7A Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

1) I'd like the pursue the opportunity of developing recyclable face masks and other PPE products that are in high use right now. 

2) Recycle PPE and face masks are an unmet need for people who are environmentally conscience and want to practice self-preservation.

Who: People who want to reduce their carbon foot-print while not compromising their safety and health. 

What: Current materials and usage of face masks and PPE render them unrecyclable.

Why: Face masks and PPE are considered to be bio hazardous after they are used once, the material developed for face masks are not recyclable by conventional means.

3) Hypothesis:

    With the high usage of protective personal equipment (PPE) and one time use disposable face masks, there has been an increase of pollution and litter. People who use face masks and other PPE are unable to recycle them after usage, they can be unaware that they cannot be recycled. People think they can recycle them because of their simple materials that are recyclable in other products. 

Testing Who: This need can be expanded to people all over the world that use face masks. Doctors and nurses in hospitals that go through a large volume of face masks can benefit knowing that their face masks can be recycled. 

Testing What: The boundary for this need would be that some people prefer using a cloth face mask that they wash and reuse. Another boundary would be that some people don't wear face masks at all. 

Testing Why: Many people that I have talked to did not know that face masks were not recyclable, this ignorance may be widespread to people all over the country. 

4) Interviews: For this part I interviewed my cousin, who is a nurse in a Georgia healthcare facility, my dad, my sister, a restaurant worker, and an old high school teacher. My cousin Antonio, when I interviewed him, said that as a nurse he knew that the PPE and face masks that he wore were not recyclable. I asked them if he saw any downgrade or reason why they should not be made recyclable, he told me that he thinks face masks being able to be recycled may be dangerous, telling me that people might confuse recyclable with reusable. He told me that PPE and face masks were designed for single use and they were meant to be disposed of. Another person I interviewed told me that they were unaware that face masks were not recyclable, they told me that they thought of them just like plastic bags and that their paper-like material was recyclable. They told me that there could be a lot of benefit in creating a biodegradable face mask that can dissolve in the ocean or break down easier in a land fill. 

5) After interviewing I did a little more research into why face masks weren't recyclable, because they are considered a bio hazard after a single use. But also, after conducting interviews it was made clear to me that face masks were developed to be disposed of. Their cheap design and material made them ideal for mass production. The most helpful interview was with my cousin Antonio, he was the most knowledgeable in information about the usage and disposable of used PPE and face masks. 

6A Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends

Economic
1) How Should People be Investing During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
a) https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidrae/2020/03/22/is-now-the-time-to-buy-stocks/#1440726d1829
b)  believe there is an opportunity in investing in stocks during the pandemic because a lot of people are wondering when the best time to buy stocks during the pandemic is. People would pay for a service that would allow them to start investing safely and introduce them to the stock market
c) The prototypical customer would be someone with enough capital saved up and who is interested in investing while stock prices are still decreasing.
d) I believe this opportunity is easy in the sense that there are a lot of people curious about when or what they should invest in. However, the stock market is notoriously unpredictable, so it is hard to exploit in that case.
- I believe I saw this opportunity because I had the desire to find opportunities within out current situation. That this once in a lifetime event has once in a lifetime opportunity. The effects the stock market has seen have been unique.

2) A service that can help people find and buy/rent housing
a) https://www.forbes.com/sites/petertaylor/2020/04/12/what-will-americas-housing-market-look-like-after-the-coronavirus-pandemic-ends-heres-what-5-top-producing-real-estate-agents-had-to-say/#e0ff33549525
b) This article has led me to believe that an opportunity exists in the real estate sector because a lot of companies are not operating the quarantine. For example, inspectors won't inspect houses, and house appraisals have halted as well.
c) People who might have a need for this are people searching for housing during the pandemic. During this pandemic, the importance for a house has been emphasized.
d) This opportunity would be relatively difficult, a service like this would require permits, and the knowledge/ insight of the US housing market.
- Other probably have had the same idea as me, but the difficulty for such a service would be difficult to execute.

