1. "-Point-in-Time survey tallies Alachua County's homeless"
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/169AC974AAF87918?p=WORLDNEWS
-In this article, it is describes a survey done by the county where they try and get a count of the homeless population in Alachua County. It not only aims at getting a count of the homeless population but also the supplies and materials they need. It gives data on what the survey has found in the past and what type of patterns they are finding in the survey.
-The biggest problem in the story of course is the homeless people living on the streets, but I see an opportunity to look into ways that have not been done before to try and help the homeless population in our community.
-The problem extends to the individuals that homeless affects and the families involved in such a horrible predicament.
2.Cyberbullying: 2 Florida kids arrested after girl's suicide
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/169A751FAB8FD330?p=WORLDNEWS
-In this article, it is talking about a case where two teenagers are being charged with cyberbullying another teen who eventually committed suicide. It talks about the details of the case and what the kids were being charged with. It interviews parents involved and the parents stress how more must be done in schools and the community,
-The problem presented in the story is not only cyberbullying but how there needs to be more awareness in communities and more students being educated on the harm that the internet can do to other people.
-Young children in todays society have this problem but it is also a problem for the families involved, especially for the parents having to deal with these situations.
3.Study finds nitrates not only problem affecting springs
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/16977BB2347C1C88?p=WORLDNEWS
-In this article, it was explaining how out local springs around the Gainesville area are being affected by rapid algae growth and blooming from local run offs in our area. It examines what is happening and the science behind the algae blooms. It expresses how there are ways that people are trying to reduce the nitrates and run off currently but there still is a major problem.
-The problem in the story is the rapid algae growth and nitrate runoff that is occurring in our springs around Gainesville.
-Technically the problem falls of the parks and people who own the springs but as concerned citizens, it should be all our problem as we should want to cut down on the destroying of out local ecosystems.
4.Memorial to Tom Petty on 34th Street defaced
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/1694859D10838230?p=WORLDNEWS
-In this article, it is describing how the newly famous 34th painted wall, Tom Petty tribute, was vandalized. The painting paid tribute to the great Tom Petty who was a Gainesville native.
-The problem was that an important piece of art in Gainesville was vandalized and someone defaced the painting that someone worked very hard on.
-The problem falls on the city of Gainesville as technically the act was not illegal in anyway because the 34th wall is frequently painted, but it is just an unwritten rule that some of the spaces are to remain untouched.
5.Crisis center volunteers needed
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/169433D51E66CE70?p=WORLDNEWS.
-This article was stating how the local crisis center needs volunteers. It stated details of the job and what the requirements were and what type of people they were looking for.
-The problem associated with this story is that the center needs help and they are reaching out to the local community to find help.
This problem affects the crisis center and then externally the people who rely on the crisis center as they call and need help.
Friday, January 26, 2018
4A-Forming an opportunity belief
1. Ever since I have started here at UF, I have had this thought that there was an opportunity to start a company or build an App that connected students with other students in the same classes in a more user friendly way outside of Canvas.
2. In my belief, I think there is an unmet need for students to reach out to other students in their classes to try and connect with each other and help one another in the classes they have together. Students wishing to branch out and connect with their classmates in a less formal setting have the unmet need. I feel as though this has always been around, but with technology now a days, there are more ways to able to meet this need. What people are doing now are they are either just posting things in canvas or posting on UF class pages asking for help. With my idea, I could consolidate all of this into one application where a student can put up their class schedule and match with similar students to form study groups when at the library or connect with other students who may be able to help other students with the classes they are taking.
3. Iterations: For my 3 interviews, the prototypical customer was a student here at the University of Florida.
-Customer 1: When asked about the nature of the unmet need, Rachael stated that she had never thought of the idea of connecting students who needed help but she thought that an opportunity like that would be one that could work for students. She thought that the need would be there for students who don't have an easy way of connecting with other students. Right now, Rachael addresses the need of connecting with other students in helping with her classes by reaching out to people in the clubs and organizations she's in. She said she would try out such an opportunity and thinks that it would have an impact on certain students.
