HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-09-06, Page 13l
The Huron Expositor • September 6, 2006 Page 13
Personal observation domes for astronomers
bring media attention to Staffs -area inventor
Jeff H e u c h e r t
Already quite comfortable in inter-
view situations with national media
outlets, Wayne Parker welcomed
representatives from CBC's The
Venture last week to his Staffa area
home, where he was interviewed
about his latest entrepreneurial
project.
It's called POD, or personal obser-
vatory dome, and Parker says it is
revolutionary to the world of obser-
vatories.
With production nearing comple-
tion on his new POD, Parker still
finds time playing bass for the
-Canadian band Glass Tiger, which
throughout the past 21 years, have
faced its. fair share of national
media attention.
"You know, they're pretty much
the same," says Parker when asked
if there's any differences between
being interviewed about the band
and being interviewed about his
observatory business.
"It's just something to talk about,"
he adds modestly.
Parker is being interviewed over
the phone from Mount Forest,
where he's spent part of last week
camping out as part of Star Fest -
"Canada's largest star party," he
says.
It's there that Parker has been
promoting his new product.
"We have a wall of the dome here
that we're showing and we're hand-
ing out flyers," he explains.
And while Parker says his POD is
already well-known among the
astronomy community, that number
is sure to grow once CBC airs the
episode featuring Parker and his
POD.
The show Venture follows entre-
preneurs as they try to realize their
dreams.
Parker says a camera crew has
been following him over the past
five months, with the culmination
being last week at his home.
Parker says his new POD is
unique because it requires no pul-
leys or motors to open the top like
other observato- .
ries.
"By
one
creating
that's
halfway open
already, you don't
need those
things," he says.
Parker
describes the
rotating roof of
Wayne Parker, of Staffa, is interviewed
new personal observation dome.
his POD as "a semi clam shell that
provides a much larger view."
The POD is also made from a
high-density plastic, much lighter
than the usual steel or fiberglass.
The lightness of the product will
allow the user to set up the POD
permanently, or quickly disassemble
the unit and take it to a cottage, or
anywhere else, says Parker.
He adds that the greatest advan-
tage for anyone interested will be
the price, which he expects to be
around $1,500, compared to roughly
$10,000 for other observatories.
Parkersays his POD is currently
in the final stages of production and
expects them to become available
before the end of the year.
Like his SkyShed business, for
which he is already internationally
renowned within the astronomy
community, Parker's PODs will be
available through a new website,
which should be .up and running
within the next six weeks.
And Parker, if early interest is any
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by CBC's The Venture recently about his
indication, says his new PODs will
be rolling off of the production line.
"Without really trying we already
have around 1,000 pre -ordered from
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around the world,"- says Parker, who
adds that the early interest has
come from the information available
on his SkyShed website and word of
mouth within the astronomy com-
munity.
And there's also some good news
for fans of Glass Tiger as well.
"We just finished touring through
the summer," says Parker, adding,
"and in the fall we're going to be
heading into the studio to start
working on a new album."
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