Reflection – Mind Mapping 

 Challenge 

 I am working as an engineer for an internet service provider . Currently , I am working a lot with   residential gateways . These are the devices that people have in their homes that usually provide   their Wi - Fi . My job is to ensure that the software which is running on these devices is functioning   correctly . Testing these devices is often done on the basis of prescribed requirements for the device . 

 To strengthen my skills in innovating in my work , I am following this Design Thinking course . My goal   is to be able to formulate relevant problems and be able to address them . At the same time of   following this Design Thinking course , I am also taking courses on developing machine learning   algorithms . Machine learning is a technology that allows for machines or computers to perceive its   environment . This environment is represented in ( often large ) datasets . The computer is then able to   recognize patterns , make predictions or maximize outcomes , based upon the environment . 

 Since I am following these two courses at once , my goal is to combine the curriculum of the two   courses into my challenge . I was able to formulate the challenge in one question : What opportunities   can I find , with Design Thinking methodologies , where I can apply Machine Learning technologies in   my work as an engineer at an internet service provider ? 

 Selection 

 This challenge is peculiar in relation to the typical problem that is fitted for design thinking   methodologies . The problem requires a deep understanding of the end users involved ( Week 1 :   Challenges best suited for Design Thinking ) . What makes it atypical is that the end users are me and   my colleagues . The reason to still address this problem with Design Thinking methodologies is that it   is wicked ; there is not a single nor clear path to an opportunity where Machine Learning can support   me in my work . 

 The fact that I am designing for myself puts me in a position where I am quite familiar with ‘ What Is ’ .   I know the domain , the problems that I face in my work & am being trained on knowing the   possibilities of Machine Learning techniques . Because of this , I selected the tool Mind Mapping to   tackle my design challenge . This is a tool that is used on the pivotal point to go from ‘ What Is ’ to   ‘ What If ’ ( Week 3 : Mind Mapping Tool ) . 

 Application 

 To creatively find ‘ What If’-situations , I started writing down on post - it notes ‘ What Is’-situations , in   three categories : 

 1 . Types of datasets that are available in my work . These are important as this is a required 

 component for writing a machine learning algorithm . An example is the logs that a residential   gateway generates during operation . 

 2 . Available Machine learning techniques that I can develop . These eventually provide the 

 ability to support my work . An example is unsupervised anomaly detection . 

 3 . Problem situations in my work . These are the most important . Since these will lead to 

 opportunities that provide most value to supporting me in my work . An example is my   inability to completely read all logs that a residential gateway generates . 

 I then proceeded to relate problem situations to   different Machine Learning techniques and possible   datasets that could help relieve these problem   situations . Each link resulted in one or more concepts   for using Machine Learning in my work . It also showed   which problem had most possibilities to be solved . A   picture of the mind map is attached . 

 Unfortunately , I had gone through this process alone .   Therefore , I could not share and discuss these ideas   with other people with different perspectives . 

 Insights 

 Defining the problem statements was most important   for successfully performing mind mapping . This   ensured that ‘ What Ifs ’ lead to ideas that are most   valuable to the context . Since they address a problem   or opportunity that is actually being faced . Without   the use of these defined problem situations , interesting and complex technological concepts would   have been generated . But they would most likely be of little to no use . 

 The contrary has happened in my approach , which can be explained well by the use of an example ;   One of the promising solution that was defined in this process is the following : “ Anomaly detection   for finding irregularities in extract logs ” . The problem that not all extract logs can be read manually is   being addressed . 

 I also found that this method easily leads to quick expansion of the amount of generated ‘ What Ifs ’ .   In the broader plan of using design thinking throughout my exercise , this is a large advantage . This   allows me to quickly create a learning launch of the most promising idea . Since the chance of failure   is very high ( Week 2 : The Story of George & Geoff ) , I will not only be able to iterate , but also fall back   on other ideas . 

 Approach 

 I identified two large mistakes in my application of mind mapping . The first is that I completely   worked through the method alone . This stopped the possibility of discussing ideas and bringing in   other perspectives into the mind map . I strongly advise anyone to try to arrange for multiple people ,   experienced or novice with the context , to partake in the mind mapping activity . 

 The other mistake is that my only input for the mind map were small insights that I wrote down on   post - its . I could have used richer data that contained more information on the context of the   problems and opportunities . For future applications , I will definitely make sure of this . As this ensures   a deeper understanding of the problem at hand is considered during the What If phase . 

 The last minor note I would like to add is that it is best to avoid ( where possible ) selecting a   technology before - hand for solving problems . This was not the possibility in my challenge . However ,   doing so limits the number of opportunities that come to the surface . 