-Customer 2: Sean is a Poly Science major here at UF and when asked about the nature of the unmet need, he stated that it would work for students who are in classes that are challenging that don't have a lot of the tutors that many of the major classes like calculus or chemistry would have. For him, he said he faces this unmet need quite often because his classes are so specific, that he can't find help in them with outside tutors because they don't know the subject material. So connecting Sean with other classmates that are in the class with him would help him with the material at hand. He said he first became aware of this need when he got into his upper level classes that started to get more specific and more challenging but with less help outside of the professor. He is currently addressing this need by trying to talk to some kids in his classes but sometimes kids aren't responsive or aren't willing to help out. He thinks an alternate solution would benefit him greatly.
-Customer 3: Hunter is a Psychology major here at UF and he said it would work for students that maybe more shy, like himself, and help break the ice in asking for help over an app instead in person. He said he comes about this unmet need often because he sometimes has trouble in his classes and wants to ask someone in his class for help, but he is often too shy to do so and then he must figure out the stuff on his own. He said he has had this need for a while. He is also currently addressing the problem now by either posting on Facebook again, or just simply now asking for help outside of talking with the professor if he even does that. Hunter stated that he would be up to try the idea in the hopes that he would be able to reach out to his classmates and get more help with his classes.
5. In my interviews, I was surprised that 2 of the 3 customers had trouble reaching out to their fellow classmates. For some people that is a hard thing to do because either their personality doesn't fit that mold to do something like that or they are not as involved as other students are. Such as the case with Sean and Hunter, they want to reach out to other students and try and get help or offer help, but besides Facebook or Canvas, they don't have a way to do that. But it was also surprising to see that students, such as Rachael, who are involved with other students, would still be up to trying the idea and branching out even more.
7. I still think a majority of the opportunity is there, given that the 3 customers were willing to give my idea a shot and I believe with a little more planning and getting down to details, my opportunity would be more accurate. Entrepreneurs should do a little bit of both when coming up with ideas and opportunities. If you feel as though you have a great idea, you should try and stick with it but at the same time, you have to adapt to the customers that you are trying to sell to because at the end of the day, the customer is the one who matters the most. If they don't see your idea as an opportunity that could improve upon, then they won't use your product and you won't be able to see your idea.
2. In my belief, I think there is an unmet need for students to reach out to other students in their classes to try and connect with each other and help one another in the classes they have together. Students wishing to branch out and connect with their classmates in a less formal setting have the unmet need. I feel as though this has always been around, but with technology now a days, there are more ways to able to meet this need. What people are doing now are they are either just posting things in canvas or posting on UF class pages asking for help. With my idea, I could consolidate all of this into one application where a student can put up their class schedule and match with similar students to form study groups when at the library or connect with other students who may be able to help other students with the classes they are taking.
3. Iterations: For my 3 interviews, the prototypical customer was a student here at the University of Florida.
-Customer 1: When asked about the nature of the unmet need, Rachael stated that she had never thought of the idea of connecting students who needed help but she thought that an opportunity like that would be one that could work for students. She thought that the need would be there for students who don't have an easy way of connecting with other students. Right now, Rachael addresses the need of connecting with other students in helping with her classes by reaching out to people in the clubs and organizations she's in. She said she would try out such an opportunity and thinks that it would have an impact on certain students.
-Customer 2: Sean is a Poly Science major here at UF and when asked about the nature of the unmet need, he stated that it would work for students who are in classes that are challenging that don't have a lot of the tutors that many of the major classes like calculus or chemistry would have. For him, he said he faces this unmet need quite often because his classes are so specific, that he can't find help in them with outside tutors because they don't know the subject material. So connecting Sean with other classmates that are in the class with him would help him with the material at hand. He said he first became aware of this need when he got into his upper level classes that started to get more specific and more challenging but with less help outside of the professor. He is currently addressing this need by trying to talk to some kids in his classes but sometimes kids aren't responsive or aren't willing to help out. He thinks an alternate solution would benefit him greatly.
