Summary on Innovative Facemask (Draft 1)

University of Hertfordshire, 2022 (Innovative Face Mask Breaks Inclusivity Barriers)

 “ Created by Dean Ezekiel ‘Helloface’ is an innovative transparent alternative to Type IIR EN14683 medical face masks made up of a 3-ply construction that prevents large particles from reaching patients." (University of Hertfordshire, 2022). The usage of masks greatly increased during the Covid19 Pandemic and the creator of Helloface Dean Ezekiel found that face masks were creating an obstacle for talking between people, thus he launched a new company to face that problem by producing clear facemasks.

The plan to start the company was inspired by his wife who is partially deaf and needed lip reading to help her understand when she could not hear the person. Dean understood that being able to communicate via lip reading and face expression is important as there are 11 million people in the Uk registered as deaf or blind and it would help out in ​​the medical sector and industries where facial recognition is crucial.

Dean's trading business were shut down during the first pandemic lockdown but he was able to quickly make use of his entrepreneur skills to progress to his new plan.Dean was able to start up with the help of University Enterprise Zone (UEZ), the University of Hertfordshire, with funding from Research England. Being part of the University Business Incubator, they were able to help create new funding opportunities, build knowledge, and create new connections which have help the company break into the new market. 

Dean was able to move swiftly and seize the new market prospects to build the transparent mask for the market with net 0 credentials with the help of business advice and mentoring, which provided much-needed assistance. The university was able to to support the company during the pandemic, which brought up numerous difficulties and uncertainty for the company, . Dean and his team were able to advance with greater assurance throughout their path from concept to bringing a new product to market because of the assistance offered at every stage.

Future prospects for collaboration exist as the university continues to counsel the company on additional growth opportunities as the business and the product continue to gain recognition. As of right now, Helloface is prepared to exhibit its creative and inclusive CE.

Descriptive Reflection : Self-intro Letter (Edited as of 30.03.2023)

 Dear Professor Brad Blackstone, 

My name is Tan Jun Yang, Lester, currently a first year Mechanical Design and Manufacturing Engineering student in Singapore Institute of Technology. My first exposure to engineering started when I was chosen for an aerospace competition in secondary school. This piqued my interest toward engineering, leading me to choose Aerospace and Robotics Engineering in Nanyang Polytechnic. My passion towards engineering peaked when I was doing my Final Year Project in Nanyang Polytechnic. It was an individual project about designing a wheelchair that can turn into a bed. The project allows me to hone my creativity, 3D modeling, and problem-solving abilities. I had a lot of joy working on this project, and it really sparked my interest in engineering.

Firstly, being a medic when I was serving national service really developed my decision making skills. Whenever there was an emergency, I had to access the patient and plan the treatment and evacuation in a short amount of time. It really tested my ability to make quick decisions in situations that were unexpected.

Next I have to admit that I have a fear of public speaking. I am not confident in speaking to a larger group of people, so much that it intimidates me. Whenever I have to present, my body starts to shiver and my mind just stops working. Everything I prepare and memorize for the presentation would not come out of my mouth as I plan/want. However I think that I am good at active listening. Many of my friends like to come and share their personal stories, trusting that I will be able to listen to them well, keep the conversation going and respond appropriately.

Lastly, my goal for this module is to improve my confidence in public speaking as it has been a huge weakness of mine for very long. I also hope to be able to write reports and letters better. I noticed that my passed letter and reports have not been very good with lots to improve on and I believe that being able to change that will be very beneficial for me in my career and life. 

I look forward to lesson, hoping to further improve myself

Your Sincerely,

Tan Jun Yang, Lester

Task 3: The Importance of communication skills for engineers

“Communication skills are an essential component in the education of
engineering students to facilitate not just students’ education but also to prepare

them for their future careers.”

Marc Riemer, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University (2007)

Explanation:

The quote suggest that communication skill is an essential component needed for our future work. In all jobs, it is required to be able to communicate well with your colleague, boss and client. A interview is needed to even get a job in the first place, being able to convince the employer and answering question fluently helps increase the chances of landing the job. Communication is the basic skills needed for a workplace. It is being used regularly, like discussing work with teams, during a company meeting, presenting your idea and doing business with client. This shows that communication skills is important to ensure that you are able to survive in the workplace.