ENTR390 Blog

Throughout this semester, Zane and I have continuously pushed to refine our idea and create a tangible, marketable product that will not only help people but inspire them. With DataLift, we believe we are on the way to creating such a product. Using a Particle Photon, DataLift is able to quickly and efficiently send data points to a web server, which again relays the information to our front end, allowing users to see and track rep count in a specific direction. This is done using SSE or Server-Sent Events, and figuring this technology out required much time and energy. What we have currently accomplished is the ability to transmit, record, and visualize data from an accelerometer. The repetition counting has probably been the most difficult thing to accomplish. It requires using an algorithm to accurately track the users up and down movement. In the future, this is something that needs a lot of work for this project to be feasible. The steps that are left in the proof...

Revised Timeline: When I first created my timeline, I had an entirely different project and entirely different milestones. But, the new project has greatly exceeded my expectations in terms of accomplishment, and progress. It seems like the April 14th deadline is reachable. The Proof of Concept went exactly as planned, we demonstrated the key aspect of our product by showing that data can be seamlessly sent from the photon to a server either on a phone or website. With this accomplished, there are two big tasks to finish before the April 14th showcase. 1.  Accurately track specific movements.  For our product to be successful, we have to analyze the data that we receive from the photon, and transform it in such a way that the user can easily recognize progress or form while they're doing specific activities. We believe we can accomplish this goal by using a library of algorithms that are used to predict certain movements. 2. Package the product correc...

Writing a Business Plan Company Purpose: Remove the boundaries of access to complicated analysis for every and all people.  Problem: Everyday life is filled with activities that would benefit greatly from the structure analysis. For example, the average gym member might want to know if the movements they are doing are correct, and they are not hurting themselves.  Solution : With a small microprocessor, and an interconnected app, we can successfully translate people's movement, into actual tangible data. Then using complex analysis we can compare the movements, and create a model for the user to help them accomplish their workout goals.  Why now : The recent explosion in personal fitness trackers, and health consciousness lifestyle has created a large market for a more diverse array of products that deal with this aspect of a person's well-being. With our product, the end user will more accurately manage and customize their workouts and routines.  M...

Part1: a) The tradeoffs resolved to switch from horse-drawn carriages to horseless carriages, where those of convenience and time. You no longer had to take care of a horse, feed it, or protect it. Instead, you can now just park your buggy and go. b) The onset of electric motors, that were cheap and plentiful made the horseless buggy a suitable replacement for the horse-drawn carriage. Meaning the cost of owning and maintaining a horse became much more, than refueling(charging) and maintaining an electric carriage. c)The biggest trade-off that will be resolved, in my opinion, will be that of time and money. While you're not occupied driving, you can invest more of your time into your work, and activities of leisure. With this increase in productivity, we can expect and increase in wealth. d) The ability for a computer algorithm to control the vehicle with multiple inputs enabled this tradeoff to be possible. Part2: b) With  instantaneous dissemination, you get the...

2Finder : 2Finder is an integrated system, allowing app users to find restroom stalls near them that are free and open (hence "2" finder). The system will utilize the cloud connecting capabilities of the particle photon, and a force sensitive resistor toilet seat integration to accurate update an app. Below is a general timeline of the project markers.   1. Begin the process of teammate search, and start design process. (Week of February 17th) 2. Start working on the prototype of the 2Finder, implementing the connection to the force sensitive resistor, and upload to cloud data. (Finish before March 1st). 3. Finalize design, begin research on app development, and user interface. March 10th: Finalize/Present Concept 4. Begin implementation of app development, and integration with Photon cloud, and basic user interface. (March 10th - April 1st) 5. Finalize the app, prepare presentation material, work on a business plan and future integrations like...

A fascinating TED talk, "The math behind cities and corporations" highlights the indistinguishable similarities between biological structures, and metropolitan cities, and the similar growth patterns that are underlying in both.  When people move to large cities, they are trading a large increase of earning potential and wealth, to a large risk of city induced diseases, pollution, and overcrowding. But with constant, and continued increase in innovation, life in the big city breaks these typical constraints for its inhabitants. Because of this, the speaker moderates the potential in moving to a big city, and the prospects regarding this transition. His argument, that these "S-shaped curves" which are seen everywhere in biological life, also represent aspects of our current lives, and the life cycle of cities and companies in terms of population growth, and revenue growth respectively. With this argument, the speaker states that to continue to exist, a compa...

