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==Career== ==Career==
O'Brien founded Scorpion Computer Services in 1988 and serves as its ].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/New-CBS-show-to-air-about-Wexford-born-genius-Walter-OBrien.html | title=Wexford-born genius Walter O’Brien chats about the new CBS show on his life | work=] | date=September 17, 2014 | accessdate=February 23, 2015 | author=Kayla Hertz}}</ref><ref name=nyp/><ref name=ic2/><ref name=fastcompany1>{{cite news |title=How the real hacker behind CBS'S "Scorpion made as how to grow his own company, and more hackers|author=Susan Karlin|work=Fast Company|url=http://www.fastcocreate.com/3036367/how-the-real-hacker-behind-cbs-scorpion-made-a-show-to-grow-his-own-company-and-more-hackers|accessdate=29 January 2015}}</ref> He also serves as Chief Scientist at Langford & Carmichael,<ref name=lam>{{cite web|title=Walter O’Brien, Chief Scientist|url=http://www.langford-carmichael.com/management.php|publisher=Langford and Carmichael}}</ref> According to '']'', ScenGen is a scenario generator that can generate a number of possible results for any given situation according to user entered variables and relationships.<ref name=ic2/> The program is used by organizations in multiple industries, including defense and financial services.<ref name=irishtimes2002>{{cite news |title=High speed software puts firm on fast track |author=Suzanne Lynch |date=27 January 2012 O'Brien founded Scorpion Computer Services in 1988 and serves as its CEO.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/New-CBS-show-tair-about-Wexford-born-genius-Walter-OBrien.html | title=Wexford-born genius Walter O’Brien chats about the new CBS show on his life | work=] | date=September 17, 2014 | accessdate=February 23, 2015 | author=Kayla Hertz}}</ref><ref name=nyp/><ref name=ic2/><ref name=fastcompany1>{{cite news |title=How the real hacker behind CBS'S "Scorpion made as how to grow his own company, and more hackers|author=Susan Karlin|work=Fast Company|url=http://www.fastcocreate.com/3036367/how-the-real-hacker-behind-cbs-scorpion-made-a-show-to-grow-his-own-company-and-more-hackers|accessdate=29 January 2015}}</ref> He also serves as Chief Scientist at Langford & Carmichael,<ref name=lam>{{cite web|title=Walter O’Brien, Chief Scientist|url=http://www.langford-carmichael.com/management.php|publisher=Langford and Carmichael}}</ref> According to '']'', ScenGen is a scenario generator that can generate a number of possible results for any given situation according to user entered variables and relationships.<ref name=ic2/> The program is used by organizations in multiple industries, including defense and financial services.<ref name=irishtimes2002>{{cite news |title=High speed software puts firm on fast track |author=Suzanne Lynch |date=27 January 2012
|work=The Irish Times |accessdate=28 December 2014 |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-30578990.html}}</ref> |work=The Irish Times |accessdate=28 December 2014 |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-30578990.html}}</ref>


Revision as of 05:24, 8 April 2015

This article is about the CEO of Scorpion Computer Services and executive producer of the Scorpion TV series. For the Massachusetts candidate, see Walter A. O'Brien.
Walter O’Brien
Walter O'Brien (left) with Nicholas Wootton at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con International Scorpion panel
Born (1975-02-24) February 24, 1975 (age 49)
County Wexford, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Alma mater
OccupationCEO of Scorpion Computer Services
Known for
  • Founder and CEO of Scorpion Computer Services
  • Inspiration for the television series Scorpion
TelevisionScorpion

Walter O'Brien (born February 24, 1975) is an Irish businessman who is the founder and CEO of Scorpion Computer Services. He is also the inspiration for and executive producer of the 2014 CBS television series Scorpion. Some journalists have questioned the biographical accuracy of the information O'Brien has provided.

Early life and education

O'Brien was born in 1975 on a farm in County Wexford, Ireland. He is the second child of a family of five. O’Brien says that he scored over 190 on an IQ test administered by one of his teachers in primary school, but did not keep the paperwork. He began teaching himself computer science at age 12, when he received his first computer–an Amstrad CPC 464–which was purchased from proceeds from livestock given to him by his father. After receiving his leaving certificate from St Kieran's College in Kilkenny, O’Brien attended the University of Sussex, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and artificial intelligence. O'Brien gained entry as a permanent resident to the United States via an EB-1-1 visa granted by the United States Embassy in Dublin, Ireland in 2001.

O'Brien competed in the Wisconsin International Computer Problem Solving Competition in 1991 and 1992 and led the first Irish team to compete at the 1993 International Olympiad in Informatics, which was held in Mendoza, Argentina.

Career

O'Brien founded Scorpion Computer Services in 1988 and serves as its CEO. He also serves as Chief Scientist at Langford & Carmichael, According to IrishCentral, ScenGen is a scenario generator that can generate a number of possible results for any given situation according to user entered variables and relationships. The program is used by organizations in multiple industries, including defense and financial services.

O'Brien is the founder of ConciergeUp, a think tank of geniuses that execute "funded wishes." According to the Irish Daily Mail, examples of funded wishes include predicting winners of horse races by analyzing the racehorses' DNA and finding out whether the fiancee of a billionaire's son is after the family fortune. O'Brien also serves on the advisory board for LawLoop.com, a cloud-based law firm management product.

