Hey there đź‘‹
I'm Kimi — a young full-stack developer turning curiosity into real, working projects.
I build tools, systems, and AI experiences that solve everyday problems and help people express their imagination. From hardware to AI platforms, I explore how ideas become real.
My Innovation Journey
A timeline of projects that turned curiosity into real solutions
Woodworking & Early Hands-On Projects
My journey began at age eight, when I started experimenting with simple woodworking tools and building small objects around the house. Using pieces of scrap wood, glue, clamps, and hand tools, I created items like a mini table, a small shelf, and toy structures to explore how shapes and joints worked. Every project taught me something new about stability, structure, and craftsmanship. These early creations were far from perfect, but they were the first moments when I realized how much I enjoyed turning raw materials into something meaningful with my own hands.
Traditional Siheyuan Architectural Model
A year later, I took on a much more ambitious project: constructing a scale model of a traditional Chinese Siheyuan. I studied real architectural layouts, learned about courtyard symmetry, and used layered materials to recreate the roofs, beams, doorways, and central open space. The project required careful planning and patience, especially when assembling the roof tiles and framing the interior courtyards. Building the Siheyuan helped me understand how larger systems fit together and sparked my interest in architecture, structure, and the design of physical spaces.
Smart Water-Level Alarm
This was one of my earliest practical inventions. At home, bathwater sometimes overflowed when no one was watching, so I built a small device that detects rising water levels and triggers an alarm before it spills. I reused an old plastic container for the housing and iterated through multiple rounds of debugging until the alert system worked reliably. The project later won Second Prize at the Golden Eagle Science & Technology Awards, and it was the moment I realized I could solve real problems through creation.
DIY Smartwatch
Since phones and commercial smartwatches weren't allowed at school, I set out to create a watch of my own. What began as a simple idea turned into a deep dive into how compact electronics work. I designed and assembled the entire device myself, solving unexpected challenges like overheating components and parts that didn't fit. The final product wasn't just a tool—it was proof that if something doesn't exist, you can build it.
Projector Teardown & Optical Exploration
Curious about how projectors create large, bright images, I completely disassembled a full-sized projector to study its internal structure. By examining the LED source, prism platform, Fresnel lens, LCD, and convex lens, I mapped out the entire imaging process from light generation to projection. This hands-on exploration gave me a solid foundation in optics and display systems, helping prepare for future creative hardware projects.
Cling — AI Vocabulary Coach
Built in a 48-hour hackathon, Cling is an AI-powered vocabulary coach that adapts to individual learning patterns, making vocabulary retention more effective and structured.
Soil Moisture Monitoring & Automatic Watering System
To keep our plants healthy while my family traveled, I built a system that monitors soil moisture and automatically waters plants when they get too dry. Real-life testing showed that the device responded accurately and ran reliably. This was one of my most practical home-use projects and a reminder that small inventions can make everyday life easier.
UniBox: Smart Email Assistant (Hackathon 2nd Prize)
UniBox was born from a common frustration among older students: missing important application-related emails buried under promotional clutter. During a hackathon, my team developed a tool that automatically organizes emails, identifies crucial updates, and turns them into clear task lists. In our demo, UniBox successfully extracted key information from a simulated MIT admission notice, earning us Second Prize and proving how helpful AI can be during the application season.
AIVA: AI Video Generation Platform
AIVA began as my attempt to make video creation simpler for young creators like myself. Instead of complex timelines and editing software, AIVA turns written ideas into complete videos—including script, visuals, narration, and subtitles. As more children used it to express their imagination, I reframed the entire project as an "Imagination Guardian"—a platform that protects creativity and helps ideas grow. AIVA became my largest project, evolving through feedback from a growing community of users who contribute scenes, stories, and suggestions.