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For the first time ever, I am launching a product I could easily devote the next ten years of my life to. It honestly feels amazing 
I love what it stands for and what it represents, it's called "Epilepsy Blocker"
It took two months all-day coding to build, thread below
I love what it stands for and what it represents, it's called "Epilepsy Blocker"
It took two months all-day coding to build, thread below
I built a chrome extension that automatically blocks flashing GIFs that may cause an epileptic seizure to people with photosensitive epilepsy, kinda like an AdBlocker
It's called 'Epilepsy Blocker’
http://www.epilepsyblocker.com
cc @kurteichenwald
#epilepsy #photosensitiveepilepsy
It's called 'Epilepsy Blocker’
http://www.epilepsyblocker.com
cc @kurteichenwald
#epilepsy #photosensitiveepilepsy
I remember reading articles online about how people with photosensitive epilepsy are having seizures from media content
Things that can make content dangerous:
Flashing
Transitions involving red colors
Some geometrical patterns, like stripes
Things that can make content dangerous:
Flashing Transitions involving red colors Some geometrical patterns, like stripes
I started building it in the "24hr startup challenge", but it was far more difficult than I expected
Even after the challenge and one month in, I quit because I thought it was not feasible. I wanted to analyze GIFs in real time but the it was taking about four minutes per GIF
Even after the challenge and one month in, I quit because I thought it was not feasible. I wanted to analyze GIFs in real time but the it was taking about four minutes per GIF
After that, luckily, I stumbled upon one of @andreyazimov ’s articles, where he talked about going through a similar phase with 'MacBook Alarm'. Eventually, he pushed through and managed to finish the project
That inspired me, so I decided to give it another go
That inspired me, so I decided to give it another go
I started studying about photosensitive epilepsy in depth 
What I found was that the UK is the leader in this field, having the most established scientists in the field and the strictest guidelines for TV broadcasting
This where I found established guidelines and papers
What I found was that the UK is the leader in this field, having the most established scientists in the field and the strictest guidelines for TV broadcasting
This where I found established guidelines and papers
I started reading numerous scientific papers and studied linear algebra for the first time after Uni 
By using Python, linear algebra and optimized Python packages written in C, I managed to speed up analysis from four minutes per GIF to just under one second!
By using Python, linear algebra and optimized Python packages written in C, I managed to speed up analysis from four minutes per GIF to just under one second!
Initially, I was looping through every single pixel of the GIF, which is time consuming 
Food for thought
Imagine a simple GIF, 600x600 pixels with 200 frames. That makes for 600x600 pixels x 200 frames = 72 million pixels to analyze, crazy
Food for thought
Imagine a simple GIF, 600x600 pixels with 200 frames. That makes for 600x600 pixels x 200 frames = 72 million pixels to analyze, crazy
The way I managed to overcome this was by:
Specialized algorithm
Switching to Python and Python packages written in optimized C code and using specific matrix functions
I will write a large blog post sometime in the future where I will write all the details
Specialized algorithm
Switching to Python and Python packages written in optimized C code and using specific matrix functions
I will write a large blog post sometime in the future where I will write all the details
So far I had launched Epilepsy Blocker on Reddit but was taken down very quickly due to "self promotion"
However, while it was still up, someone subscribed for $10/mo
That means that Epilepsy Blocker is officially helping someone stay safe online
However, while it was still up, someone subscribed for $10/mo
That means that Epilepsy Blocker is officially helping someone stay safe online
Today I am launching on @ProductHunt, some Facebook Groups and generally trying to get the word out
Below is the PH link, feel free to check it out https://www.producthunt.com/posts/epilepsy-blocker
Below is the PH link, feel free to check it out
https://www.producthunt.com/posts/epilepsy-blocker
We are number 4 on @ProductHunt 
I also posted 'Epilepsy Blocker' in some closed Facebook Groups. Let's see see how they go..
I also posted 'Epilepsy Blocker' in some closed Facebook Groups. Let's see see how they go..