Scorpion

In September 2014, CBS premiered the first season of drama series Scorpion, which is based on O’Brien’s life experiences. O’Brien serves as an executive producer for the series, and regularly contributes to story development. In his role 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. His input is based on his personal knowledge and life experiences. O’Brien made a cameo appearance in the series’ pilot episode.

CBS ordered a full season of Scorpion in October 2014 and it was renewed for a second season. The show was nominated for Favorite New TV Drama at the 2014 People's Choice Awards in November of that year.

Accuracy of biographical information

In late 2014, several online discussions began in social media about whether O'Brien's claimed accomplishments, widely reported in the media, were inconsistent or conflicted with online evidence. Online activism led CNET, TechCrunch and Fast Company to evaluate his claims.

O'Brien claims an IQ score of 197, however, his name is missing from Top 10 IQ lists. O'Brien explains the discrepancy is due to him having been tested when he was nine years old and the associated paperwork was not kept. Susan Karlin, a writer for Fast Company, believes this to be suspicious; because his IQ score was a significant part of his self-marketing, he should have obtained a Mensa-endorsed test. Mike Masnick of Techdirt claims IQ tests are scaled based on the age of the individual being tested. He further claims that getting an IQ score of 197 at age nine is not an indication of his current IQ score being higher than other adults.

There are claims that O'Brien participated in the 1993 Computing Olympics representing Ireland. While he is not listed as one of the contestants that year, an archived version of the a news website names him as a contestant. O'Brien states he applied for a last-day exception, which is why he wasn't included in marketing materials before the event. O'Brien claimed to have ranked sixth place at the competition, though the university he graduated from lists his team in 90th place.

Some community operated wikis, websites, and directories said O'Brien's company was much smaller than the 2,600 employees and $1.3 billion in revenues stated by O'Brien. Karlin points out that these websites are not reliable while O'Brien states most of the company's workers are independent contractors who work in virtual offices.

References

  1. "US Government - EB1-1 Certificate". Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Scorpion: How an Irish genius saved the world". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  3. ^ Linh Bui (22 September 2014). "Real-Life Superhero Geniuses Inspire New CBS Show 'Scorpion'". Baltimore: WJZ-TV. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  4. ^ "New CBS series about Irish genius with higher IQ than Albert Einstein". IrishCentral. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  5. ^ Masnick, Mike (25 September 2014). "Another Story of a 'Fake' Brilliant Inventor? Is 'Scorpion Walter O'Brien' a Real Computer Security Genius?". Techdirt. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  6. ^ Brian Boyd (4 October 2014). "Scorpion: Walter O'Brien on his life off-screen". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  7. ^ Karlin, Susan (15 October 2014). "Hackers vs. Scorpion: Walter O'Brien Responds To Scrutiny Of Real-Life Claims Fueling TV's 'Scorpion'". Fast Company. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  8. Thomas Januam (March 5, 2015). "Scorpion, M6 : l'histoire vraie de Walter O'Brien, le hacker qui a inspiré la série". Téléstar. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  9. ^ Keegan, Niamh (23 August 2014). "The Scorpion". New Ross Standard. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  10. Schwiff, Kathy (11 September 2014). "CBS Drama 'Scorpion' Takes Stories From Computer Genius's Life, Work". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  11. Hayes, Carmel. "Computer whizz kid breaks new ground".
  12. ^ Morabito, Andrea (September 21, 2014). "'Scorpion' set to get high-tech on CBS". New York Post. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  13. ^ Hertz, Kayla (17 September 2014). "Wexford-born genius Walter O'Brien chats about the new CBS show on his life". IrishCentral. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  14. Tiernan, Damien (14 October 1993). "Walter is leading the Irish team in the Info. Olympics". New Ross Standard.
  15. Kayla Hertz (September 17, 2014). "Wexford-born genius Walter O'Brien chats about the new CBS show on his life". IrishCentral. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  16. Susan Karlin. "How the real hacker behind CBS'S "Scorpion made as how to grow his own company, and more hackers". Fast Company. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  17. "Walter O'Brien, Chief Scientist". Langford and Carmichael.
  18. Suzanne Lynch (27 January 2012). "High speed software puts firm on fast track". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  19. ^ Catherine Fegan (16 August 2014). "Meet the Geeky Wexford farm boy who became the Sherlock Holmes of the computer age". Irish Daily Mail.
  20. "LawLoop.com Expands the Cloud to Offer a Complete Solution for Lawyers" (Press release). LawLoop. Business Wire. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2014. Expert panel members include Walter O'Brien, one of the world's leading authorities in the application of computer science and artificial intelligence that solve industry challenges. O'Brien also serves on the LawLoop Advisory Board...
  21. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (22 September 2014). "'Scorpion': What Happens When a Certified Genius Crashes the Writers Room?". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  22. "10 Things We Learned from the Scorpion Panel at Comic-Con 2014". CBS News. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  23. Bucksbaum, Sydney (27 October 2014). "CBS Give Full-Season Orders to All 4 of Its New Drama Series: Scorpion, NCIS: New Orleans and More". E!. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  24. Nuzhat Naoreen (4 November 2014). "People's Choice Awards 2015: Full List of Nominees". People's Choice. Retrieved 24 January 2015.

External links

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