My Projects
Gabi Zuniga, over 50 years old, is the Principal Architect of Got It in the “holy” Silicon Valley. Having previously worked for IBM Watson, he decided to join Got It approximately three years ago and frequently commutes between the United States and Vietnam to work with Got It’s team in Vietnam.
In a recent visit, he was pleasantly surprised to find a young boy walking around the Got It Vietnam office. He was curious and had many questions!
The young boy was Tuấn Anh, who is only 13 years old. Last year, he became the youngest software engineering intern at Got It. On his first day, he had just graduated from the 6th grade. In a little over three months, Tuấn Anh completed an impressive university-level course and even worked on a self-driving car project.
“My mom knew I was interested in programming and started looking for anything related to it that I could do online. She stumbled upon Got It. My mom asked her friends how Got It worked and managed to arrange an interview for me, which led to my internship here,” Tuấn Anh shared with Gabi Zuniga. Before joining Got It, Tuấn Anh had some knowledge of web design, including HTML, CSS, and a bit of JavaScript. However, at Got It, he learned much more about programming languages, especially Python, and completed a course using American university-level materials. He also delved into artificial intelligence and applied it to a challenging project, creating a mini self-driving car in a learn-as-you-go style.
In addition to his technical skills, Tuấn Anh focused on improving his English and soft skills to work and communicate effectively with colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds. He emphasized that his goal was to build a solid foundation for the future rather than winning competitions or impressing his mother.
“This kid is truly amazing!” Gabi Zuniga exclaimed in surprise as he listened to Tuấn Anh’s story of learning and creating a software-based self-driving car with guidance from Got It’s engineers.
I created an AI automatic fire extinguishing system with the aspiration to apply practical technology solutions to improve human lives. During the scorching summer days in Hanoi, where temperatures peak at 40°C, devastating fires cause both human and property losses, leaving a profound impact on the community. This drove me to develop a fixed camera system capable of monitoring large areas and promptly alerting the system to extinguish fires upon detection.
My approach involved utilizing knowledge in image processing, deep learning, Arduino programming, and Python programming to design an integrated system. This system incorporated a centralized computer network that spanned various locations, transmitting data to a central control machine. It effectively monitored and detected illegal deforestation, issuing timely warnings to forest agencies. Additionally, I developed an application specifically designed to monitor and detect forest fires in remote mountainous regions, contributing to enhanced fire prevention and safety measures.
STEAM for Vietnam is a 501(c)(3) U.S. non profit organization founded and operated by Vietnamese professionals and students all over the world. I dedicated a significant amount of time to teach the Introduction to Programming with Scratch course through the Vietnam Foundation. This course harnesses the power of Scratch, a platform developed by the esteemed MIT Media Lab at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Scratch also serves as an online community where children worldwide can collaborate and share the stories, games, and animations they create using this innovative tool. Furthermore, I integrated comprehensive theories and lectures from the book “Scratch Programming Playground” to reinforce students’ knowledge and foster their growth throughout the learning journey.
My primary objective in this endeavor was to ignite a passion for technology within the hearts of young learners. I aimed to equip them with essential skills such as problem-solving, critical analysis, and optimization, which are fundamental aspects of what we call “Computational Thinking.” I strived to instill enthusiasm in these children, showing them how to brainstorm ideas, construct, and operate their own games.
My tenure at Steam for Vietnam was filled with cherished moments shared with these young minds. Each child possesses unique dreams and aspirations, and my hope is that, regardless of their chosen paths, they will carry with them a deep-seated love for the endless possibilities that technology and learning can offer.