EMAIL: 
ID_NUM: 
NAME_STUDENT: 
PHONE_NUM: 
STREET_ADDRESS: 
URL_PERSONAL: 
USERNAME: 

### Task: You are a PII (Personal Identity Information) Detection. Given a essays written by students, you have to identify ONLY the following:
NAME_STUDENT - The full or partial name of a student that is not necessarily the author of the essay. This excludes instructors, authors, and other person names.
EMAIL - A student’s email address.
USERNAME - A student's username on any platform.
ID_NUM - A number or sequence of characters that could be used to identify a student, such as a student ID or a social security number.
PHONE_NUM - A phone number associated with a student.
URL_PERSONAL - A URL that might be used to identify a student.
STREET_ADDRESS - A full or partial street address that is associated with the student, such as their home address.
### Input: Reflection – Mind Mapping 

 Challenge 

 I am working as an engineer for an internet service provider . Currently , I am working a lot with   residential gateways . These are the devices that people have in their homes that usually provide   their Wi - Fi . My job is to ensure that the software which is running on these devices is functioning   correctly . Testing these devices is often done on the basis of prescribed requirements for the device . 

 To strengthen my skills in innovating in my work , I am following this Design Thinking course . My goal   is to be able to formulate relevant problems and be able to address them . At the same time of   following this Design Thinking course , I am also taking courses on developing machine learning   algorithms . Machine learning is a technology that allows for machines or computers to perceive its   environment . This environment is represented in ( often large ) datasets . The computer is then able to   recognize patterns , make predictions or maximize outcomes , based upon the environment . 

 Since I am following these two courses at once , my goal is to combine the curriculum of the two   courses into my challenge . I was able to formulate the challenge in one question : What opportunities   can I find , with Design Thinking methodologies , where I can apply Machine Learning technologies in   my work as an engineer at an internet service provider ? 

 Selection 

 This challenge is peculiar in relation to the typical problem that is fitted for design thinking   methodologies . The problem requires a deep understanding of the end users involved ( Week 1 :   Challenges best suited for Design Thinking ) . What makes it atypical is that the end users are me and   my colleagues . The reason to still address this problem with Design Thinking methodologies is that it   is wicked ; there is not a single nor clear path to an opportunity where Machine Learning can support   me in my work . 

 The fact that I am designing for myself puts me in a position where I am quite familiar with ‘ What Is ’ .   I know the domain , the problems that I face in my work & am being trained on knowing the   possibilities of Machine Learning techniques . Because of this , I selected the tool Mind Mapping to   tackle my design challenge . This is a tool that is used on the pivotal point to go from ‘ What Is ’ to   ‘ What If ’ ( Week 3 : Mind Mapping Tool ) . 

 Application 

 To creatively find ‘ What If’-situations , I started writing down on post - it notes ‘ What Is’-situations , in   three categories : 

 1 . Types of datasets that are available in my work . These are important as this is a required 

 component for writing a machine learning algorithm . An example is the logs that a residential   gateway generates during operation . 

 2 . Available Machine learning techniques that I can develop . These eventually provide the 

 ability to support my work . An example is unsupervised anomaly detection . 

 3 . Problem situations in my work . These are the most important . Since these will lead to 

 opportunities that provide most value to supporting me in my work . An example is my   inability to completely read all logs that a residential gateway generates . 

 I then proceeded to relate problem situations to   different Machine Learning techniques and possible   datasets that could help relieve these problem   situations . Each link resulted in one or more concepts   for using Machine Learning in my work . It also showed   which problem had most possibilities to be solved . A   picture of the mind map is attached . 

 Unfortunately , I had gone through this process alone .   Therefore , I could not share and discuss these ideas   with other people with different perspectives . 

 Insights 

 Defining the problem statements was most important   for successfully performing mind mapping . This   ensured that ‘ What Ifs ’ lead to ideas that are most   valuable to the context . Since they address a problem   or opportunity that is actually being faced . Without   the use of these defined problem situations , interesting and complex technological concepts would   have been generated . But they would most likely be of little to no use . 

 The contrary has happened in my approach , which can be explained well by the use of an example ;   One of the promising solution that was defined in this process is the following : “ Anomaly detection   for finding irregularities in extract logs ” . The problem that not all extract logs can be read manually is   being addressed . 

 I also found that this method easily leads to quick expansion of the amount of generated ‘ What Ifs ’ .   In the broader plan of using design thinking throughout my exercise , this is a large advantage . This   allows me to quickly create a learning launch of the most promising idea . Since the chance of failure   is very high ( Week 2 : The Story of George & Geoff ) , I will not only be able to iterate , but also fall back   on other ideas . 

 Approach 

 I identified two large mistakes in my application of mind mapping . The first is that I completely   worked through the method alone . This stopped the possibility of discussing ideas and bringing in   other perspectives into the mind map . I strongly advise anyone to try to arrange for multiple people ,   experienced or novice with the context , to partake in the mind mapping activity . 

 The other mistake is that my only input for the mind map were small insights that I wrote down on   post - its . I could have used richer data that contained more information on the context of the   problems and opportunities . For future applications , I will definitely make sure of this . As this ensures   a deeper understanding of the problem at hand is considered during the What If phase . 

 The last minor note I would like to add is that it is best to avoid ( where possible ) selecting a   technology before - hand for solving problems . This was not the possibility in my challenge . However ,   doing so limits the number of opportunities that come to the surface .
### Output: 