Latest news with #Sperry
Epoch Times
7 days ago
- Science
- Epoch Times
Elmer Ambrose Sperry: Father of Modern Navigation Technology
The compass has a history stretching back more than 2,000 years. This tool, capable of pinpointing due north by magnetism, altered human activity forever, enabling explorers and navigators to maintain their courses to whatever destination they endeavored to reach. Navigators the world over utilized this marvel throughout the millennia, but when shipbuilders switched from wood to iron, it substantially interfered with the compass's accuracy. The compass needed to be revolutionized, and a young American genius decided to take on the task. Elmber Ambrose Sperry (1860–1930) was born in Cortland in Upstate New York. His father, Stephen, who was away working during the time of his birth, was given the news, which should have been a welcome announcement. The news, however, was tragic; his wife, Mary, had died from complications after giving birth. Sperry grew up without a mother, and with a father, who was often away working. He was sent to live on a farm with his grandparents and an aunt. Sperry developed into a smart and inquisitive teenager who was completely infatuated with the new inventions of the day. Growing up during the height of America's Industrial Revolution and the Gilded Age, Sperry witnessed and contributed to many of the nation's grand developments. He attended the local State Normal and Training School, and then attended the nearby Cornell University in 1878 and 1879. First Company At Cornell, he learned about dynamo electricity, and, by the time he had a grasp on the technology, which apparently did not take long, he left and moved to Chicago to found his first business in 1880. The 20-year-old founded Sperry Electric Company, the first of his eight companies. Sperry Electric specialized in electric dynamos and arc lighting systems. During his time in Chicago, he founded several companies, including the Sperry Electric Mining Machine Company, the Sperry Electric Railway Company (of Cleveland, Ohio), and the Chicago Fuse Wire Company. His work greatly improved the industries of mining machinery, electric railways, and the newest advancement in transportation technology, the electric automobile. By the start of the 20th century, Sperry had founded an electrochemical business in Washington. This business focused on making pure caustic soda and processing scrap metal to recover tin. But Sperry's 20th-century contributions had less to do with scrap metal, and much more to do with how to counter the metal through his improvements with gyroscopes. Interestingly, Washington would prove to be the home of his largest buyer: the federal government. Gyrocompass and Stabilizer Elmer Sperry's stabilizing gyroscope installed in the USS Henderson. Public Domain During the early 1900s, Sperry experimented with gyroscopic compasses and stabilizers. As ships were now no longer being built of wood, but of metal, the traditional compass was practically of no use. His gyroscope compass and stabilizer ensured the compass could adjust with the rolls of ships. The stabilizer would initiate a principle called precession before a ship even began to roll. Related Stories 4/30/2025 4/21/2025 'If I impress a force on one end of the axis of a gyroscope it will resist this impressed force but will turn in a direction at right angles to the force impressed,' Sperry once He received his patent for the gyrocompass in 1908 and launched his Sperry Gyroscope Company two years later in Brooklyn. The United States Navy was obviously impressed with Sperry's creation, and, in 1911, the Navy placed the gyrocompass aboard the battleship USS Delaware. The creation of his new company was rather timely, as the demand for his invention skyrocketed with the onset of World War I. Sperry's gyrocompass was placed aboard all U.S. Navy vessels by the end of the war. It was so successful that the Navy continued using it throughout World War II. From Ships to Aircrafts The gyrocompass and stabilizer was also placed in aircrafts. This aeronautic version was actually introduced in Paris during a 1914 flight competition. The 'hands-off-the-controls' demonstration led to him receiving first prize by the Aero Club of France and the Collier Trophy, The gyrocompass and stabilizer weren't the only contributions Sperry made to the American war effort. He also devised a high-intensity anti-aircraft searchlight, which was used by both the Navy and the Army. Sperry also created something called the 'Metal Mike,' which was an autopilot steering system. His work in aeronautics continued by developing new technologies for bombsights, radar, take-off and landing systems, radio beacons, artificial horizons, and even fire control systems. Elmer Ambrose Sperry demonstrating the operation of a searchlight. Public Domain