Luke’s Personal Portfolio

Remembrance Day Poppies

I made this poppy in vector form using Adobe Illustrator.

Tech Journal #1: Communicating Self-Driving Cars

Credits: AutoTech.News

NYU Tandon School of Engineering has found a way to allow self-driving cars to share knowledge with other cars, allowing other cars to learn about road conditions and experiences of other vehicles. The technology is called Cached Decentralized Federated Learning (Cached-DFL), which allows individual vehicles to train their own AI model, instead of a central one. When coming within 100m of another car, high-speed communication can be exchanged between each car’s AI model. The technology goes even further, allowing cars to store up to 10 other models and share them with other cars, deleting older models automatically to reduce outdated information. The technology allows for cars to learn about road conditions, obstacles, and signals without having to experience that itself – even without coming near the car that finds the information. 

This seems like an underrated but incredibly useful tool for many situations. On the topic of self driving cars – as the tool is currently designed for – this seems like a great way to train many self-driving cars quickly and safely without years of development. Also, it is could be very helpful for time-specific events, such as wet roads, traffic, or an accident, as the other cars could be alerted and plan alternate routes that would save time or even prevent crashes. I think the most useful part is the fact that up to 10 other models can be stored and passed on, as this will allow information to spread very quickly within the fleet, as the original car that encountered the problem/information does not need to drive near every other car in the fleet – it can be passed on through other vehicles, which allows the information to spread exponentially. This technology could even be applied to other situations, such as drones, as information can be communally shared, strengthening the knowledge of each individual unit. In conclusion, I think that this tool has the potential to be so useful for the self-driving car market and beyond, and could change/advance new technology.

Tech Journal #2: Transpod

This new technology is a high-speed magnetic “train” that travels in a closed tube, allowing extremely high speeds to be reached – without the limitations that normal train travel encounters. The train, in theory, floats inside the depressurized tube. Propelling itself through the tube, levitating, the train is able to reach incredibly high speeds, due to almost no friction slowing it down. The propulsion system uses magnets and plasma. Construction of a test track for the technology is supposed to start this year. If this technology comes to fruition and the designers are able to get this technology to work, the train could be able to achieve 1000kmh+, which is even faster than a commercial airplane! According to the designers, the system would be able to use renewable energies, which could bring down the environment impact of the technology. The first train, the company says, will be able to hold 54 people and cost $40-$60 per ticket. 

I think that although this technology seems like a great idea, I am not sure that we have the technology needed for this system quite yet. Although it doesn’t seem too far-fetched, there are still many hurdles that need to be overcome, such as how to power the vacuum tube, how to design the trains to handle the wear and tear such speeds exert on the structure, and how to keep costs down to make the technology feasible for use. But, if the designers are able to find the answers to these problems, the Transpod could be a game-changing idea. First of all, it could eliminate/reduce the need for inefficient, polluting transportation devices and replace them with fast, clean trains. This technology could be a step towards a slowing climate change and reducing emissions, all while advancing the efficiency of transportation. According to a feasibility study for the project, a Edmonton-Calgary line could create up to 140,000 jobs and add 19.2 billion to the GDP. These are not small numbers at all – at this moment, 2.6 million people are employed in Alberta, so just this project could add 5% more jobs to the province. I hope that this idea can be implemented in the future, as it could help solve some very large problems in Canada (and maybe even the world), but I don’t want to get my hopes up too much, as this technology is still little more than an idea at the moment. 

Tech Journal #3: Smart Roads

Credits: Tomorrow City

Smart roads are a new invention that allows information about roads such as conditions or traffic to be monitored and uploaded to the Internet of Things (a network of objects that can exchange data) so the data collected can be analyzed. Tools such as cameras, radar, and sensors can allow real-time things to be known and situations can be improved. The longer-term data accumulated can be used to improve overall traffic on the road, prevent accidents, and possibly reduce CO2 emissions. This technology has already been invented and tested, but is not yet used on a large scale, due to the cost and difficulties associated with implementing it on a large scale, for example on all the highways in a city. If used, the technology allows the ability for less congestion, improve biker and pedestrian safety, and improve road layout/conditions and emergency response. 

