Welcome
Welcome to the L1 Scientific blog!
My name is Tim Rees, and as the founder of the company I'd like to introduce you to who we are and what we do.
Who we are
L1 currently employs six full-time workers and several part-time contractors. Our core team specializes in software development, mechanical engineering, math, and physics. If you think that's a broad mix, you are right! Our team has many interests and skills, and we are doing cross-disciplinary projects.
L1's team works remotely, with most of staff living in BC and Ontario. Time-zones can be a pain, but our hours are flexible and we make it work.
How we got started
In the spring of 2021, I wrote a proposal for Innovative Solutions Canada's Alternate Format Business Technology Challenge (see link here: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/innovative-solutions-canada/en/alternate-format-business-technology-challenge ). The proposal was successful, and we launched operations in the summer of 2021, completing Phase 1 of the contract in December of that year. Fast-forward to today, and after a successful Phase 2 proposal we are now almost one year into the Phase 2 contract.
The last year has been an exciting ride for the company as we have grown from a one-man army to a team of six. We have lots of ideas and pathways to commercialization ahead of us, so I am sure that exciting times lie ahead.
What we are up to
Our primary goal as a company is to develop accessible solutions for people with a disability. This includes software and mechanical devices, and in the coming months I hope we will roll out several new products. Since I am blind (and arguably selfish), most of our assistive technology innovations will be designed to benefit members of the visually-impaired community.
Beyond assistive technologies, L1 is pursuing work in other areas of interest. I did a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics at the University of Waterloo, and I love computational problem-solving. Other members of our team are also interested in simulation, optimization, and mechanical systems, so we are currently developing new products in these areas and taking on clients as consultants. Stay tuned for more updates as we progress!
Our team is full of avid problem-solvers, and we have expertise in fluid mechanics, algorithms/mathematical programming, data science, web-development, and mechanical design + prototyping. If you have a complex challenge and want to work with us please get in touch.
What to expect from this blog
I hope this blog will provide a window into the company's activities. We will write posts on a variety of topics, some serious, and some frivolous. We will introduce the team so you can get to know the company. We will share details on new product releases and ongoing work. We will explain interesting algorithms and physical systems and present our problem-solving methods. We will do our best to update this blog regularly, and promise to cover a range of topics.
Alright, back to work! Thank you for reading.