Additionally, Sperry, known early for his work with rail systems, invented a device that could identify cracks and fissures in rails. The American Railway Association A Legacy of Brilliance By the time of his quite unexpected death in 1930 at the age of 69, he had approximately 400 patents to his name and had founded eight successful businesses. His Sperry Corporation would eventually merge with another tech company to become the tech giant Unisys. Along with the aforementioned awards, he won two Franklin Institute medals (1914 and 1929); the Holley Medal (1927); the John Fritz Medal (1927); the Albert Gary Medal (1929); decorations from the czar of Russia; the Order of the Rising Sun and the Order of the Sacred Treasure from the emperor of Japan; and the grand prize at the 1915 Panama Exposition. Despite never completing college, he was awarded honorary degrees from the Stevens Institute, Lehigh University, and Northwestern University. When Secretary of the Navy Charles Adams III heard of his passing, he stated, 'The United States naval service ashore and afloat will learn with deep regret of the loss of one from whom we have received much. As a member of the naval consulting board since 1915, Mr. Sperry has rendered invaluable service as chairman of the committees on mines and torpedoes and aids to navigation and as a committee member on aeronautics, internal combustion engines, and special problems. His numerous inventions, including his gyrocompass, plane stabilizer, high intensity searchlight and his many refinements on apparatus for accurately controlling the fire of our guns, have assisted materially in placing the navy in first-class fighting trim. It is safe to say that no one American has contributed so much to our naval technical progress.' What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
Vogue
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Ahoy! Boat Shoes, a Polarizing Summer Flat, Are Here to Stay
Footwear is getting freakier by the day. Whether it's stars like Kylie Jenner embracing split-toe Tabi flats, or Irina Shayk wandering around the streets of New York City in full-on water shoes, the hottest accessories of the moment are not meant to be traditionally pretty. Polarizing is more like it: There is something fresh and cool about finishing off a look with an unexpected shoe, and all your favorite trendsetters are getting on board with the movement. This summer, though, celebrities are embracing one of the trickiest shoes of all: boat shoes. Yes, the kind that preppy frat bros love to wear. Hear us out. Sure, the boat shoe may have unglamorous roots. They became really popular in the 1930s, when Sperry created the first boat shoe by carving grooves into the rubber sole of a standard shoe. This innovative design made them favorable for sailors, who needed shoes with grip on wet surfaces. Eventually, the silhouette evolved to feature a leather upper and laces, and during WWII, they were even adapted by the U.S. Navy for their sleek functionality. They have become more of a lifestyle shoe in recent times, and continue to be a hit with frat bros, students on college campuses, and yes, sailboat owners. But that's all changing now. Benito Skinner in boat shoes Emma Corrin in boat shoes This season, designers have been presenting boat shoes on the high-fashion runways—proposing the shoe as something that can be a chic addition to your best preppy looks. At Loewe, luxurious leather styles were paired with sculptural skirts and leather overshits; at Monse, they were styled in a more casual context, with silky PJ sets. Even off the catwalk, designers like Simon Porte Jacquemus have even been spotted incorporating them into their own wardrobes. Though it is a much-bemoaned shoe associated with bro culture, the fashion world is welcoming the boat shoe with open arms—you could say they are setting sail on the trend. (Sorry.) Monse fall 2025 Photo: Filippo Fior / Loewe spring 2025 Photo: Isidore Montag / The question is: What makes the boat shoe suddenly so attractive? If you look at the new designer interpretations, there have been subtle updates to make them feel more modern and aspirational. Miu Miu has done them in bleached and distressed leathers; Jacquemus has updated them in supple suedes; Bottega Veneta added a hefty lug soles to the silhouette. Their new allure also lies in how they're being styled. The bad rap boat shoes get is often due to their association with bad khaki shorts and polo shirts. Styling is much more polished as of late, though. Emma Corrin, for one, wore their boat shoes with a pleated mini skirt and layered belts. Think: Less nautical, more sleek. So go ahead—hop onto the boat shoe trend. And consider styles that feel slightly off-kilter and updated. The end result, as the fashion plates above show, is that it can be a surprisingly cool summer staple. Ahoy!
