Walter O'Brien: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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Line 1: {{Short description|Irish businessman, {{about|Walter O'Brien, the CEO of Scorpion Computer Services and executive producer of the TV series ''Scorpion''|the Massachusetts candidate|Walter A. O'Brien| the fictional Walter O'Brien from the TV show | Walter O'Brien (character)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} {{Infobox person | name = Walter O'Brien | image = Walter O'Brien San Diego Comic Con 2014.jpg | alt = | caption = O'Brien speaking at the 2014 [[San Diego Comic-Con | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|02|24|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Clonroche]], [[County Wexford]], Ireland | nationality | alma_mater = {{unbulleted list|[[University of Sussex]]}} | occupation = [[CEO]] of Scorpion Computer Services | known_for = {{unbulleted list|Inspiration of the television series ''[[Scorpion (TV series)|Scorpion]]''}} }} '''Walter O'Brien''' (born 24 February 1975<ref name="Keegan"/>) is an Irish businessman and [[information technologist]]. He was also the executive producer and loose inspiration for the television series ''[[Scorpion (TV series)|Scorpion]]''.<ref name="Boyd 2014a">{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/media/scorpion-how-an-irish-genius-saved-the-world-1.1890383|title=Scorpion: How an Irish genius saved the world|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=8 October 2014|last=Boyd|first=Brian|date=9 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="Bui">{{cite news |url=http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2014/09/22/real-life-superhero-geniuses-inspire-new-cbs-show-scorpion|title=Real-Life Superhero Geniuses Inspire New CBS Show 'Scorpion'|first=Linh |last=Bui|date=22 September 2014|publisher=[[WJZ-TV]]|location=Baltimore, MD|access-date=8 October 2014}}</ref> He is known for claiming various accomplishments, including a childhood IQ of 197, which have been scrutinized and remain unproven.<ref name="Masnick"/><ref name="Boyd 2014b"/><ref name="Karlin 2014b"/> Line 19: ==Early life== ===Childhood and education=== Walter O'Brien was born O'Brien has stated he scored a 197<ref name="Keegan"/> on an [[intelligence quotient|IQ]] test administered by one of his teachers in primary school<ref name="Boyd 2014b">{{cite news|title=Scorpion: Walter O'Brien on his life off-screen|first=Brian |last=Boyd|date=4 October 2014|newspaper=The Irish Times|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/media/scorpion-walter-o-brien-on-his-life-off-screen-1.1950776?page=1|access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref> but did not keep the paperwork.<ref name="Karlin 2014b">{{cite magazine|first=Susan|last=Karlin|title=Hackers vs. Scorpion: Walter O'Brien Responds To Scrutiny Of Real-Life Claims Fueling TV's 'Scorpion'|url=http://www.fastcocreate.com/3036897/hackers-vs-scorpion-walter-obrien-responds-to-scrutiny-of-real-life-claims-fueling-tvs-scorp|magazine=[[Fast Company (magazine)|Fast Company]]|date=15 October 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref> Line 41: ==Career== O'Brien allegedly founded Scorpion Computer Services at age 13 in 1988.<ref name="Hertz"/> ''The Irish Times'' reported he brought the business with him in the late 1990s, after graduating from university and moving to the United States.<ref name="Boyd 2014a"/> The ''[[New Ross Standard]]'' wrote that Scorpion Computer Services started as an [[IT]] [[tutoring]] service that expanded into security and [[risk management]],<ref name="Keegan"/> and ''The Irish Times'' also described Scorpion Computer Services as an [[artificial intelligence]] company.<ref name="Boyd 2014a"/> In 2014, O'Brien described his company as a [[think tank]] for "high IQ individuals".<ref name="Bui"/><ref name="Hertz"/ O'Brien started Scorpion Studios, which advises film and television producers on how to make technology appear real.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://innotechtoday.com/scorpion-studios-talks-tech-realism-in-the-movies/ |title=Scorpion Studios Talks Tech Realism in the Movies |work=Innovation and Technology Today |date=November 1, 2018 |access-date=April 19, 2020}}</ref> Line 47: ===Boston Marathon bombing=== {{see also|Boston Marathon bombing}} A month after the bombing at the [[2013 Boston Marathon]], Fox 11 LA-[[KTTV]] (Los Angeles) reported that O'Brien's company, Scorpion Computer Services, Inc., developed [[Video analysis|video-analysis]] software similar to that used by the [[FBI]] to catch the bombers.<ref> Asher Langton, a security intelligence engineer, said O'Brien offered conflicting narratives of his contributions to catching the bombers and that the use of [[facial recognition system|facial recognition software]] in the manner reported was implausible.<ref name="Karlin 2014b"/> O'Brien said he was bound by non-disclosure agreements.<ref name="Karlin 2014b"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2014/10/06/real-life-scorpion-helped-id-boston-marathon-bombing-suspects|title=Real-Life 'Scorpion' Helped ID Boston Marathon Bombing Suspects|publisher=CBS Boston WBZ-TV|first=Kathryn |last=Hauser|date=6 October 2014|access-date=30 April 2015}}</ref> ===CBS show=== {{Main|Scorpion (TV series)}} According to O'Brien, in an effort to promote his company Scorpion Computer Services, Inc. and its service Concierge Up, he came up with the idea to create a television show.<ref name="Ramdev"/> O'Brien contacted [[Scooter Braun]] who pitched the idea to CBS.