Regulatory
3) Development of a more comfortable and luxury face mask
a) https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristenphilipkoski/2020/04/12/30-fashion-brands-pivoting-to-make-stylish-coronavirus-masks/#3f29d5121d69
b) I am led to believe an opportunity exists in luxury face masks since over 30+ fashion companies have started developing face masks for their brand. Also because, going forward, more people will be open to spend more money on a reusable face mask rather than buy many disposable ones.
c) I think the people most likely to buy a luxury face mask would be upper-middle class families that have an unmet need for comfortable face masks that don't pinch the ears or face.
d) This opportunity is relatively easy to exploit since there is a need for luxury face masks now. It would be easy to interview people and get their opinion on what improvements they would want to their current face masks.
- Others may have not had the same idea as me because many people are focused on mass producing face masks rather than developing a quality luxury face mask.

4) There is a need for recyclable face masks
a)https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4014663/recyclers-urge-public-recycle-masks-ppe
b) I believe an opportunity exists for recyclable face masks and PPE because current PPE is not recyclable through conventional recycling plants/ methods.
c) People that would use recyclable facemasks and PPE would be people that care about their health and well being as well as people that practice an eco-friendly life style.
d)This opportunity is relatively easy, there needs to be research into what materials can be recycled as well as be medically safe. Before recycling the used facemasks and PPe must be disinfected before they can processed. 
- I believe that others might have this same idea in mind. I thought about this opportunity while thinking about how much people have been using facemasks and how they mistakenly recycle them.

5A- Identifying Local Opportunities

1) Please don't do this during a flash flood

https://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/weather/accuweather/please-dont-do-this-during-a-flash-flood/607-bac975bb-92a8-4bbd-94c0-bf9e16a05484

    In this story and video, there is a driver going down a flooded road. Further down the road is totally submerged from the rain, to avoid flooding his car, the driver starts driving on the sidewalk. 

    Due to the flash flooding happening in South Florida, streets and roads have become flooded with rain. Drivers have had to find another way to traverse flooded roads, some will drive onto the sidewalk and driveways to avoid flooded roads. 

    People who have this problem are drivers who live in a tropical climate area. 

2) Martin County trapper catches state's first python nest for python program

https://cbs12.com/news/local/martin-county-trapper-catches-states-first-python-nest-for-python-program

    I live close to the Everglades, so conservation has always been something that has been important to me and my community. Pythons in particular have been on the forefront of news articles and stories related to conservation and invasive species.

    A trapper names Mike, was able to find a python nest filled with 22 eggs. Broward county has had a problem with the invasive python species, they kill native birds and small mammals and they reproduce quickly. 

    People who care about native species and the conservation of nature in South Florida have problems with invasive species of pythons. 

3) Survey Offers Glimpse into the Challenges of Distance Learning

https://tamaractalk.com/survey-offers-glimpse-into-the-challenges-of-distance-learning-22871

    As a result of students and faculty having to make an unplanned and quick transition to online learning, 44% of students that took the survey reported that they have confusion with assignments given to them. There is also another problem with the amount of help and tutoring that students get for their online classes. However, Broward students have reported an increase in the accessibility they have to computer and internet access, 98%, this is thanks to a program that provided over 90,000 laptops to students. 

    Students not used to online learning platforms and interfaces may be confused with processes for completing assignments and asking for help from faculty. 

4) The buffet in the age of coronavirus: South Florida’s all-you-can-eats fold or adapt
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/fl-ne-the-future-of-the-buffet-20200523-h7aohlwlpjf7fbavyh5hccqday-story.html

    Restaurants and other businesses face a lot of problems and fears of closing down for good because of Covid-19, especially Buffets. Buffets have many elements that make them perfect for the transmission of disease: Communal dishes, shared utensils, and uncovered trays of food. During this pandemic, and even after quarantine is lifted, Buffets fear that they may never recover.
    The problem is that Buffets have a lot of factors that are perfect for spreading infectious diseases. And the cost of sanitary measures and supplies to keep buffets a safer place is a deal breaker for many restaurants.
    Restaurants with a buffet style like Sweet Tomato and Golden Corral are having problems with staying open.

