The Inspiration: A Gamer's Solution to a Skier's Problem While snowboarding, I identified two friction points that disrupt the flow of the sport: the painstaking process of regrouping with separated friends and the inconvenience of removing gloves to check time or music. Inspired by video game HUDs (Heads-Up Displays), I set out to build a physical prototype that brings that digital overlay to the slopes.

The Objective: Learning by Doing I started this project not as an engineer, but as a hobbyist with a vision. My goal wasn't to compete with tech giants, but to challenge myself to navigate the "black box" of hardware engineering. I wanted to prove I could take an abstract idea, break down the technical barriers, and build a functioning prototype from scratch.

The Process: From "Legos" to Soldering Starting with zero experience in embedded systems (my only prior hardware experience was assembling PC parts), I had to teach myself the fundamentals of hardware hacking:

• Research: Analyzed existing market solutions and identified a component list based on the Raspberry Pi Zero ecosystem.

• The Build: Taught myself basic circuit design, soldering, and the software configuration needed to drive a micro-display.

The Pivot: The Optics Challenge The journey hasn't been a straight line. I initially designed a system reflecting an OLED screen directly off the lens. I quickly learned a hard lesson in optics: the focal distance was too short for the human eye to focus on.

• The Adjustment: Instead of quitting, I researched optical physics and pivoted the design. I am now developing a solution using an internal waveguide mount to solve the focal depth issue.

Current Status

• Phase: Prototyping & Optics Testing

• Status: In Progress – Continuing to iterate on the waveguide integration and software interface.