September Newsletter | 2021
September Newsletter | 2021
A recap of what I did over September :)
👋Hey, I’m Aleem
I'm a 15y/o developer currently working in both med-tech & BCIs! While being in 11th grade & TKS I actively create projects like electrocuting myself when I say “um”
Now I’m working on Thermapal, a vital tracking system for retirement homes alongside researching how the brain works by creating real-world projects using brain-computer interfaces (BCIs)
This newsletter is a recap of everything I did this month!
Thermapal pilot in Alberta 🏔️
Starting activate @ TKS 👀
Researching different neuroimaging modalities 🧠
30-day #buildinginpublic challenge 📢
First in-person networking event 👨🔬
Thermapal 🏥
For the past year, me and 2 other friends have been developing Thermapal. A vital tracking watch for retirement homes providing detailed analytics and reduced response times to fall incidents. We’ve since added features like indoor location monitoring, secured areas, and blood pressure recording.
After all of the logistic planning and reiterations with Generations Calgary, we finally have secured a pilot with residents to test out our watch! This entails our team flying out to Alberta for the deployment of Bluetooth beacons, and initial setup of the watches.
We’re still talking with Delmanor Homes, currently creating custom features and integration based on their needs. While main focus is preparing for our pilot, we recently just had a focus group at their North York location with ~20 residents to get feedback and reiterate as we get ready to implement our system
Next steps:
Recreate our dashboard under a new tech-stack (react) 🧑💻
Stabilize watch bugs (we hired an overseas dev to help) 🪲
Determine success metrics for our pilot 🏅
Starting Activate @ TKS 🚀
After spending a month building within the innovate program, now its time to use that knowledge and apply it to the worlds biggest problems (WBPs)
This first month we had a big focus on getting to know each other, as this years its completely virtual! We were put into squads of 4-6 with the intention of exploring problems & tech we want to pursue for the next 3 months before going heads down on a WBP - I chose BCIs 👀
P.S. Subscribe to our monthly Activate newsletter sent by our directors! Here's the one from this month.
The brain 🧠
I’ve finally gotten my hands on an EEG headset! While making apps on the Neuoristy hasn’t been my main focus I’m planning on making something this month :)
Over the month of September, I’ve put a huge emphasis on understanding how neuroimaging modalities work. I became obsessed with concepts like fMRI and DOT when being compared to traditional ways of EEG voltage metering.
I’m now interested to see how we can solve the low spatial resolution problem within consumer BCIs, this can supercharge devices meant for productivity to detect disease passively!
Next steps:
Make an article on neuroimaging modalities 📝
Understand why the brain does what it does 🤔
Create some EEG projects 🌶
#BuildingInPublic 📢
As a part of activate @ TKS we’ve been challenged to tweet out daily on what we’re up to 😈
Today marks the 4th day, and regardless of any traction, the accountability is awesome! I’ve been wanting to get on Twitter for months but never knew what to write, this served as a forcing function to start :)
I’m still experimenting with how I’ll format everything but have already iterated to match both LinkedIn & Twitter 🚀
First in-person networking events 🎤
Covid has of course been a huge barrier to networking in person :/
With restrictions getting looser in Ontario I was lucky enough to attend both OnDecks Launch and a general chat with BiotechTO
Met a bunch of cool people at OnDeck and had a blast, whereas at BiotechTO I tried to listen in and learn as much as possible since I’m not familiar with the space 🧑🔬
Here are my 3 main takeaways:
Start mingling right away 🏃♂️💨
Follow up with the people you loved ✉️
Ask questions when you’re lost
That’s all for September 👋
If you made it all the way here, thanks for reading! Make sure to subscribe to keep updated on my progress, and find out what I do next month 👀
Connect with me here