5) Doctors get back to business, face new challenges during coronavirus pandemic
https://www.local10.com/health/2020/05/22/doctors-get-back-to-business-face-new-challenges-during-coronavidus-pandemic/

    Doctors in other areas of healthcare are worried about how they can safely conduct appointments and meet patients. For example, visits to the Eye Center of Pembroke Pines start in the parking lot, nurses will take your temperature first before patients are clear to come inside.
    It is a struggle to maintain social distancing for doctors making appointments and meeting with patients. Shortage of doctors is also an issue for many other fields of healthcare, many doctors have transferred to hospitals to treat covid-19 patients.
    Other fields of Healthcare, during the pandemic, now face a shortage of staff and need help processing patients quickly and safely.

Opportunity Belief

1) Beginning Point - I believe that an opportunity exists in addressing the problem with how animals dangerously cross roads in residential areas. 

2) Describe Your Belief - The unmet need that suburban drivers living in residential areas have, is something that deters animals from crossing the street while cars are on the road. This need hasn't always existed, it is the result of urbanization and habitat encroachment. To meet this need now, drivers will either honk their horns (which is disruptive to their neighbors), get out of the car and shoo them away (which is dangerous to the driver), or sometimes the animals can get struck by the car. I am 80% sure this opportunity exists. 

3) Prototypical Customer - A person who drives and lives in a residential area with wildlife. 

4) Interviews

Interview #1:

     In my first interview, I interviewed my Dad. My dad is the person who brought up the problem to me in the first place. In our neighborhood, there is a lake in the center of the community, ducks cross a road to travel to the pond. My dad became aware of the need for a way to deter animals from crossing the street when he told me he saw a duck trying to cross the street was struck by a car. He believes that this has been a problem ever since we moved to South Florida, especially since we live in an area next to the everglades. When ducks do cross the road while he's driving, he either waits for them to cross, tries to drive around them, or honks his horn. He's not happy with the options of dealing with the animals. If he drives around the ducks, he crosses into the oncoming lane of traffic, if he waits he wastes time, and if he honks his horn he can bother other residents. 

Interview #2:

    For my second interview, I interviewed my friend's mom, Carole. When I asked her if she was aware of the problem of animals crossing the road, she told me she didn't think about it too often. She only becomes aware of the need when she is waiting for animals to cross the road. She told me she's not too sure when the problem started for her. Carole told me that her solution was to wait until the animals crossed and the road was clear. She told me that most of the time she is fine with waiting for the animals to cross, but she told me she hopes that others are just as patient or mindful about the animals crossing. 

Interview #3:

    For my last interview, I interviewed my friend Ali. Ali lives in an apartment complex in Gainesville that is located next to a lake. She told me that groups of ducks are always waddling around the parking lots slowly. The day I interviewed her, she told me she had an incident where ducks stood in front of her car, unafraid of the vehicle. She told me the ducks weren't afraid of her car and just stood still in the middle of the road. She told me it was annoying waiting for the group of ducks. When I asked about her method of dealing with the ducks, she told me that she usually wait for the ducks. She is unhappy and annoyed when the situation happens, and she doesn't like waiting for ducks in the parking lot. 

5) Reflect - What I learned about my opportunity is that it is very common for people who live in areas next to lakes or other habitats. Also that this problem is applicable not just to South Florida, but to other parts of the state and perhaps the country. From all of my interviews, the only methods my interviewees told me they had was either: waiting for the animals or honking their car horns. Two of my interviewees were not satisfied with their options with dealing with animals on the road. One of them didn't really care about waiting for the animals, but was still concerned for the animals' safety.

Summary:

I believe that there is still a lot of my original opportunity, however it has shifted from focusing on ducks to maybe different animals and different areas as well. I think that my new opportunity is more accurate as well as more general than it was before. Entrepreneurs have to adapt to their environment and their customers/audience. I think that customer feedback is one of, if not, the most important aspect of developing a product or service. However, I also believe that they have to stay firm in their research that they acquire while developing their product or service.  

My Entrepreneurship Story

      The first time I really experienced of meeting an entrepreneur happened in my third year of high school. I had just been accepted into an internship program with the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale; One of the requirements of the internship was attending "talks" that were a part of the Museum's "Speaker Series" throughout the year. At one of the talks I attended, the speaker was an entrepreneur that started a 3D-printing company, GermanRepRap, that manufactured and maintained 3D-printers. GermanRepRap also did printing for companies when commissioned by them. 