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
FSU football's Kevin Sperry shows he's a 'football guy.' Here's why he adjusted quickly
Since becoming an early enrollee, Florida State quarterback Kevin Sperry has been quick on his feet, literally and figuratively. What has stood out for the former three-star prospect who was once an Oklahoma commit? Advertisement Some will say it's his running ability. Mike Norvell pointed out how electric Sperry can be when the ball is in his hands, which he knew when he recruited him. "I knew he could run," Norvell said. "You feel the athleticism, the twitch and the explosiveness. That is exciting." FSU football players walk into the first spring practice of the spring season on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 As a passer, his accuracy cannot be ignored. Linebacker Elijah Herring has been impressed by how accurately he throws the ball, along with his athletic gifted traits from a defensive standpoint. 'That boy, he can fly, and he can put the ball in the breadbasket for sure,' Herring said. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has also been impressed by Sperry catching on to his offense. He acknowledged it is starting to become second nature. Advertisement "He's a football guy," Malzahn said. "He's a natural guy and just being on the field and just getting the information as far as the signal, the protection, the direction, then you got to carry it over to the coverage and the defense and the read like, he has a bunch of natural stuff to him." Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Kevin Sperry has been an impactful quarterback on every high school team he played on Carl Albert's Kevin Sperry throws a pass during the high school football game between Shawnee and Carl Albert at Crain Family Stadium on the Oklahoma Baptist University campus in Shawnee, Okla., Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. The freshman quarterback has adjusted well and turned heads in his first spring ball. It might seem surprising to the team that he is holding his own, but not so much to the Texas native. Advertisement "I think it's kind of been because I went to like three different high schools, too," Sperry said. "I think every team I've been on was a little surprised and I'm just excited to showcase that on the college." While Sperry has been a journeyman quarterback throughout his high school career, he has made an impact everywhere he has gone. In his first two years, he played at Rock Hills High School in Frisco, Texas, where he broke out as a sophomore after throwing 1,527 yards and nine touchdowns with 657 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. He was named District 5A-6A Newcomer of the Year. Carl Albert's Kevin Sperry rushes during the high school football game between Carl Albert Coweta at Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, Okla., Friday, Aug., 25, 2023. SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK He then moved to Oklahoma as a junior and played for Carl Albert High School, where he led the Titans to a 14-0 record and a state title. He recorded 42 touchdowns in one season before returning to Texas, where he played senior year at Guyton High School in Denton. Advertisement Already a highly touted prospect who was being recruited by teams like Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Baylor, and a few others, Sperry stepped in right away as a leader for Guyer even though his school coach, Reed Heim, didn't attend to that when he enrolled late in the spring. Heim believed his work ethic spoke louder than his production and was not surprised by how Sperry adjusted to FSU's offense quickly than usual. "One of the things that I was really impressed with was that I didn't really want to put him in a leadership role at the beginning because most of the time, you have somebody that moved as a senior," Heim told the Tallahassee Democrat. "I think sometimes that's a hard space to be in to try to be a leader, and the only way that you can do that is if you're the type of quality character, person, and guy who works at the level that he works." Advertisement At first, Sperry was an OU commit, but consistent offensive coordinator changes led him to look at other options. When FSU came into the picture, he took it as an opportunity to play an offense that fit his skillset while hoping to be the next QB to bring the Seminoles back to playoff contention, like the 2023 season. Guyer quarterback Kevin Sperry (9) leaps over Southlake Carroll defensive back William Chen (9) during their game at DATCU Stadium on a rainy Saturday, December 7, 2024, in Denton, Texas. Al Key Photo "He saw how important the quarterback position was to Mike Norvell, and he was like, 'hey, if you get the right guy in there, that the team has shown that in his style and his program, when those pieces are in place, can be very, very good,'" Heim said. "I think he looked at himself like, 'hey, they took a big hit when they lost a great quarterback, and I can go, I can go in and be that guy, and I can get him back to, you know, where they're at top three in the country. '" Advertisement More: FSU football's Mike Norvell wanted more intensity from his team: They delivered Kevin Sperry's approach is what was promised to Mike Norvell FSU football's Kevin Sperry talks spring practice development What Sperry has been doing on the field is not unusual. Even as a freshman playing behind two veteran QBs, Tommy Castellanos and Brock Glenn, the freshman was expected to make his mark immediately, hoping that FSU would see a future in the Texas native. It was a promise he made to Norvell before signing with FSU. "I really just approached it with just getting better each day and competing against myself," Sperry said. "I promise Coach (Mike) Norvell my best every day and just being myself so that's what I bring every day, but I feel like the whole offense has gotten better each day. I feel like we're all improving each week and each practice." Advertisement Outside of adjusting to the speed of the game and making presnap reads against Tony White's 3-3-5 defense, nothing came as a surprise for Sperry. "The speed of the games obviously a little faster and then the defense is just disguising coverages a little bit better and blitzes is a little bit better," Sperry said. "So just getting with coach Tony Tokarz and Coach Malzahn and seeing those things on film has really helped me a lot." Sperry's mobility to extend plays with his legs and his willingness to make deep-ball throws downfield make the 6-foot-1, 212-pound freshman a fit in Malzahn's offense. Advertisement Sperry credited Malzahn with simplifying the offense so he could understand it and execute. But, of course, it's still easier said than done. "It's not a super simple offense," Malzahn said. "I don't think any college offense is super simple, but the coaches make it a lot simpler for us by explaining everything and showing stuff on film." 