-Customer 3: Hunter is a Psychology major here at UF and he said it would work for students that maybe more shy, like himself, and help break the ice in asking for help over an app instead in person. He said he comes about this unmet need often because he sometimes has trouble in his classes and wants to ask someone in his class for help, but he is often too shy to do so and then he must figure out the stuff on his own. He said he has had this need for a while. He is also currently addressing the problem now by either posting on Facebook again, or just simply now asking for help outside of talking with the professor if he even does that. Hunter stated that he would be up to try the idea in the hopes that he would be able to reach out to his classmates and get more help with his classes.
5. In my interviews, I was surprised that 2 of the 3 customers had trouble reaching out to their fellow classmates. For some people that is a hard thing to do because either their personality doesn't fit that mold to do something like that or they are not as involved as other students are. Such as the case with Sean and Hunter, they want to reach out to other students and try and get help or offer help, but besides Facebook or Canvas, they don't have a way to do that. But it was also surprising to see that students, such as Rachael, who are involved with other students, would still be up to trying the idea and branching out even more.
7. I still think a majority of the opportunity is there, given that the 3 customers were willing to give my idea a shot and I believe with a little more planning and getting down to details, my opportunity would be more accurate. Entrepreneurs should do a little bit of both when coming up with ideas and opportunities. If you feel as though you have a great idea, you should try and stick with it but at the same time, you have to adapt to the customers that you are trying to sell to because at the end of the day, the customer is the one who matters the most. If they don't see your idea as an opportunity that could improve upon, then they won't use your product and you won't be able to see your idea.
Friday, January 19, 2018
3A- My Entrepreneurship Story
My entrepreneurship story would have to begin with my dad. I am proud to say that my dad is an entrepreneur. He is an entrepreneur in that he, along with a close friend of his, started a local small town pharmacy in a small town outside of Gainesville(I am originally from Gainesville, just a small fun fact about myself). This has been a cool experience growing up because I have seen what it has mean't to own and operate a small business. Just from the outside of it though, I can tell you, it is a lot of hard work that a lot of people don't get to see. However, seeing the pharmacy grow into what it is now, and seeing how proud my dad is of it, is really empowering. An upside is that my dad is his own boss and that was a major reason why he wanted to open his own business. For me, it made me not want to go into pharmacy as a career because I saw how much chemistry you needed to know and let me tell you, I am awful at chemistry. I would consider my dad an entrepreneur because he is always looking for ways that the pharmacy can grow and he is considering opening up a new store sometime in the future.
I enrolled in this class because I have always had a small interest in entrepreneurship and I wanted to find out what it was all about more than just starting a business. I hope to gain skills that I hope I can transfer into helping find a career down the road and maybe even learn a thing or two that I can help my dad with in his entrepreneurship voyage.
My bug list
Austin's Bug List:
1. Students being distracting in class with other students around them such as surfing on Facebook or watching Netflix in the middle of class.
-This exists because students now a days cannot stay focused on a task, such as paying attention to an hour lecture because of all the technology that we have available to us. I am of course guilty of this but when I realize what I am doing, I try to think of how this affects other students and I try to stop.
2. It bugs me when car driver's are not considerate of scooter drivers.
-This is simply just car drivers getting irritated with the pace that which scooters go and everybody in todays world thinks that their time is better than everyone else and they need to get everywhere they are going in as fast time as possible.
3.It maybe weird, but when Chick-Fil-A says my pleasure after every sentence.
-They do this to obviously make you feel comfortable and to seem that they are there for you for any convenience and to increase their customer service which they are known for.
4.When people are rude to retail associates, such as cashiers at Publix, when that associate has nothing to do with the situation at hand.
