LatchAid: Modernising Breastfeeding and Early Parenthood Support using 3D Interactive and AI Technology

2002年，我从中国来到英国学习计算机科学。凭借最少的英语和人际关系网，我克服了非同寻常的挑战，在科技领域建立了一份声名显赫的职业生涯。亮点包括：*世界级博士/博士后研究和出版**计算机图形学、可视化和动画**开发计算机辅助设计、3D可视化技术/软件**用于地标建筑的可持续性和性能分析，包括希思罗5号航站楼\。*开发尖端的真实感渲染技术/软件**使世界各地的室内/产品/建筑设计师受益。*实现我毕生的梦想**为故事片**创造令人惊叹的视觉效果**包括_重力、银翼杀手2049_、获得奥斯卡/BAFTA最佳视觉效果奖**。在经历了巨大的母乳喂养挑战后，我的生活历程完全改变了。可悲的是，我的挣扎很常见：英国的母乳喂养率是全球最差的；90%的女性在想要放弃母乳喂养之前就放弃了母乳喂养，原因包括缺乏健康专业支持(57%)、疼痛、健康问题(55.8%)和孤立感/抑郁感(46.1%)。我的经历促使我创建了Latchaid，并利用我在技术方面的专业知识来革新母乳喂养支持。Latchaid是一家科技初创公司，开发了世界上唯一的母乳喂养支持应用程序，该应用程序提供：*尖端3D/AR交互技术**帮助女性以交互方式/沉浸式学习母乳喂养技能*AI支持的虚拟母乳喂养支持小组**使用户能够全天候获得高质量的对等/专业支持*AI支持的个性化虚拟支持者/同伴**(具有可定制的角色/特征)，能够智能地识别用户的需求并提供定制的母乳喂养/早期育儿支持通过这个奖项，我将专注于扩大/加强我们在这些改变游戏规则的领域的研发，在AppStore上推出Latchaid，并与医疗保健组织建立合作伙伴关系，以提供个性化的、可访问的、全天候的数字母乳喂养支持/教育/社区。自2018年成立以来，Latchaid已经：*从包括Innovate UK和EU在内的资助者那里筹集了100,000+竞争性奖项/赠款，以加快应用程序的研发*扩展到一个5人的核心团队，一个横跨4大洲的30人以上的合同团队，以及一个由顾问、合作伙伴和多学科团队组成的多学科团队和志愿者。*吸引了6大洲的Beta用户，称赞Latchaid应用程序是一项亟需的革命性创新。*与母乳喂养/保健组织和国内/国际专家建立了强大的联系网络未来12个月将见证Latchaid最令人兴奋/最关键的发展，应用程序的推出、B2C(英国/全球)市场的扩张、B2B伙伴关系的建立和投资筹集，届时注入的资金/支持将为Latchaid的增长和影响增加最大的价值。**这个奖项将改变我的生活**专注于Latchaid并加强我的领导能力和创业技能。它将使我能够通过Latchaid改变数字母乳喂养支持，并提供最大的社会/环境/经济影响，所有这些都是后COVID世界特别需要的。

I came to the UK from China in 2002 to study Computer Science. With minimal English and personal networks, I overcame extraordinary challenges and established a celebrated career in Science & Technology. Highlights include:* **world-class PhD/Postdoctoral research & publications** in Computer Graphics, Visualisation, and Animation* **developing Computer-Aid-Design, 3D Visualisation technology/software** for sustainability and performance analysis of landmark buildings including Heathrow Terminal 5\.* **developing cutting-edge Photorealistic Rendering technology/software** benefitted interior/product/architectural designers worldwide.* fulfilling my lifetime dream of **creating breathtaking Visual Effects for feature films** including _Gravity, Blade Runners 2049_, winning **Oscar/BAFTA awards for Best Visual Effects**.My life course then changed completely after I experienced tremendous breastfeeding challenges. My struggles are sadly common: the UK has _the worst_ breastfeeding rate globally; 90% women give up breastfeeding before they want to, due to lack of health professional support(57%), pain, health issues(55.8%), and feeling of isolation/depression(46.1%). My experience drove me to found LatchAid and use my expertise in technology to revolutionise breastfeeding support.LatchAid is a tech start-up, developing the world's only breastfeeding support app that provides:* **cutting-edge 3D/AR interactive technology** to help women interactively/immersively learn breastfeeding skills* **AI-powered virtual breastfeeding support groups** enabling users to access high-quality peer-to-peer/professional support 24/7* **AI-powered, personalised virtual supporter/companion** (with customisable personas/characteristics), able to intelligently identify the user's needs and provide bespoke breastfeeding/early-parenthood supportThrough this award, I will focus on expanding/enhancing our R&D in these game-changing areas, launching LatchAid on the AppStore, and building partnerships with healthcare organisations to deliver personalised, accessible, 24/7 digital breastfeeding support/education/communities at scale.Since founded in 2018, LatchAid has:* raised £100,000+ competitive awards/grants from funders including Innovate UK and EU to accelerate app R&D.* expanded to a core team-of-5, a contracting team-of-30+ across 4 continents, and a multidisciplinary team of advisors, partners, and volunteers.* attracted Beta users across 6 continents, commending LatchAid app as a much-needed, revolutionary innovation.* built strong networks of connections with breastfeeding/healthcare organisations and experts nationally/internationallyThe next 12-months will see the most exciting/critical development for LatchAid, with the app launch, B2C (UK/global) market expansion, B2B partnership building, and investment raising, when the injected funding/support will add the most value to LatchAid's growth and impacts.**The award will be life-changing for me** to focus on LatchAid and strengthen my leadership, entrepreneurial skills. It will enable me, through LatchAid, to transform digital breastfeeding support and deliver maximum social/environmental/economic impacts, all of which is especially needed in the post-COVID world.