'I think he brings a lot of maturity, a lot of leadership obviously, to the quarterback room, but the whole offense," Sperry said. Sperry is also embracing the mental reps while learning behind Castellanos. He has been observing how the Boston College transfer has handled himself as a team leader and hopes he will do the same when he earns that right. Advertisement "So just listening to him, how he talks to the receivers, how he talks to the O-line, and how he communicates plays has been great for me," Sperry said. "Just learning that I'm able to do that when I go on the field.' More: FSU football's Deante McCray: New school, new number, same old goal - domination on D-line Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@ or on X @_Da_pistol. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football's Kevin Sperry has been impressive throughout spring. Here's why
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
From county floods, to under the bright lights of Rupp Arena
BREATHITT COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) — The Breathitt County community is not taking for granted a drive down the court or highway 15. 'I don't think there is a soul in Breathitt County right now. I think about the whole town came up and supported us,' senior guard Austin Sperry said. The community has faced several floods in recent years, with the most recent one being last month, but the Bobcats did not let this stop them from fulfilling an achievement. The team was in the hunt for a Kentucky High School Athletics Association (KHSAA) Boys' Sweet 16 State Championship. What's causing beef prices to 'beef up' in Kentucky? AAA: Gas prices are up in Lexington, Kentucky Kentucky lawmakers override most vetoes by Gov. Andy Beshear 'We had three major disasters in the last five years, so any opportunity we have to kind of look the other direction, to kind of take our minds off things that are going on, we're still rebuilding; we're still creating housing for our community; we're still looking for opportunities to go back to where we were,' Stephen Bowling, lifelong Breathitt County resident, said. This team has excelled during the floods that have impacted so much of Jackson and Breathitt County, even the high school, but after all they have been through, this game was just the bright spot many needed. Preston Turner made the trip to support his classmates and especially one who has proven he is built for the moment. 'Everybody's just get out here, just taken their mind off things, and just watching this ball. Austin Sperry show out here,' Turner said. Great Crossing, Montgomery County, North Laurel all win Sweet 16 first round games From county floods, to under the bright lights of Rupp Arena Best season in DCA history ends at state tournament Sperry and the team gave the crowd a game to remember. However, the school lost a heartbreaker to North Laurel, 54-53. In the midst of holding back tears, the boys said they are thankful the community has rallied behind them, even when people have issues to be worried about. 'Everyone from Breathitt really just supports us, and it's amazing how they come out. Like, people we don't know, like personally, just come up to us and congratulate us and talk to us about who we are,' senior forward Canaan Gross said. Bowling had a message for the team and his county. Study shows which counties in Kentucky have the most excessive drinkers Kentucky among top 10 states Americans want to move to: research Lexington high schools ranked among Kentucky's best in 2025, according to Niche 'To come to Rupp Arena, to play in the state tournament, to win your region—very few teams ever have the chance to do that, so it's a very important opportunity for us to be proud of our community, our boys, our school system,' Bowling said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Why is TikTok not in the app store? Trump's extension of the ban falls into 'gray area'
More than 10 days after TikTok operations were restored in the U.S., the popular social media app has yet to reappear on app stores. TikTok went dark for U.S. users for about 12 hours before becoming available again Jan. 19 — an event which has been credited to President Trump. On his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order to extend the ban on TikTok, implemented by former President Joe Biden last year. The order granted a 75-day extension, which Trump said will allow him to consult with his advisors and heads of "relevant" departments and agencies to address national security concerns posed by TikTok. Users who already had the app downloaded onto their devices were able to jump back into TikTok after the ban was reversed. However, those who hadn't yet downloaded it or had deleted the app seem to be unable to get it back. Android users who search for TikTok in the Google Play Store are greeted with an unclickable icon of the app logo along with a query: "Looking for TikTok?" Underneath is a message reading, "Downloads for this app are paused due to current U.S. legal requirements." Apple users are met with a similar notice reading, "TikTok and other ByteDance apps are not available in the country or region you're in." A prompt to "learn more" takes users to a support page with additional information about the availability of TikTok and other apps owned by ByteDance in the U.S. "Apple is obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates," the message reads, citing the law that went into effect Jan. 19. Trump's extension of TikTok ban falls into 'gray area,' experts say Ben