I think that this is yet another genius idea with quite numerous upsides. Although it uses already invented technology, by connecting all the sensors, cameras, etc. greater things can be achieved than by the equipment itself. The fact that the technology is already invented is yet another upside, as it means that there is nothing new that needs to be developed – it just needs to be scaled for cities to be able to use it. Also, when implemented the the technology has the potential to save a lot of time and money. By being able to analyze traffic, and road conditions + design, the roads being monitored can be tweaked or new parts added to improve the design. For example, the technology could use data about traffic patterns to adjust the timing of traffic lights to reduce congestion at certain busy parts of the day. Also, the frequency and place of crashes/near misses can be used to determine which areas need to be redesigned to improve safety. Smart roads even have the potential to help emergency services, by being able to contact them as soon as an accident happens and know the exact spot (using cameras), so that help can arrive ASAP. In all, I think that this technology, although may be expensive/difficult to implement, will help greatly improve all aspects of roads that need work, and save time, money, and lives. 

Tech Journal #4: BYD Fast Charging

Credits: Electrek

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/18/cars/china-byd-supercharging-system-ev-tesla-intl-hnk/index.html

A chinese electric car company has developed a new EV fast charging system that could allow the battery to add 400km of range in just 5 minutes of charging. The system uses a 1000kW chargers for the system – as a comparison, Tesla superchargers use 250kW chargers, which take 15 minutes to add 275km of range. This technology is a big leap for electric car companies, as before the high voltage and strong batteries needed for faster charging was a big obstacle. BYD has overcome these obstacles by reducing the resistance of the batteries, allowing less heat to be produced as they charge. The car company plans to install 4,000 of these fast charging stations, and they can be used by 2 of their new models. 

I think that this new system is a big new development for the electric car sector. Although other companies are yet to catch up with this system, it has now been proven that it is possible to lower electric car charging times down to the rate at which it takes gasoline cars to fill up their tank. The invention of this takes away one of the major downsides that EVs have – the fact that it take so long to charge them. Due to EV sales going down – especially in north america, this invention may prove to make a change. I think that this new technology is a good idea, but I am still a bit skeptical about how it will work out. The new technology will be quite expensive, as the batteries will cost more, and so will the charging, as more power is needed. Due to needing more power, there will be an uptick in the charging costs. Also, as this is a new technology, it is not known what the effects on the batteries will be in the long term. In all, I think that this technology is a good idea, but there may still be a while before it is implemented everywhere, and the disadvantages are worked out.

Tech Journal #5: Wooly Mice

Credits: Scientific American

An American company called Colossal Biosciences is trying to bring back, or “de-extinct” woolly mammoths by genetically modifying Asian elephant genes. So far, the company has already created “woolly mouses”. The company tried to use gene editing techniques to modify mouse stem cells and change the mouse’s hair colour, texture, length, or pattern. It was a success, with some individuals exhibiting all the edits. So far, the company has not been able to re-create wolly mammoths, but the mouse experiment is a good sign that doing so may be possible. But, Robin Lovell-Badge, the head of stem cell biology and developmental genetics at the Francis Crick Institute in London, says that some “cute-looking hairy mice” were created, but their physiology and behaviour is still unknown, which does not help the researchers get any closer to creating a woolly mammoth. He also points out that mice are quite different genetically from mammoths and mammoth genes are still unidentified and unknown. However, the chief executive of Colossal says that although it may not get them much closer to their final goal, it is a “massive validating point”. 

I think that this technology is a good idea, although we are still not close to being able to de-extinct animals as Colossal Biosciences says. Extinction is a very big problem, and if we can bring back these animals, that is a great thing. Also, as the company says, de-extinction is a key part of something called re-wilding, where previously extinct animals are placed into their original habitats so that they can reverse the effects of climate change. This aspect is something that I would not have thought of, but makes sense. As the company says, if mammoths are brought back to the tundra, they can stir up the ice by stomping on it, releasing carbon-trapping gases. This is an exciting prospect, but again, there are still so many challenges on the way to achieving this goal. Something like this has never been done, or even attempted, before. It is already increasingly difficult to edit the genes of mice, animals that we know a lot about. We still know almost nothing about woolly mammoth genes, so it will be even more difficult to re-create them like the were before extinction. In conclusion, I think that if what the company is proposing is able to be completed, than it will be an incredible accomplishment with big implications, but we are still very far from Colossal being able to create Woolly Mammoths.

