VINNO diligently pushed out ever more products and technologies in 2017, and spared no efforts in delivering them to the people who need them. There are many people behind the scenes like the engineers who research, develop, and create these products. Today, let’s take a look at their stories over the past year that happened at VINNO.
“Running in the dark”
Andy (Our System R&D Engineer)
I spent one month’s time going from working as a researcher at a research institute to truly entering the ultrasound engineering field.
I have a very deep impression from back then. At the beginning I sat in the system team’s darkroom everyday and did research on the effect tiny adjustments of hundreds of parameters had on images: contrast, penetration depth, and resolution ratio.
In the past at research institutes you could tell what you would be like in a few decades at a glance, but at VINNO it is like running towards a light in the dark. Sometimes it is very hard, but after you make it past these rough patches you’ll welcome a new landscape.
I have been at VINNO for six years, and can already quickly detect image problems, and find where the crux is among many parameters. I have also encountered new challenges during work: blood flow, and elastography... I’ve come into contact with the most cutting edge technology in the field: cavitation, and pulse wave... This is the most interesting part.
After coming to work in Suzhou I spent most of my free time playing badminton. Now many people boast that I play badminton well. I think that there are three words that are integral to whatever you do, whether it is work or a hobby -- concentration and refinement. I offer mutual encouragement to you all.
“Changing stages”
Jack (Our R&D Project Manager)
When people reach a certain age they always want to do an inventory on their lives and work. They think about what adjustments and changes they can make to make oneself develop in a prospective direction in a better state.
Working for so many years what I’ve accumulated in weight greatly exceeds what I’ve accumulated in knowledge (laughs), so I decided to begin to workout. At the start I really wanted to quit, but there were so many colleagues around me who had worked out for a long time. The power of role models encouraged me to continue to persevere. Nowadays, my entire state of being is better, and I have more energy.
This year I was promoted to Project Leader. It is a new change. Many colleagues have given me great help and suggestions from the beginning of the project. The team has also made concerted efforts. In the end the femtometer platform was completed within the established time. I am greatly thankful to the members of our team and the colleagues who helped us.
I will continue to work hard in the future, continuously improve, and grow together with the company.
“A software engineer who doesn’t understand the user experience is not a good code monkey”
Jim (Our Software R&D Manager)
Thinking back on why I came to VINNO, it was because of something that Peter, the CEO, said that touched me. He said: “VINNO will give engineers space for them to concentrate to bring their ideas to life.” I then quit my job at the time without hesitation and came to VINNO.
Thinking back on that night when the R&D prototype was successful, to this day I will never forget that sense of satisfaction and happiness when we tested it for one night without it crashing.
However, it was awkward when we demonstrated it to everyone. Though all of the operations were completed, there was always a one or two second pause after every movement.
At the time Peter said: to an engineer R&D has already completed most of the work, but to a user, this is just the beginning. Starting then we made the “user experience” a tenet of our work.
Later on when our first batch of equipment went to market we went along with the sales people to exhibit our devices, and received the attention of peers from around the world. Our booth was packed with clients who had come for exchanges. Their eyes were full of respect, affirmation, and also surprise and disbelief. We were seen as impressive Chinese engineers.
Thinking back over the past few years working at VINNO, we have slowly figured out the R&D rhythm and procedure applicable at VINNO. We hope we can have ever more creative space to research and develop even more better products.
“Find meaning in the work that you do”
Mills (Our System Development Engineer)
I don’t know how it happened but I’ve gone farther and farther down the road of being a “friend of obstetrics and gynecology”. A male engineer entering and exiting from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department is a bit of an awkward thing, so I frequently bring Marry. With her as an intermediary things are much better.
We began coming into contact with HSG technology in 2014. In 2015 we spent a good deal of time going to hospitals. After over a year of improvements we redefined our operational procedure, used a new probe, and made the HSG form smoother. In the end we received the affirmation of an authoritative expert in the field --- Director Wang Shasha of the Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Area Command.
In this process I discovered that infertility is very common in China. Every time I see a change that occurs in a patient or doctor due to my own work, I am filled with driving force.
I hope to collect more customer needs in the obstetrics and gynecology field, continuously improve existing functions,make their needs operable realities, and make a obstetrics and gynecology ultrasound that is truly able to solve problems.
“Looking forward to the day when AI beats a doctor”
Justin (Our Smart Ultrasound R&D Manager)
My previous company stuck relatively to old conventions, but at VINNO the leaders attach great importance to technology. They have an innovative consciousness, respect workers with technical abilities, and are willing to provide new opportunities.
It’s been five years since I joined VINNO. My biggest experience is obtaining growth. I have completed a role change from programmer to department leader. Now I am in charge of the Smart Group, developing our FLYINSONO APP along with applications in AI. Recently there has been relatively great R&D pressure. Drinking coke is one way that I relieve stress, so... I am a lot fatter than when I first entered the company.
The R&D for the FLYINSONO APP started completely from zero. Now it has over 100 thousand lines of code, and can achieve remote diagnoses, expert consultation, doctor training, and real-time exchange. Our team also has 12 people. We have quite a sense of accomplishment.
We hope to one day let everyone enjoy the convenience that advanced ultrasound technology brings, and also liberate ultrasound doctors from detailed and complicated work.
“The power of the hive”
Jeffrey (Our Software Development Engineer)
I recently participated in hand held ultrasound R&D. My little goal was to make the image quality of our product better than that of other brands. Though there are currently some technical problems, everyone is like a hive of ants. Once there is a clear goal and route everyone throws caution to the wind and uniformly moves forward. This process is great fun.
Everyone needs external stimulation. This stimulation is the interactions and collisions you have with the people around you.
This year I think the bravest thing I did was become one of the organizers of the company’s Happy Camp, and launched a swimming group. I want to use my initiative to beget more interaction and exchange.
“Don’t forget what you originally set out to do”
James (Our Software R&D Manager)
Some time ago I participated in a chip technology seminar, and discovered that all of the world’s top hardware brands are American companies. Everyone says that the 21st century is China’s century, but we still face many challenges, and there are still many disparities.
A few years ago everyone hoped to build a world class Chinese ultrasound company in the medical industry. Consequently, there was VINNO. This original intention has never changed.
In the past few years VINNO has experienced rapid growth. This has also brought with it a new challenge -- how to adhere to making a quality brand while rapidly growing at the same time.
A northern European engineer that I appreciate still writes code at over 50 years of age, and is still debugging devices. He enjoys and loves this state of work. It is exactly because of focus and love that one is able to create a quality product.
Engineering is an occupation. It is also an undertaking that can be engaged in for a lifetime. VINNO has always hoped to give engineers a space that is suited to innovation and growth, and which can give free reign to the initiative and creativity of Chinese engineers.
Seven years of hard work, 20 ultrasound products
Spanning over 60 countries around the world
VINNO is still on the road
It is exactly because of each of you hard workers
That we have today’s achievements
We hope that each of you
Can be like a ginkgo tree
Confront all difficulties and continue to grow.
2018, let’s put the pedal to the metal!
