A proof of learning a new skill in a very short time at a moment’s notice is an increasingly valuable asset to a CV/Portfolio. OpenAI created an opportunity for such a proof of execution with the announcement of their Grove program, with a submission deadline 12 days after the announcement. I was already working on a related long-term hardware project, so I decided to create such a proof.
- 9/7: Sprint began.
- 9/11: Paper submitted to SIGCHI26.
- 9/12: SIGCHI26 Peer review process begins. OpenAI announces Grove -> pivot.
- 9/13: Requested unfinished hardware from PCBWay.
- 9/14: Purchased SMD Soldering machine
- 9/17: Filed provisional patent for invention
- 9/18: PCB arrives from Shenzhen via DHL in Brooklyn. Video and code supplement submitted to SIGCHI26.
- 9/20: Soldering gear arrives from Amazon.
- 9/21: Soldering PCB completed.
- 9/23: Launch personal website, begin documentation of sprint.
- 9/24: Send in Grove application.
- 9/25: Fly to Canada for a wedding.
9/7:
Sunday morning, sprint begins. Motivation is upcoming conference and accelerator deadlines. Inputs at time of sprint start are custom-designed hardware prototype for synchronized tongue-audio stimulation, partially constructed, awaiting parts, at PCBWay in China. As well as Android mobile app tracking footfalls in real time using Mbient metamotionRL sensor. Hopeful output is opportunity creation in the form of networking, funding, or knowledge. Key parties of interest are companies developing AI-native consumer hardware, as well as other music technologists.
9/11:
Academic paper, “Aurora: Method and Means For A Bimodal Auditory/Lingual-Haptic Music
Experiment”, submitted to SIGCHI26 for peer review. Paper outlines a falsifiable hypothesis is the field of music medium research.
9/12:
Peer review process begins for SIGCHI26 conference. Perhaps related to a strong showing from many teams for SIGCHI26, OpenAI announces Grove partnership development program announced with strong timing filter. Made decision to pivot mid-sprint to documenting process of applying to Grove event, generating proof of execution at a moment’s notice, valuable especially in hardware development, regardless of whether application successful.
9/13
Requested unfinished hardware to be delivered mid build from PCBWay in Shenzhen to expedite hardware prototyping process.
9/14
Purchased SMD Rework Station for soldering remainder of SMDs to PCB in Brooklyn.
9/17
Filed provisional patent application for Wick Static with realistic, anchoring claims based on thorough prior art search (every prospective data moat needs its alligator)
9/18
Hardware arrives incomplete from Shenzhen via DHL in Brooklyn. Video and code supplement submitted for SIGCHI26.
9/20
SMD Rework station arrives in Brooklyn via UPS. Begin practicing soldering. I had never soldered SMDs prior. ChatGPT was distinctly unhelpful; learned from youtube videos.
9/21
Soldering PCB completed.
9/23
Spin up personal website, begin documentation of proof of execution, add other projects from portfolio. (image shows purchase of williambjames.net domain on Sept 23rd 2025)
9/24
Sent in Grove application.
Application materials documented on github