Tech Journal #6: China’s Supersonic Airplane

Credits: South China Morning Post

China has now entered the supersonic jet race, with plans for a “concorde-beating” plane. The state-owned Chinese company Comac will produce the airplane, but no timeline for the release has been given. The jet is supposed to be able to fly up to Mach 1.6 (approx. 2000kmh), quite a bit slower than the concorde’s top speed of Mach 2. Also, although much shorter than the Concorde, it should be able to fit 60+ more passengers, and travel over 4000km farther per flight. Aside from the range and capacity, this supersonic jet has another, possibly more important feature. Due to travelling over the speed of sound, the Concorde would produce an extremely loud sonic boom, at 105 decibels (for reference, according to google a jackhammer is only 100 decibels). The chinese airplane hopes to change this by using a “reverse-camber” fuselage to reduce shock waves. 

If produced, this aircraft has the potential to change the airplane market – and create some good competition in the supersonic jet sector. As there is another company trying to do the same thing as Comac, each may try to make their planes even better, to gain an advantage, which will help the technology develop more quickly. Also, as the jet has the potential to be much quieter than the Concorde and have a higher range, there will be a much wider range of routes that it can service. The concorde was not able to fly over land due to the sonic boom, but if the 85 decibel predicted noise is achieved, this constraint would not be put on this airplane, which would open up so many more places to fly to. This chinese airplane could even be better than another prototype, the American Boom overture. In terms of specs, it is very similar to the concorde, having the same length, a slightly higher range, but not being able to carry as many people. Compared to this prototype, it is not even close, with Comac winning in almost every metric. If the airplane can be produced, and the specs are as stated, the whole sector of air travel could be different. Some of the larger commercial airplanes, for example the Boeing 787, are not all that different in terms of range and passenger capacity than the Comac. Although being able to carry 100+ more passengers and travel 3000km more, the worth of high speed cannot be understated. Many people would be willing to pay more to arrive at their destination faster, so the supersonic plane has great potential to gain interest from current airlines. Although we are very far off from the production of this airplane – a prototype hasn’t even been made yet – we are in exciting times in terms of air travel, as there are now 2 companies trying to create a concorde-like airplane, which could change not just air travel, but all travel. Maybe now these companies can do something that the concorde couldn’t – change the world.

Passion Project #1

I used Adobe Photoshop to create a funny airplane picture.

Passion Project #2

I made a mailchimp campaign with a google form and custom maps for a Canada Day Party.

Passion Project #3

I added new content to my old website.

Passion Project #4

For this project I edited a drone video and added music to it.


OBS Videos

Full year overview

Tech article 1 – Deepseek

Recently an AI bot that goes by the name deepseek was introduced to the market and it instantly got huge amounts of attention. One of the reasons for this was the fact that it was created in China. Before its release it was commonly believed that the US had control over the AI race and that the competition was domestic but when deepseek came out it shook this belief causing companies like Nvidia to break stock market records by losing nearly 600 billion in one day. One other reason for the huge impact deepseek had was how much it cost. Deepseek is estimated to have cost around 6 million dollars to train whereas chat-gpt cost 100-200 million dollars. This is huge because it shows that they trained something nearly as powerful for much less. This gap may also be because chat-gpt was the first so it had to train organically but Deepseek could have used Chat-gpts work to speed up their process. 

My thoughts

My thoughts on this technology outbreak is that if the worst case scenario is true being that Deepseek really is just a more effective way of doing the same thing than this is very bad for north america but if the more likely truth is that deepseek just used Chat-gpt to train itself that there is nothing to worry about. If that is the case then the only thing China has shown in this is that they can copy America’s work which is fine because then they will always be behind. I also think that there is very little information on this right now so the market crash was understandable but I think that it was extremely exaggerated.

Tech article 2 – LiFePO4 battery

A large portion of electric car batteries contain Cobalt, in their cathode (where the positively charged electrode is located. The problem with Cobalt is that it is mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where mining is not sufficiently regulated. In the Congo Mining conditions are terrible and child labor is often used. Additionally there is very little Cobalt in the earth of the United States which is a problem both economically and politically. A solution to this is the LiFePO4 battery which was created by John B. Goodenough at the University of Texas in 1996. LiFePO4 is cobalt-free and instead uses iron phosphate instead, which is much more easily sourced both ethically and geologically. Until recently this battery was not able to produce the same levels of effectiveness as Cobalt batteries, until in 2020 when BYD  was able to create a high density variety which is now equal to or occasionally more powerful than Cobalt batteries. This is a huge step forward in the future of American batteries because now American electric car companies, for example Tesla, can now produce their batteries more domestically and requiring less importation.