Questions: 1) Moore's first employer was William Shockley, a scientist who opened a semiconductor operation. Although because of Shockley's inability to effectively manage, Gordan and a group of scientists left the operation to fund their own company. 2) When Moore and the "Traitorous Eight" left William Shockley's venture, they sought out guidance from people in the industry who could hire them. Ultimately, starting their own firm seemed the most logical thing to do. 3) Moore and his group got their funding from Sherman Fairchild, who invested $1.3 million in their venture. This investment helped start Fairchild SemiConductor. 4) Moore partnered with Bob Noyce to form Intel. Noyce was to be the next CEO of Fairchild Camera. 5) Moore realized that to succeed he had to create multiple markets for the microprocessor. At the time, there were around 10,000 devices utilizing processors, there was no incentive to replace that small a volume. Because of this I...

Smart Stall Bathroom System:                                      Imagine you're in a crowded area, looking to find a spot to plop down and do nature's dirty work-You rush to the nearest public bathroom, and as you begin to sign in relief, you enter and find a long line waiting to use the stalls, and your dreams are crushed, along with your bladder and intestines. But fear not there is a smart solution to this genuine and overlooked problem.  Using an IoT things device, and an FSR(Force Sensitive Resistor), we can accurately measure when someone is using a toilet in a particular stall, and transmit that data to an app that lets users see which stalls are open, and in which bathrooms. Using this data, we can also accurately measure particular stall usage and functionality, and tailor cleaning schedules that include the most used stalls more frequently. But wait th...

Part 1: Everything is a Remix In this short series, the narrator explains that every "big" idea is somewhat a "remix" on another idea. The video starts by pointing out that Thomas Jefferson, didn't actually invent the light bulb like is perceived, but instead invented a market for the light bulb, and innovation around that market like measuring electricity usage, and lightbulb filament material. Mainly, the video focuses on the Macintosh Personal computer, which when released wasn't anything new, but instead created somewhat of a "remix" on the current standard in personal computing (Xerox), and made the price affordable for anyone. The trade-offs described in the video involved the affordability vs convenience. In Apple's specific case, the macintosh was more affordable and catered to the everyday individual. Ford Automation: Ford is currently in a position in which it sees the competition working on new and innovative ideas in the ...

Brainstorming session: As I sat in the lobby of the Duderstadt Center, I slowly notice the lunch-time rush created at Mujo's Cafe. One by One student line up, and wait for their turn to purchase or get an item from the baristas. This process was slow, and inefficient, after about 15 minutes into the rush, the line had extended far past my field of vision. Immediately, I thought of an easier way to implement a system in which both the students and the university profit. Since the students Mcards are linked directly to their accounts (and every student has an Mcard), if you could track a few non-custom items at Mujo's, you could easily create a Mcard swiping system that allows the students to pay instantly, and be on their way.  With a photon, this could, in fact, become a reality. I'm excited to explore this idea, or another related to this in the future.  Below are some concept drawings of the idea:

Dominate Design: 1. Music playback - One of the most important luxuries in today's world, the ability to replay music instantly anywhere you are. 2. Reusable/Recyclable Mugs/Coffee Cups - Millions are used and reused every day. With material properties that can stand the rigors of our hot and cold drinks 3. Apple/ Android User Interface - Billions of devices around the world use these two interfaces to connect with the world around them, in an intuitive manner. Before Dominant Designs: 1. Everyone remembers cd players and their immense size. Not only were these inconvenient but all the activities we now do with music would have been impossible without the small and compact size of today's music players. 2. Imagine carrying around a glass mug around and handing it to the barista to fill your coffee. This inconvenience led to the use of reusable and now recyclable products we take for granted every day. 3. Remember the screen on your old flip phone? Where customizat...

Design Challenge: Most computer displays have a power save mode. Typically, a person can enter that mode through some manual action (e.g., a menu selection), or the system may do this automatically after a predetermined amount of time. The computer then 'wakes up' when a person moves the mouse. The problem is that if the time-out period is long, screens stay on unnecessarily even when a person is away. While people can switch it off manually, they often don't bother. Sketch alternate approaches to this strategy using the 10 plus 10 approach (detailed below). Create 10 different ideas for solutions to the problem, and then choose one or two and create 10 variations of that idea and/or refinements of that idea. First 10 designs: 10 Plus 10:

 iPod Introduction Reflection: Steve Jobs career spanned many revolutionary products, but one which Apple, and him are most known for is the iPod. In his iPod introduction video, Jobs starts with the identification of the target market, and identifies current market leaders. He alludes the audience to the downsides and characteristics of the three choices in the current music playback technology, but yet doesn't immediately introduce the iPod. Instead, Steve Jobs slowly unveils aspects of the new iPod, and finally at the end introduces the new product. This way of presenting was intriguing to me, not only did Jobs never fully introduce the product, but instead slowly revealed new and interesting aspects of it, one at a time. This way of presenting hooks the audience, and immediately holds their attention till the end of the presentation. Scalable Innovation Prologue/Forward: This was quite an interesting read for me. Going to the University of Michigan, I see inno...