      The thing that sets GermanRepRap apart from other companies that focus in 3D-printing is that they focus in "industrial" 3D-printers. They manufacture industrial printers, with their largest printer being a size of a room. They apply their printers in Aerospace and Automotive industries. Instead of using plastics in their printers, they are able to also use metals and fiberglass. 

      After the talk, the speaker gave out a few products that they create for fun when they test some of their small printers. I got a green plastic money clip that was 3D printed. 

"Bug" List

1. The ear tips of my airpods build up earwax quickly, removing it is difficult and takes time

-This happens because I wear my airpods all the time, also because the eartip that is inserted into the ear has a small divot for wax to build up in.

2. The material used for the exterior of my stress ball picks up small particulates and hair

-Because the stress ball gets sticky from the silicon material, it picks up dirt fast. Washing the ball is ineffective in making the ball less sticky.

3. The build up of ink on the tip of a standard ballpoint pen smears and stains my hand and my work.

-Writing/ drawing a line with a pen causes ink to build up on the tip of the pen.

4. Cable Tangling

-Most electronics require a cable to connect to other devices/ charge. The number of cables at a desk can add up quickly. This causes clutter and disorganization.

5. beverages getting dusty over time on my desk

-leaving beverages uncovered on my desk over time leads to them accumulated dust.

6. Hair on the floor

-hair on the floor is annoying when it sticks to your foot and makes it uncomfortable to walk around your own home.

7. Glasses getting dirty/Smeared

-attempting to clean dust off of my glasses may lead to me touching the lenses by accident thus smearing them, making it harder to see. sometimes the cloth use to clean them makes the situation worse

8. Internet Outages

-With mist assignments/quizzes/tests being online, it is important to have a stable internet connection. Interruptions are annoying to students.

9. Ducks crossing the street frequently are a danger to drivers 

-In my community there are ducks that cross the street frequently, unfortunately some are struck by cars

10. Airpods are getting difficult to reliably charge in their case

-After frequent use and wear, my airpod earphones are not charging in their case unless they are pressed into their charging case.

11. Loud Echoic Floors from exercising

-Because my family is staying indoors, my sibling has started to exercise in their room. Their room is on the second floor and it gets loud whenever jumping jacks or jump roping is done.

12. Room lighting tone is different from natural light tone/warmth

-Throughout the course of the day, natural light changes it's warmth. Some times it clashes with the warm tone of my indoor lights. This is caused when the sun sets/rises, thus changing the wavelengths of light visible.

13. My Headphone ear pad covers come loose frequently, exposing the padding/foam beneath it

-From abuse, wear and tear, the cover comes off of my headphones.

14. My phone screen is dirty and unsanitary
-Frequently using my phone causes a build up of oils and dirt.

15. The bluetooth connection range of my headphones does not cover my entire house
-Due to technological limitations, bluetooth range varies for each device

16. A mosquito flew into my room and bit me while I was sleeping, I wasn't able to see it well enough to swat it
-Bugs fly in through open door/ windows

17. Tears in the side of a chip bag are difficult to close, even with a chip bag
-When trying to open a bag of chips, it is possible for the top opening to move onto the side of the bag

18. I have a bad habit of biting my nails, it looks bad and is unsanitary
-I tend to bite my nails when I'm anxious, nervous, or bored.

19. A few ants have made it to my room and run on my desk, it's annoying when the ants crawl on my arms/legs
-The ants are attracted to my trash (crumbs from snacks). I tried emptying my bin frequently to solve this problem but it didn't stop the ants.

20. Reusable Water bottles/jugs take up a lot of space in my cabinets
-Being a student, I get a lot of free swag when I go to professional events. I always get reusable bottles, my collection has grown and they take up more and more space on my shelves.

Reflection
Coming up with this list wasn't that difficult, it just took time and attention to complete. It was hard to come up with more than 5 bugs in a single sitting, so it took me a few days to complete my list. I noticed that my first few bugs are the bugs that are closest to me in proximity, either they happen in my room, on my desk, or on my person. I think it makes sense to think about the closest things to you that are a bug. Some of the bugs I had that didn't make it to my list of 20 usually had a solution to them already.

My First Blog Post

Testing testing 1 2 3