Four young innovators shared how they are using technology to solve real-world challenges at UiLab’s Future Tech Open House at Park Ridge on Tuesday 18 August.
UiLab is a Logan City Council-funded technology hub that helps residents adopt emerging technologies through workshops, equipment and hands-on support.
During the event, host Mohammad “Mo” Alizadeh encouraged attendees to focus less on resources and more on taking action, sharing his own journey as an example.
After arriving in Australia 13 years ago Mr Alizadeh worked a range of side jobs to support his family. He has since become a QUT Entrepreneurship Scholar.
His HalalHop app was inspired by the frustrations he faced while travelling and trying to find halal food options.
The app helps users find halal dining options, making it easier for Muslim communities to plan meals with confidence.
“I didn’t have money. I didn’t have connections. I didn’t have experience. I didn’t have any of it,” Mr Alizadeh said.
“You don’t need all that to start. All you need is a willingness to start messy,” he said.
Software engineering student Guled Ibrahim is developing Careproof, an automated NDIS compliance program.
Mr Ibrahim said the idea was inspired after seeing small business owners struggle to navigate complex regulations and auditing requirements.
IT student and AI intern Sukhman Kaur co-created ThinkTrace during a university hackathon.
The platform is designed to help universities ethically regulate the AI use of students, by integrating a university specific chatbot into course resources.
Despite the benefits, Miss Kaur warns against relying only on AI tools.
“Even though it wrote the code, we knew what we were doing,” Miss Kaur said.
At 17, school captain and Ashan Industries CEO Ashutosh Vaitha is developing an app to support non-verbal communication.
The project was inspired by his younger brother, Vishan, who has autism.
Mr Vaitha hopes the app will provide more affordable communication tools for families and service providers supporting people with additional communication needs.
The rise of AI powered coding tools has lowered some of the barriers to software creation, allowing people to rapidly test and refine their ideas.
From improving travel experiences, to supporting education and communication, the projects highlighted how young people are using technology to solve everyday problems.
Through initiatives such as UiLab, residents are gaining opportunities to experiment with new technologies, develop practical skills, and turn ideas into solutions for their communities.
Subscribe to stay up-to-date with news from across Logan. You’ll receive a link to our digital newspaper direct to your inbox each week. It’s free.
Follow MyCity Logan on Facebook and Instagram
