as a special guest on several shows including Invention: USA (History), and The NEXT List (CNN).His interactive artwork has been exhibited at LACMA, Sundance Film Festival, The Leonardo, Mindshare.LA and the TED Conference.