Help Me Work On BrowseHandsfree.com
Donation protected
I'm Oz Ramos, a homeless combat veteran on a warpath to help people with disabilities use the web hands-free! I'm looking to raise at least $3000, which will allow me to get housed for 6 additional months so that I can continue working on BrowseHandsfree.com without the stressors.
The shelter (Doreen's Place, short term residential program) will help pay for several months if I can prove income or savings, through a grant called SSVF.
In return for your donation, I'll list you on a supporters page with a link to your site(s). I'll post an update once the campaign ends with more details!
# MY STORY
I became homeless on February 1st, 2017 after moving from Boston, MA to Portland, OR to remove myself from an abusive relationship and family.
The first thing I did was to create a spreadsheet of all the services nearby that helped people in my situation. I shared the spreadsheet with others, until one day someone I didn't know told me about the sheet! I then turned that sheet into an app over the next few months:
Weeks turned into months as I worked to build the largest interactive database of nonprofits in Portland. And while I was able to help a lot of people (including two who didn't speak English), I couldn't figure out how to generate money from it.
Because I was homeless, I began teaching myself Machine Learning in hopes of finding ways to automate all the data entry. While studying, I befriended someone at the shelter who suffered a stroke and was unable to communicate with his family due to lack of mobility in his hands.
The first thing I did then was to look for an off-the-shelf solution, though I couldn't find any that didn't require extra hardware. So, I began building a solution myself.
Then, on March 4th I tweeted my first hands-free prototype, which used Tensorflow.js (then Deeplearn.js) to move a cursor using gestures:
(view tweet w/ animated GIF )
Google PAIR discovered the project and came and visited me at the shelter for a day! They hooked me up with several AI Kits, Pixel 2 phone, and computer so that I could work more efficiently:
I have been working feverishly ever since, including the ability to draw and type hands-free.
# FAQ
Why don't I work? I've tried! I'm currently struggling with overwhelming anxiety and particularly struggle with talking. Because my PTSD is not combat related, I don't collect disability.
I'm also monomaniacally committed to this project. Because I've lived in a homeless shelter for so long - and have seen so many people unable to access the internet - I cannot rationalize working on anything else!
Why did you stop your Patreon? Patreon's model is based on subscriptions, which works better for artists and other's creating a consistent stream of content. Because I'm creating a single product, I felt too much pressure to create extra content which was distracting me from my goal of helping connect people to the web.
(pleae feel free to ask me any other questions!)
---
Thank you for your support! You're not only helping myself directly, but indirectly helping those unable to connect to the web!
Oz Ramos
The shelter (Doreen's Place, short term residential program) will help pay for several months if I can prove income or savings, through a grant called SSVF.
In return for your donation, I'll list you on a supporters page with a link to your site(s). I'll post an update once the campaign ends with more details!
# MY STORY
I became homeless on February 1st, 2017 after moving from Boston, MA to Portland, OR to remove myself from an abusive relationship and family.
The first thing I did was to create a spreadsheet of all the services nearby that helped people in my situation. I shared the spreadsheet with others, until one day someone I didn't know told me about the sheet! I then turned that sheet into an app over the next few months:
Weeks turned into months as I worked to build the largest interactive database of nonprofits in Portland. And while I was able to help a lot of people (including two who didn't speak English), I couldn't figure out how to generate money from it.
Because I was homeless, I began teaching myself Machine Learning in hopes of finding ways to automate all the data entry. While studying, I befriended someone at the shelter who suffered a stroke and was unable to communicate with his family due to lack of mobility in his hands.
The first thing I did then was to look for an off-the-shelf solution, though I couldn't find any that didn't require extra hardware. So, I began building a solution myself.
Then, on March 4th I tweeted my first hands-free prototype, which used Tensorflow.js (then Deeplearn.js) to move a cursor using gestures:
(view tweet w/ animated GIF )Google PAIR discovered the project and came and visited me at the shelter for a day! They hooked me up with several AI Kits, Pixel 2 phone, and computer so that I could work more efficiently:
I have been working feverishly ever since, including the ability to draw and type hands-free.
# FAQ
Why don't I work? I've tried! I'm currently struggling with overwhelming anxiety and particularly struggle with talking. Because my PTSD is not combat related, I don't collect disability.
I'm also monomaniacally committed to this project. Because I've lived in a homeless shelter for so long - and have seen so many people unable to access the internet - I cannot rationalize working on anything else!
Why did you stop your Patreon? Patreon's model is based on subscriptions, which works better for artists and other's creating a consistent stream of content. Because I'm creating a single product, I felt too much pressure to create extra content which was distracting me from my goal of helping connect people to the web.
(pleae feel free to ask me any other questions!)
---
Thank you for your support! You're not only helping myself directly, but indirectly helping those unable to connect to the web!
Oz Ramos
Organizer
Oz Ramos
Organizer
Portland, OR
