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。凭借极少的英语和人际关系，我克服了巨大的挑战，并在科技领域建立了著名的职业生涯。重点包括：* **计算机图形、可视化和动画领域的世界级博士/博士后研究和出版物** **开发计算机辅助设计、3D可视化技术/软件**，用于希思罗机场5号航站楼等地标建筑的可持续性和性能分析。** *开发尖端的逼真渲染技术/软件**使世界各地的室内/产品/建筑设计师受益。实现了我一生的梦想，为包括《地心引力》、《银翼杀手2049》在内的故事片创造令人惊叹的视觉效果，获得了奥斯卡/英国电影学院奖最佳视觉效果。在我经历了巨大的母乳喂养挑战之后，我的人生轨迹完全改变了。可悲的是，我的挣扎很普遍：英国的母乳喂养率是全球最低的；90%的妇女由于缺乏卫生专业人员的支持（57%）、疼痛、健康问题（55.8%）以及感到孤立/抑郁（46.1%）而提前放弃母乳喂养。我的经历促使我创立了LatchAid，并利用我在技术方面的专业知识为母乳喂养提供革命性的支持。LatchAid是一家科技初创公司，开发世界上唯一的母乳喂养支持应用程序，提供：* **尖端的3D/AR互动技术**帮助女性互动/沉浸式学习母乳喂养技能** *人工智能支持的虚拟母乳喂养支持小组**使用户能够获得高质量的点对点/专业支持** *人工智能支持的个性化虚拟支持者/伴侣**（具有可定制的角色/特征），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，并与医疗机构建立合作伙伴关系，以大规模提供个性化、可访问的24/7数字母乳喂养支持/教育/社区。自2018年成立以来，LatchAid已从Innovate UK和EU等资助者那里筹集了10万英镑以上的竞争性奖项/赠款，以加速应用程序研发。*扩展到一个5人的核心团队，一个横跨4大洲的30多人的承包团队，以及一个由顾问、合伙人和志愿者组成的多学科团队。*吸引了来自六大洲的测试版用户，称赞LatchAid应用是一项急需的革命性创新。*与国内/国际母乳喂养/医疗保健组织和专家建立强大的联系网络未来12个月将见证LatchAid最令人兴奋/关键的发展，随着应用程序的推出，B2C（英国/全球）市场的扩张，B2B合作伙伴关系的建立，以及投资的筹集，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，加强我的领导能力和创业技能。它将使我能够通过LatchAid转变数字母乳喂养支持，并产生最大的社会/环境/经济影响，所有这些都是后covid时代特别需要的。

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.