Sperry, senior scholar at the International Center for Law & Economics, said the executive order falls into a "gray area." Under federal law, it remains illegal for U.S. companies, like internet hosting services and app stores, to maintain, distribute and update TikTok, as the platform remains owned by Chinese company ByteDance. However, Trump's order invites companies to "break" this law, under the impression they will not face repercussions, Sperry said. Under the executive order, Trump ordered the U.S. Attorney General not to enforce the ban, starting by writing letters to providers who have been supporting TikTok, informing them that they will not face repercussions. Under federal legislation, which remains in place despite Trump's order, companies could be fined $5,000 per user they help access TikTok. For Google and Apple, this could mean a $5,000 fine for each user who downloads or updates TikTok. For internet hosting services like Oracle, it could mean a $5,000 fine for each user that accesses TikTok using their services. To break that down, if reportedly 170 million Americans use TikTok and companies could be charged $5,000 per user, that amounts to about $850 billion in fines spread across different types of tech companies. Even for tech giants like Google, Apple and Oracle, these are "hefty fines" they could be facing, Sperry said. TikTok ban reversal: Why did Trump bring back TikTok? As one of his first moves following his inauguration, President Donald Trump issued an executive order Monday aiming to halt enforcement of a ban on TikTok in the U.S. for 75 days. "I intend to consult with my advisors, including the heads of relevant departments and agencies on the national security concerns posed by TikTok, and to pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform used by 170 million Americans," Trump said in the executive order. "My Administration must also review sensitive intelligence related to those concerns and evaluate the sufficiency of mitigation measures TikTok has taken to date." Trump's order comes days after Congress passed the ban with overwhelming bipartisan support, citing national security concerns. TikTok's owner, Beijing-based ByteDance, drew criticism after the U.S. Department of Justice said TikTok has access to American data and is sharing it with the Chinese government, and could manipulate the content on the app to shape American opinions. The first ban was proposed by Trump himself in a 2020 executive order. His ban, which also gave ByteDance a deadline to sell to a U.S. company, coincidentally came a month after TikTokkers gleefully trolled him by organizing a campaign through the app to sign up for seats at his rallies, causing Trump to brag about the number of RSVPs received, and then not showing up. While ByteDance was in negotiations to sell to Microsoft and Oracle, the company filed a request for a preliminary injunction to prevent the app from being banned and got it, so Trump's ban never went into effect. Biden later revoked the order and ordered the Secretary of Commerce to investigate the app. In 2022, Biden signed a bill prohibiting the app on government devices. Following the Supreme Court's ruling last week, he signed legislation requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok's U.S. assets by Jan. 19, 2025. Despite his actions five years ago, Trump seems to have had a change of heart concerning the video-sharing app. "Because I got to use it," Trump told reporters Monday during a wide-ranging Oval Office media session when asked why he changed his mind about TikTok. "And remember, TikTok is largely about kids, young kids. If China is going to get information about young kids, I don't know. To be honest with you, I think we have bigger problems than that." 'I got to use it':Donald Trump's evolution from TikTok foe to a fan Who bought TikTok in 2025? Did Meta buy TikTok? Did Elon Musk? As of Wednesday, it remained unclear whether TikTok's U.S. operations were sold and, if so, to whom. Some users have speculated that Meta bought the app, citing TikTok's feature that allows users to sync with their Facebook accounts. Others noticed Facebook has an official account on TikTok. However, Newsweek reports both of these happened some time ago. Texas billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also been the subject of speculation regarding TikTok's purchase. If TikTok were to merge with Musk's social media platform X, Musk would garner access to large amounts of data from TikTok — which could potentially feed into his separate artificial intelligence company, xAI. Musk is also expected to head the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) created by Trump. On Tuesday, Trump confirmed he would be open to Musk's purchase of TikTok. The president briefly spoke to reporters on the topic, Reuters reports. "I have met with owners of TikTok, the big owners," Trump said. "So, what I am thinking about saying to somebody is 'buy it and give half to the United States of America.'" Is TikTok getting banned again? Maybe. Trump's executive order only delayed the app's ban, which Trump said had "unfortunate timing" and "interferes with my ability to assess the national security and foreign policy implications of the Act's prohibitions before they take effect. This timing also interferes with my ability to negotiate a resolution to avoid an abrupt shutdown of the TikTok platform while addressing national security concerns." "I am instructing the Attorney General not to take any action to enforce the Act for a period of 75 days from today to allow my Administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate course forward in an orderly way that protects national security while avoiding an abrupt shutdown of a communications platform used by millions of Americans," Trump's executive order reads. Who is the CEO of TikTok? Singaporean business executive Shou Zi Chew is the current CEO of TikTok. He made a notable appearance at Trump's inauguration after praising Trump for his role in restoring TikTok to U.S. users. "On behalf of everyone at TikTok and all our users across the country, I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States," Chew said in a video Jan. 17. — USA TODAY contributed to this report.
