Build Builds Kathy Li

Knowledge is an infinite resource. When we learn something, it doesn’t reduce the amount of what others can learn.



For a while now, I have been building builds in hopes to help make the world a more inclusive place. I have always thought that it would be nice if more of us knew Braille, which is a tactile writing system designed for people who are visually impaired.



A little over a year ago, I 3D-printed some prototypes of a set of Lego-sized Braille bricks, which can be used for 2 main purposes:



1. To be arranged as physical labels, and can therefore communicate messages in real life.



2. A simple and interactive way for everyone to learn Braille.



On a more technical front, I put together a simple app to let people easily translate English characters into Braille letters.



Much to my delight, this app also won a runner up spot at the 2019 Product Hunt Makers Festival, under the Social Impact category.



As per the rules of the Makers Festival, the app was built on a no-code platform called Coda. And for some reason, all of the projects from the festival are no longer available on Coda.



So I’ve decided to build the app from scratch again. This time, it will be a hybrid app that is available on both Android and iOS.



This episode outlines how I am — once again — challenging myself to take the project to the next level.



****************************************************



Music is by: Peter Spacey and Macifif on Artlist



Episode cover photo is by: Kathy



****************************************************



Our website - https://buildbuilds.com



Kathy’s website - https://kathy.li



Startup-related videos on Kathy's YouTube channel - https://youtube.com/kathybuilds

Change stems from challenging the status quo to determine if something needs to be done differently.



As the human race, we were only able to get to where we are today because innovators throughout history had the foresight to tackle problems, many of which might be considered impossible by the rest of the world at the time.



Over the last few months, I have been researching on how to best implement contact-free controls to help reduce the spread of germs amid the pandemic. Some progress has been made on early prototypes designed for elevators (as a starting point).



Along the way, I came to the realization of something.



There is still a lot of room to optimize the performance of elevators. Considering the technologies we have now, elevators are not operating as well as they should be. And I want to contribute to what needs to be done, especially what needs to be done *differently*.



****************************************************



Music is by: Peter Spacey and Macifif on Artlist



Episode cover illustration is originally by: Ebweb on Pixabay



****************************************************



Our website - https://buildbuilds.com



Kathy’s website - https://kathy.li



Startup-related videos on Kathy's YouTube channel - https://youtube.com/kathybuilds

Elevator pitch got its name from the concept that if you had a chance to ride in the same elevator as someone you really wanted to pitch to, you would get about a minute’s time to impress them with your idea.



My latest R&D project has an MVP that can be installed in an elevator. Is it going to help kill two birds with one stone? Probably not. But an “elevator pitch about an elevator product” sure has a nice ring to it.



Since the early onset of the global pandemic, I have started imagining what some of the “new normals” would be, and also what my tech startup can contribute to help.



I envisioned a world where we wouldn’t have to physically touch buttons in our surroundings; a world where we could remotely control everything when we are out and about.



In this episode, I’ll share more about the progression of my ideas, as well as how it relates to an elevator pitch.



****************************************************



Music is by: Peter Spacey and Macifif on Artlist



Episode cover illustration is by: hans-2 on Pixabay



****************************************************



Our website - https://buildbuilds.com



Kathy’s website - https://kathy.li



Short film featuring version 1 of our touchless controls prototype - https://youtu.be/pI5aTrl5xuQ



Other startup-related videos on Kathy's YouTube channel - https://youtube.com/kathybuilds

Cloud services, particularly 3rd-party ones, have infiltrated so much into our everyday lives.



But there is a problem. A lot of tech firms don’t consider protecting our data privacy and integrity to be their best interest. Worse yet, some exploitative firms would even deliberately collect our personal data just to sell it off for their own gains.



I fervently believe that there is a better way to go forward from here. And I’ve decided to take the initiative to build an ecosystem that supports — what I call — “de-clouding,” or decentralizing clouds.



This sprint will be about the first steps we need to take in order to build an ecosystem of private clouds.



I think a good moniker for the private clouds would be — reservoirs — as in, having your own places to collect and store raindrops fallen from clouds, and then to provide water anywhere else you want.



Other than this main story, we are also putting something on the sprint backlog: The possibility of joining an online elevator pitch competition.



****************************************************



Music is by: Peter Spacey and Macifif on Artlist



Episode cover illustration is by: talhakhalil007 on Pixabay



****************************************************



Our website - https://buildbuilds.com



Kathy’s website - https://kathy.li



Short film documenting our attempt to build the world's largest internet of things - https://youtu.be/Rp-dks_2p5w



Other startup-related videos on Kathy's YouTube channel, "Startup Engineering" - https://youtube.com/kathybuilds

Can sprint meetings be hosted over the air in podcasting format? That’s right, the kind of sprint meetings that’s gaining a lot of traction among tech companies, or generally any company that uses the Agile Scrum project management methodology.



I intend to find out by experimenting.



In the last few episodes, I’ve interviewed several leaders in the tech space. My guests all gave valuable insights into what it takes to build and grow a successful startup business.



Beginning this episode, I thought I would move on to something a little different.



As remote work is becoming increasingly common around the world, especially given our current situation in Year 2020, many of us are getting more and more used to virtual meetings.



And this is where my idea of a new podcasting format comes in.



I was thinking I could turn the sprint meetings of my tech startup into podcast episodes. So in other words, it will be like you are all sitting in on our sprint meetings, no matter where you currently are in the world.



In this episode, let’s dive right into our very first sprint planning meeting together. It’ll also give everyone a sneak peek into what I’m working on — building the world's first ever supersized internet of things with fellow Micro:bit makers.



****************************************************



Music is by: Peter Spacey and Macifif on Artlist



Episode cover illustration is by: geralt on Pixabay



****************************************************



Our website - https://buildbuilds.com



Kathy’s website - https://kathy.li



BIOTOB - https://biotob.org



Sprint demos will be published on Kathy's YouTube channel - https://youtube.com/kathybuilds

Our guest today is the founder and CEO of Code Ninjas, David Graham. A Code Ninjas center, or Dojo, is what David would have wanted as a kid — a place that’s kind of like a gym for the brain to stretch his mind, and to come up with creative solutions to tackle problems. And most importantly, a place to feel safe and have fun.



After working professionally as a software engineer for close to two decades and having built a successful adult coding school business, David is now building that place where children can call their own. And not just in a single location. David and the Code Ninjas team have grown the brand into a multinational business with centers across the United States, Canada — and most recently — the United Kingdom.



You can always tell when an entrepreneur has put a lot of passion into their business. Every detail, from the Taekwondo-inspired infrastructure to every student’s possible future path, has been so well planned out. In the product world, it’s the equivalent of employing a design principle that prioritizes user experience, putting users first.



But good planning is far from the only ingredient of building a successful business. You’ll have a chance to hear more of David’s expert advice in his interview.



You’ll also get to hear more about David’s journey, Code Ninjas’ journey, as well as the possible scenarios of growing up as an individual ninja.



-----------------------------------------



Code Ninjas' website: https://www.codeninjas.com/



Our website: https://buildbuilds.com/



Kathy's website: https://kathy.li/



David's Twitter: @originalcoder