-I believe this occurs because people will take their anger out on anyone who they think that maybe linked to a problem and in todays world, "the customer is always right". This saying has given rise to the customer having a false sense of power and always thinking that they know more than the people who work at such places.
5.When my roommates don't take out the trash or recycling and leave it on me to do it.
-This occurs because I took out the trash our first week in the house we'd since then, they have not touched it because in their mind, if they don't have to do it, it is not their problem to deal with.
6.It bugs me when people smoke around children or in public and don't try and be considerate with the smoke.
-I think this happens just because people are so wrapped up in the their own world, that they do not take the time to think about how their actions affect others and they don't care either.
7.It bugs me I call a business, such as the county court house and I want to speak to an actual person but I only get a machine answer.
-This happens because the company has to have an efficient way to answer all the calls without having to hire someone to do it.
8.I don't like it when the garbage man throws my trash can in my yard, as if he or she was in such a hurry they couldn't just put it up right.
-This is so because they are in a hurry and have a lot of houses to get to.
9.When people are not considerate drivers and drive dangerously around other cars.
-People just feel as though their time is more valuable than other people's time and will swerve in and out of traffic to get around cars just to shave a minute or two off of their trip.
10.It bugs me when parents don't look after their kids and just let them do whatever they want such as crawl around on the floor or climb over things in a store.
-I believe this happens because the parents just get fed up with the kids behaviors and they don't want to discipline them for everything they do, so they just let it happen without and consequence.
11.It also bugs me when parents don't discipline their children in anyway and just let bad behavior goes unnoticed.
- Some parents just have that philosophy that punishing a child in any form is bad for the kid, but you have to at least let a child know when he or she is doing a wrong behavior.\
12. I hate it when people leave trash on a table at like a fast food place such as Chick-Fil-A, and don't pick up after themselves.
-I would assume that people that do this just think that the employees will clean it up and yes they will, but you should always try and clean up after yourself.
13.It bugs me when kids are incredibly disrespectful to their parents and are rude to them.
-Some kids just have that type of attitude where they will be rude to anybody including their parents and they don't care.
14.I do not like it when someone is talking on the phone when they go down a line at a grocery store and totally avoid the cashier.
-People just think that their conversation is better than talking to someone else and they don't care that they are being rude by not even acknowledging the cashier.
15. It bugs me when someone does not say thank you when I hold the door open for them when we are entering or leaving a building.
-I think this occurs because depending on where you were raised, some people just weren't taught that you should say thank you after a simple act like that.
16.It annoys me to no end when someone talks or their phone goes off in a movie.
-This happens because again, people are not courteous to the people around them and do not think about how their actions might affect other people.
17.It bugs me when there is an event of some sort like a class and it is a full class and someone is saving a seat for someone who either isn't there yet or doesn't show up at all which leaves someone else left out that could have sat in that seat.
-People want to sit next to other people they know in things, and they just want to save a spot for someone they know.
18.I hate it when I can hear other peoples music in quite places such as Marston or Library West.
-I am going to assume that the person doesn't realize that their music is as loud as it is but still, you should be conscious of it if you are playing music.
19.It bugs me when people don't pull all they way up in a scooter parking place so if someone wants to park in that spot, they have to go all the way around and the sidewalk just to park their scooter.
-People do this so they have an easier time to get out of a parking spot.
20.It bugs me when people on bikes don't watch out for people walking or crossing the street.
-This happens because just like in a car, a person on a bike thinks you'll move out of the way for them and if not you will get hit.
-In all honesty, I did not really have trouble finding it hard to come up with this list of things that bug me. I had to give it some thought because I normally don't think about these things but once I had a couple, they just started to flow and I had an easier time coming up with the list. Most of these things I brush off and don't think about, or if I see it, I won't say anything about and I think that was the hardest part about coming up with this list.
Sunday, January 14, 2018
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)