Ben Hansen
@benhansen.io
Software Engineer and Founder of @boppo.com, a programmable screen-free tablet for kids. Slow traveling with my family.
A joyful read! After having had computer programming books I sent to a family member in prison confiscated for "hacking content" this is really nice to see.
Forty-five Maine prisoners are currently working remote jobs for outside companies. A few are working full-time, earning more than corrections officers. One is making well into the six figures. Here's why Maine's approach to education and work in prison is making waves in the world of corrections:
In Maine, prisoners are thriving in remote jobs and other states are taking notice
Forty-five Maine prisoners are currently working remote jobs for outside companies. A few are working full-time, earning more than corrections officers. One is making well into the six figures. Here's...
www.mainepublic.org
September 23, 2025 at 1:54 PM
A joyful read! After having had computer programming books I sent to a family member in prison confiscated for "hacking content" this is really nice to see.
With my decades of software engineering, it's intimidating to commit a design into literal steel molds at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars but also super exciting to get to that point.
🪛 Chief Testing Officer helping with some prototype assembly.
Lots of progress with Boppo. We posted a large update on Kickstarter last week. Since then we have finished the DFM and paid for the injection molds which are being created 🎉
Lots of progress with Boppo. We posted a large update on Kickstarter last week. Since then we have finished the DFM and paid for the injection molds which are being created 🎉
March 29, 2025 at 8:21 AM
With my decades of software engineering, it's intimidating to commit a design into literal steel molds at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars but also super exciting to get to that point.
Reposted by Ben Hansen
I got laid off today, with the rest of 18F.
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
We're not done yet | 18F
18f.org
March 1, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I got laid off today, with the rest of 18F.
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
I feel so lucky to be able to work on this project full time. Its been very challenging and all consuming but it feels good knowing we are building something unique and empowering for kids. The highs and lows of running a startup are no joke.
We have been working hard making Boppo even better and finalizing for manufacturing! Read the updates sent to our Kickstarter backers.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/bop...
#screenfree #boppofun #moreplay
www.kickstarter.com/projects/bop...
#screenfree #boppofun #moreplay
February 19, 2025 at 1:38 PM
I feel so lucky to be able to work on this project full time. Its been very challenging and all consuming but it feels good knowing we are building something unique and empowering for kids. The highs and lows of running a startup are no joke.
I gave a lesson on "the internet" to 6-9 year olds. The surprising highlight was how much the kids enjoyed "saying hi" (a.k.a pinging) computers in different cities and seeing the response times. I wrote a small CLI app listing cities for easy pinging before hand.
#rust #teaching #internet
#rust #teaching #internet
GitHub - benhansen-io/ping_cities: A simple CLI that lists cities you can ping
A simple CLI that lists cities you can ping. Contribute to benhansen-io/ping_cities development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
November 14, 2024 at 5:17 PM
My kids loved the AI podcast I generated for them for our road trip to Southern Portugal. I gave Google's NotebookLM a few links and some information about my kids—and they loved the 20 minute podcast. The asked to replay it 5 times. It compared Roman networks to my son’s favorite game Factorio.
November 7, 2024 at 3:56 PM
My kids loved the AI podcast I generated for them for our road trip to Southern Portugal. I gave Google's NotebookLM a few links and some information about my kids—and they loved the 20 minute podcast. The asked to replay it 5 times. It compared Roman networks to my son’s favorite game Factorio.
After 5 years working on a programmable tablet for kids, its on Kickstarter with 3 days left.
What can 10 light-up buttons and a speaker do? A whole lot.
With 15k lines of Rust code, boppo can play many activities from teaching colors/counting, to streaming podcasts.
#esp32 #rust #kids #startup
What can 10 light-up buttons and a speaker do? A whole lot.
With 15k lines of Rust code, boppo can play many activities from teaching colors/counting, to streaming podcasts.
#esp32 #rust #kids #startup
boppo – the screen-free tablet for kids' learning and fun
Endless possibilities with 10 light-up buttons, a speaker, and a growing library of 37+ free apps
www.kickstarter.com
October 21, 2024 at 11:15 AM