Kimberly Clark Hackathon
October 2016.
My journey into the world of innovation began with a memorable project at a hackathon organized by Kimberly-Clark. For a whole weekend, this event was a whirlwind of creativity and collaboration. We were randomly assorted into groups, showcasing the beauty of diverse minds coming together.
Our mission was to craft a tech-integrated product for babies. I had the privilege of being part of a team bursting with talent. As a civil engineer with expertise in 3D printing and modeling, I collaborated seamlessly with graphic and industrial designers. Although we were all pursuing our bachelor's degrees, our drive mirrored that of dedicated entrepreneurs.
In just two days, our team of four conceptualized an innovative product. We designed a groundbreaking device to be placed inside a baby's diaper.
This non-invasive IoT gadget monitored various health metrics of the baby, such as temperature and heart rate, using embedded sensors. It even told parents when the diaper had to be changed. Designed for easy removal, it connected to an app, offering parents real-time health data of their child and the diaper (of course). The safety feature of an alarm system ensured parents were promptly alerted of any health concerns.
However, the standout feature of our device was its ability to record every laugh of the baby. For parents balancing work and family, receiving voice notifications of their child's laughter was a priceless experience, bridging the emotional distance during busy days, even better for veterans in the US.
We nailed the pitch. Our superb story telling and maket fit deeply resonated with the international heads of Kimberly-Clark. Our concept, was awarded the first place. Our prize was an iPhone 7 Plus, but the true reward was the validation of our collective entrepreneurial spirit.
What did I learn?
True leaders know when to step aside and let others lead.
Diverse backgrounds and skills in a team are crucial for success.
What technologies were applied?
Electronics and circuit design - Understanding electrical components and how to build circuits for IoT devices.
Embedded programming - Writing code for microcontrollers like Arduino to control the device and connectivity.
Network protocols - Knowledge of communication protocols like WiFi, Bluetooth, to connect the device.
Cloud platforms - Using cloud platforms like AWS IoT to store and analyze data sent from the IoT device
What methodologies were applied?
Design Thinking
Empathize: Understand the needs and wants of your target users.
Define: Identify the core problem that you are trying to solve.
Ideate: Generate a wide range of possible solutions to the problem.
Prototype: Create quick and simple prototypes of your solutions to test them with users.
Test: Test your prototypes with users to get feedback and improve them.
My First Hackathon
General Summary
Creativity - Coming up with innovative ideas for IoT devices that solve real-world problems.
Design thinking - Empathizing with users, defining problems, ideating solutions, rapid prototyping and testing.
Business strategy - Evaluating market needs, positioning, and monetisation strategies for the IoT device.
Teamwork and collaboration - Working together with a diverse set of skills to design, build and launch a product.
Communication - Transforming technical concepts from the IoT device to non-technical users and customers.