My thoughts

My thoughts on this are overall positive because China controls a large portion of the Cobalt mining and if Cobalt was required for electric car batteries, China could pretty easily control a monopoly. This would be terrible for the US because the future of automobiles is electric and a large portion of the American economy is car manufacturing. This would also affect us because a large part of Canada’s economy is the US which effectively means that if they have less money to spend on our products we will sell less. Alongside economics, I also think this Innovation is great because of the unethical mining it will avoid. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has 70% of the world’s Cobalt Supply but the mining as I stated earlier in the Congo is not ethical and is filled with child labor. By initiating an alternative we  lift the pressure off of child labor mines in the Congo.

Tech article 3 – Aria Gen 2, Meta smart glasses

Back in 2020 meta released their first iteration of smart glasses, which unfortunately were only available for researchers. meta is doing this again with their new Aria Gen 2 smart glasses that are centered around AI features.  Meta has made improvements from their original design, like an improved lightweight frame and Advanced Eye tracking system that can detect blinks and estimate the center of pupils. Additionally the glasses contain a significantly improved microphone,  that according to meta is a game changer for audio and Loud environments. The glasses contain a total of five cameras, one for eye tracking, and four for CV, But still manage to not be exceptionally bulky and to only weigh around 70 grams. 

My thoughts


My thoughts on this topic are that smart glasses would be very cool to have in everyday life, being able to watch movies well at the same time as having a conversation with someone you don’t feel like talking to, sounds amazing. As amazing as that sounds I would predict that in most scenarios similar to what I just described it would be perceived as impolite to wear the glasses and you would likely have to take them off. Aside from that, I think the glasses could be used in two main ways. First of all for directions, especially in foreign places where you don’t know where you’re going. The second thing I think they could be used for is translation. My mom works in Richmond hospital and she has told me that she often has to have a translator in the room for patients that don’t speak English. These glasses would quickly solve that problem by using its microphone and speakers to translate on both sides. Also in places like a hospital, the hospital could provide a second pair of glasses to the person that doesn’t speak English so the conversation can move back and forth. I think that that use would be utilized commonly so I think that making these glasses would be successful. Also they would be entertaining for the average consumer, who is just trying to have fun

Remembrance Day Poppy

This is an example of a vector piece of art.

Winter projects 1 – Photoshop

This is a photoshop project that includes pictures of my favourite pro skier Jesper Tjäder, in multiple outfits, mid road gap jump.

Winter project 2 – Adobe illustrator

This is a digital art Christmas tree in a room. I made this using my illustrator tool. I learned in this project how to use shadows.

Winter project 3 – Adobe illustrator

I used similar skills as in my Christmas tree project, also using shadows.

Halloween Video Project trailer

I made a trailer using premiere pro and I imported the videos I used from youtube.

Halloween Video Project

I used stop motion and lego to create a creepy story with high detail for a stop motion film.

New project 1

I made an edit of my favourite skier Jesper Tjäder

New project 2

I made a ski edit of my friend Max. I used premiere pro and imported multiple videos.

New project 3

In English class I used my learning to create a vlog that included clips of me talking and clips of the movie I was talking about. Additionally, I edited my sound to avoid long pauses between words, I used premiere pro.

New project 4

This is a audio only project where I took the catchy part of the song worth it by Fifth Harmony which originally lasted only around twenty five seconds until I extended it to around 50 seconds. First is a picture of the premiere pro edit screen as proof I extended the sound, and second is the video audio

Alex’s Portfolio 2025

Passion project 1: Man looking at starry sky made in photoshop

Passion Project 2: Rick and Morty in their ship with lake in background made in photoshop

Passion project 3: A orange truck made in adobe illustrator

Passion project 4: A sponge bob popsicle made in adobe illustrator

Remembrance Day poppy, in Vector form made in illustrator

Tech Stories

1. Should States Be Allowed to Make Their Own AI Rules?

What’s the Issue:
Right now, the U.S. government is trying to pass a law that would stop states from making their own rules about Artificial Intelligence (AI) for 10 years. Some leaders think having one national set of rules will help tech companies grow faster and make it easier to compete with other countries like China. But over 260 lawmakers from all 50 states say this is a bad idea. They want to keep their right to make local laws to protect people from things like deepfakes, scams, and online threats.