<ref name="Karlin 2014b"/><ref name="Ramdev">{{cite web |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/en-in/entrepreneurs/the-kid-who-hacked-nasa-servers-at-age-13-now-has-his-own/272242 |last=Ramdev |first=Vinil |date=March 10, 2016 |title=The Kid Who Hacked NASA Servers at Age 13 Now Has His Own Television Show |work=[[Entrepreneur Magazine]] |access-date=6 July 2016}}</ref> In September 2014, CBS premiered the first season of the drama series, ''Scorpion'', based on O'Brien's alleged life experiences.<ref name="Boyd 2014a"/><ref name="Bui"/> He serves as an [[executive producer]] for the series,<ref name="Bui"/> and regularly contributes to story development.<ref name="Goldberg">{{cite news|title='Scorpion': What Happens When a Certified Genius Crashes the Writers Room?|first=Lesley|last=Goldberg|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=22 September 2014|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/scorpion-what-happens-a-certified-733544|access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref> For his part in story development, O'Brien consults with series writers on technical aspects of the plot, including how he would solve problems presented in the show's scripts.<ref name="Goldberg"/> The technical aspects of the plot, however, were a reason for a review published on the website of the [[National Science Teachers Association]] to advise teachers to use the show as an example of incorrect or exaggerated science in 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://old.nsta.org/publications/news/story.aspx?id=60166 | publisher = NTSA News - Blick on Flicks | title = Scorpion Stung by Weak Science |first=Jacob Clark |last=Blickenstaff | access-date = 8 September 2021 | date = 23 April 2015}}</ref> O'Brien also consults with [[Elyes Gabel]], the actor who plays the fictional Walter O'Brien. In an interview with [[CBS News]] to promote the second season, Gabel said about O'Brien that "he's out saving the world or talking to, you know, princes of [[Liechtenstein]]. So every now and again, I get the chance to talk to him and he'll call me up. And sometimes we talk about the show. Sometimes we talk about characters."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/news/scorpion-stars-step-up-action-comedy-for-season-2/ |first=Lauren |last=Moraski |date=September 18, 2015 | publisher = CBS News | title = 'Scorpion' season 2 news: Elyes Gabel comments on relationship with real Walter O' Brien| access-date = 26 December 2015}}</ref> The first season attracted more than 26 million viewers.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/ratings/audience-for-cbs-premiere-of-scorpion-tops-26-million-via-35-day-multi-platform-viewing-1201350860|title=Audience For CBS' Premiere of 'Scorpion' Tops 26 Million Via 35-Day Multi-Platform Viewing|first=Rick|last=Kissel|date=November 7, 2014|magazine=Variety Magazine|access-date=14 July 2015}}</ref> CBS ordered a full season of ''Scorpion'' in October 2014 and renewed it for a second season in 2015. The show was renewed again for a third season in 2016, with a fourth seasoned confirmed for 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title=CBS Give Full-Season Orders to All 4 of Its New Drama Series: Scorpion, NCIS: New Orleans and More|first=Sydney|last= Bucksbaum|publisher=[[E!]]|date=27 October 2014|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/592354/cbs-give-full-season-orders-to-all-4-of-its-new-drama-series-scorpion-ncis-new-orleans-and-more|access-date=29 November 2014 ==Accuracy of biography== Line 70: O'Brien has lived in [[Los Angeles]], California, since 2001 when he was issued an [[EB-1 visa]] to immigrate to the United States. This type of visa is set aside for people with "extraordinary abilities" and/or who can be considered a national asset and goes to thousands of people each year.<ref name="Hertz"/> In 2015, ''[[Kilkenny People]]'' reported that O'Brien received a mayoral certificate from the mayor of Kilkenny for his contribution and dedication to the Irish community in Los Angeles.<ref name="Cody">{{cite news|url=http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/kilkenny-news/computer-genius-from-kilkenny-briefs-top-us-army-officials-1-6852855|title=Computer Genius from Kilkenny Briefs Top US Army Officials|last=Cody|first=Mary|newspaper=[[Kilkenny People]]|access-date=17 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721093622/https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/kilkenny-news/computer-genius-from-kilkenny-briefs-top-us-army-officials-1-6852855 |archive-date=2015-07-21}}</ref> O'Brien helped fund the start-up cost of Kilkenny Taxi Watch which ''Kilkenny People'' reported as having [[Suicide prevention|prevented]] 45 suicides through July 2015.<ref name="Cody"/><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kilkenny-taxi-drivers-lauded-for-saving-45-suicidal-people-349208.html | title = Kilkenny taxi drivers lauded for saving 45 suicidal people| newspaper = Irish Examiner |first=Kelly |last=O'Brien |date=August 20, 2015 | access-date = 25 August 2015}}</ref> By April 2016, Taxi Watch stated on their [[Facebook]] page that the number of lives saved had reached 100. O'Brien has spoken at numerous events, including speaking at the [[Mensa International|Mensa]] 2016 annual gathering event in [[San Diego]],<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.us.mensa.org/newsroom/press-releases/mensa-comes-to-san-diego-june-29-july-3/ | title = Mensa comes to San Diego, June 29 July 3| publisher = Mensa In 2017, O'Brien was honored with [[unite4:humanity|unite4:humanity's]] Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement award.<ref>{{ ==References== | |||