Post on 19-Jan-2017
My Failed Projects & Lessons Learned
~a story about a fervent stupid coder, thinking success would come with awesome products, started a company then closed quickly.
About MeEnvironmental Engineering Master’s degree of NCHU(中興大學 ) in Taiwan.(2002)
<- Not IT background.
Programer, System Designer, System Analyst in Axtronics, Inc. (2003~2007) <- in endless coding hell for 5 years.
Product Designer, Product Manager in Monmouth Technologies, Inc. (2009~2010)<- upgraded to management, no good.
QA Analyst in Monmouth Technologies, Inc. (2010~2012) <- back to development department, happy 3 years.
Mobile Application Developer in Siogio Information, Inc. (2013~2015)<- my first startup, the story began...
Siogio Shot App (2012.05 ~ 2013.07)How to work:Step 1. Scan QR code.
Siogio Shot App (2012.05 ~ 2013.07)Step 2. Shoot image of product with camera of the app.
Siogio Shot App (2012.05 ~ 2013.07)Step 3. The app shows data, youtube movie, or link.
Siogio Shot App (2012.05 ~ 2013.07)Support iOS & Android
Library & Packages
OpenCV 2.4
Zbar 0.10 (QR code library)
Demo: https://youtu.be/DZjXea3C1A8
But… IKEA catalog app had same function...
IKEA released 2013 catalog app, included AR, in July 2012.
What I got...If you can not find user, it is useless, no matter how cool the product is.
The most users still were learning “What is smart phone?”. Only little people knew what the app could do.
Siogio Card App (2013.08 ~ 2015.05)User scan the QR code of the store with the app to get coupons and information(menu, service, contact info...etc).
Siogio Card App (2013.08 ~ 2015.05)
Siogio Card App (2013.08 ~ 2015.05)
Siogio Card App (2013.08 ~ 2015.05)Support iOS & Android
Library & Packages
Zbar 0.10 (QR code library)
Server
Apache http server 2.0
Apache Tomcat 6
MySql 5
But...giant followed...
What I got...User behaviors are difficult to change, include vendors and customers.
Marketing costs are much more than development costs.
Mobile Phone Man (2014.05)For advertizing Siogio Card app, I made a cosplay
suit.
The original idea is from http://omgshots.com/687-guyphone-4-2010-apple-iphone-4-costume.html
Mobile Phone Man (2014.05)
12V 10Ah moto battery
DC 12V to AC 110Vpower inverter
32’’ vertical LCD
Web Camera
USB IR Touch Screen
Others: acrylic panels, canvas, paint, wood...etc
What I got...Difference in profession makes one feel worlds apart.
When errors are found, face the reality.
Interactive AD Display (2014.07~2015.10)McDonald’s tested an interactive AD in Sweden in 2011. Two passers use their mobile phones as controller to play game on a large outdoor display. Winner will get a digital coupon, then go to a nearby McDonald’s store to exchange a free item. This video shows the detail https://youtu.be/F1FB8guuu-oI think this campaign is better than my previous plan, Siogio Card, on these points: 1. Easy to reach, no app needed, 2. Immediate; User gets a coupon then goes to the store.
Interactive AD Display (2014.07~2015.10)
41’’ LCD Monitor
single-board computer, cubieboard 2
Wireless USB Adapter,D-Link DWA-127
Interactive AD Display (2014.07~2015.10)Device was set in front of a store for mobile phone accessories.
While no user is playing game, the device displays AD.
Interactive AD Display (2014.07~2015.10)How to play:
Step 1. Open wi-fi management
Step 2. Select AP: SioGio_AP
Step 3. Input password: 87654321
Interactive AD Display (2014.07~2015.10)
Step 4. Open browser
Step 5. Input 10.10.0.1 in URL field
Step 6. Click “Start Game” button
Interactive AD Display (2014.07~2015.10)User controls green bar below.
Red ball hits color blocks to gain coupon.
User chooses one coupon at game over.
Demo: https://youtu.be/OrXBPIvbkwI
Another failed device
What I got...No advertisement to advertise the advertising device, no user still.
Advertising device should be set in crowd.
Coupon or game doesn’t attract people, fun does.
Auto-Cruising Car (2014.10~2015.04)Difference from driverless car and AGV:
● Low speed
● Work in a restricted region
● Recognize environment/space
● No laser, IR, or magnetic tape...etc needed for guiding
Google Driverless Car
Automated Guided Vehicle
Auto-Cruising Car IA small trial for proof of concept, the car would cruise in my house.
There is a camera in front as an eye of the car, photos captured can be inferred from where the car is, and then the car could decide which direction and how far should go.
Auto-Cruising Car IModeling Workflow:
1. Decide cruising path
2. Decide walking targets and turn points by the path
3. Guide the car to walk along the path by a remote control, record what the camera see over the trip
4. Analyze the video and extract image features of walking targets and turn points
5. Normalize and optimize image features
Cruising Workflow:
1. Load image features for walking targets and turn points
2. Go forward to target until it reached
3. Start turning until turn point met
4. <back to step 2>
Demo: https://youtu.be/J6mW2ahrpxI
Auto-Cruising Car I
single-board computer,Udoo dual
Motor/Stepper/Servo Shield,Adafruit
Remote control car
9V Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
MIPI 5MP AF Camera Remote controlIR receiver
micro servo SG90
Auto-Cruising Car IISince car 1 succeed, a full size Car 2 can be given a try. All the workflows and programs are the same with car 1.
After some trials, some issues were found:
1. Distinguishing outdoor scenes is more difficult than indoor scenes.
2. To avoid departing from path, more precise control is needed. Ex, forward speed, turn angle...etc.
3. People may pass by the path, the car should detect.
The project is pending and wish I have chance to continue…
Demo: https://youtu.be/EOJn4AcA8vk
Auto-Cruising Car II
12V 10Ah moto battery
Arduino DUE
Octa-Core Mini PC,Cubieboard4 CC A80
5MP AF USB Camera
Dual DC control module, AQMH2407ND
Kids electric car, 94x63x51cm with remote control
Auto-Cruising Car II
Hall magnetic sensor
Remote control
micro servo SG90
DC-DC Boost Converter 12V to 9V
What I got...A kid should not drive a car.
You can not do everything.
Lessons LearnedBuild a team, then startup.
Study and research before start a idea.
Fail->Chance->Startup->Fail……->Success.
Be Happy, amuse self awhile everyday.
What I am doing...「 Startup 168」 App
Startups can find partners, and fund on the app. There are many articles for startup and topics to help people communicate each other.
Build with: Ionic framework, liblinphone
Features: searching salaries in Taiwan, VOIP on forums, vendors and projects.
App Store: https://appsto.re/tw/yKLn-.i
Google Play: https://goo.gl/PFhv45
Contact meuamstar@gmail.com
https://tw.linkedin.com/in/laihioh-yeh-bb705444
https://www.facebook.com/charlin.yeh