My Perspective:
I think states should be allowed to make their own AI rules. Technology is changing fast, and not every state faces the same problems. For example, a big city might have more issues with AI-created scams than a small rural town. If states can act quickly, they might be able to stop harmful AI use before it gets worse. Also, local leaders often understand their communities better than the federal government does. It’s risky to stop all states from doing anything for 10 years when AI is changing so quickly.

2. Google’s AI Can Make Fake Videos That Look Real

What’s the Issue:
Google made a new AI tool called Veo 3. It can create fake videos that look extremely real — like videos of protests or people doing things they never actually did. These videos could be used to spread lies, especially during elections or in other serious situations. Google has added some safety features, like blocking violent prompts and adding hidden watermarks, but experts say it’s still too easy to misuse.

My Perspective:
I think this kind of technology is scary because it’s hard to tell what’s real anymore. If someone sees a fake video that looks real, they might believe something that never happened. That could cause panic or even violence. I also think companies like Google should test these tools more before letting the public use them. We already struggle with fake news online — deepfake videos would make it worse. We need stronger rules about who can use this kind of AI and for what purposes.

3. A Coinbase Data Leak Started at an Outsourcing Company

What’s the Issue:
A company called Coinbase, where people buy and sell cryptocurrency, had a serious data leak. This happened because a worker at an outsourcing company in India secretly took photos of customer information and gave them to hackers. These hackers may have used that info to try and scam Coinbase users. After the leak, the company fired over 200 workers in India.

My Perspective:
This situation shows the risks of outsourcing important jobs like handling private customer data. While outsourcing can save companies money, it can also make it harder to control who sees sensitive information. I think companies like Coinbase should be more careful about who they trust with customer data. Maybe they should invest more in stronger security or use workers who are trained better and monitored more closely. Trust is important in tech, and losing it can hurt both the company and its users.

NHL predictions

Breanna Ren’s Programming and Robotics 8 Portfolio

Welcome to Breanna’s Programming and Robotics Portfolio! Please have a look at everything I did in ITPR8_2025!

About the Course

Programming and Robotics 8 is a project-based course introducing students to computer science through programming, technology concepts, and robotics. Students will explore various programming languages, develop problem-solving skills, and engage in both individual and collaborative projects. The course emphasizes digital literacy, current tech trends, and self-directed learning, preparing students for AP Computer Science and future careers in the technology field.

Twin Python Projects

Number Project:
Create a Python-based calculation tool using Trinket.io to perform numeric tasks such as tax calculation, mileage costs, or cafeteria totals. Focus on using Python’s numeric functions.

Word Project:
Design a “choose your own adventure” game using Python on Trinket.io Use IF statements to provide player choices and navigation, and incorporate loops to make the game interactive and playable.

Number Project

This Python project is a Mileage Cost Calculator built using Trinket.io. It helps users estimate the total fuel cost for a trip by asking for the trip distance, vehicle fuel efficiency, and fuel price per gallon. The program calculates and displays the total fuel used and the overall cost, using basic input, arithmetic operations, and formatted output. It’s a practical tool that demonstrates core Python numeric functions in a real-world scenario.

https://trinket.io/python/166f45a42324

This Python project is a Dark Forest Adventure Game created using Trinket.io. It’s a text-based, “choose your own adventure” game where players make a series of choices that lead to different outcomes—some winning, some losing. The game uses if statements and user input to guide the story, with multiple story paths and endings based on the player’s decisions.

https://trinket.io/python/06662a2ef375

Remembrance Day Poppy

Made with Tinkercad

Month of Failure Projects

https://trinket.io/python/d6e165ace290

This Guess the Number project is a fun and interactive two-player game that showcases several key Python programming concepts. It uses the random module to generate a secret number between 1 and 100, making each game unique. Players take turns guessing the number, with the program using the modulus operator (%) to alternate between Player 1 and Player 2. Feedback is given after each guess, telling the player if their guess is too high or too low, and the game continues in a loop until someone guesses correctly. Error handling is also implemented using a try and except block to manage invalid inputs, ensuring the game doesn’t crash if a user enters a non-numeric value.

Although the game is fully functional, there are several areas for improvement in the future. First, since it uses raw_input(), it is written for Python 2—updating it to use input() would make it compatible with Python 3, which is the current standard. Adding features like a guess limit would make the game more challenging and strategic. A history of previous guesses could help players keep track and make more intelligent choices. Additionally, offering a single-player mode where the user plays against the computer or allowing for difficulty level selection could expand the game’s replay value. With further enhancements, this project could evolve into a more polished and complete game experience.

Technology News Articles

Article 1: Laser Radar

Recently, Laser Radar has become very popular. You may not have used it, but you can see it on the road. Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) is a new technology in smart cars. The principle is very similar to that of bats. Bats use the reflection of ultrasound to locate surrounding objects. Laser Radar uses the reflection of a laser to present a three-dimensional environment. A laser range finder consists of a laser, a receiver and a processor. We all know that light will reflect when it shines on the surface of an object, and so does a laser. When the laser emits light and shines on the surface of an object in space, it will instantly produce a reflection, which the receiver will receive. Since the speed of light is known, the processor only needs to calculate the time it takes for this beam of light to go back and forth to get the exact distance of this point. By giving this beam of light angle information in the spatial coordinates, the three-dimensional positioning of this point can be obtained. This is the TOF, or time-of-flight, and time-of-flight ranging method.

Figure: Lidar 3D Point Cloud         Source: LinkedIn

This picture is a point cloud picture of laser radar. If you look closely, you will find that the point cloud is made of individual points. The collection of these points presents details such as pedestrians, crosswalks, vehicles, road signs in the distance, trees, and even the thin wires in the air can be captured. Such a uniform and regular point cloud can restore the environment around us and become the real eyes of smart vehicles in driving. It is because of the powerful performance of laser radar that many car companies have adopted it as a necessary sensor.

Laser Radar has promoted the development of self-driving vehicles, which will bring significant changes to our lives. When we sit in the car and don’t have to worry about driving, the time we free up will bring countless economic benefits to foresighted companies. Imagine if your parents didn’t have to put their hands on the steering wheel when driving you to school in the morning, what would you do together in the car? Make an omelette together or make a glass of fresh orange juice?

Article 2: Mobile Payment

Mobile payments have transformed our lives, a fact acknowledged by many. It is changing the world, ushering in a new era of payment revolution.

Apple’s mobile payment service allows users to turn their mobiles into wallets in their daily lives to achieve fast and secure payments. Of course, Alipay is the most advanced mobile payment at present.

The consumer uses the mobile billing option during checkout at an e-commerce site to make a payment. After two-factor authentication involving the consumer’s mobile number and a PIN or one-time password (often abbreviated as OTP), the consumer’s mobile account is charged for the purchase.

When making a mobile payment, a collection code or payment code will be required. Collection code: It is a QR code that remains unchanged over a long period. Others could scan the QR code to pay you.

Payment code: It consists of a barcode and a QR code, which updates every minute. The purpose is that when the merchant’s special device scans the code, the payment is completed. It is equivalent to using a point-of-sale (POS) machine to swipe a card for payment.

Figure: Collection code        Source: PayLands

Mobile payment is convenient for making contactless payments on the go, speeds up tap-and-pay transactions, and enhances security through tokenization. The future of mobile payments is expected to encompass digital wallets, voice payments, facial recognition, and other advanced technologies. Advanced technologies like 5G and 6G will further improve mobile commerce’s speeds and user experience.

NHL Prediction

Science Fair Project

Digital Poster made with Canva.

Video of a 3D model of the prototype. Made with Nomad.

Screenshot of Arduino code used to rotate clinostats that simulated microgravity.

MidJourney Posters

The first piece, ChronoGuardian, was awarded 1st place in the FIRA 2024 AI Art Contest.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and The Barren Grounds Podcast/Video.

It was made with Canva + iMovie.

3D-modelling with Nomad

Some practice models. I was experimenting with different tools to convey the human form.

Passion Project

Home – The CATlogue

OBS Run Through