Hello!
First-generation student exploring software, hardware, and human-centered technology.
My name is Elvis Amaya, and I am a first-generation student with a passion to explore, intersect, and create.
I strongly believe in the strength of interdisciplinary thinking in creating effective human-centered solutions, and I am always eager to learn from different perspectives and experiences.
My ultimate goal is to use technology to erase the gap that currently exists between low-income students and their engagement in education.
In pursuit of this, I am exploring technology as a catalyst for creating passionate students who have an ever-expanding hunger to know more.
This interactive Python project uses the turtle graphics module to simulate a colorful racing game between multiple turtles. Players choose the number of racers from 2 to 10, and each turtle moves forward by random distances as it competes to reach the finish line first.
Randomly placed obstacles on the track slow down or stop racers, adding an element of unpredictability and strategy.
This visualization compares Breadth-First Search and Depth-First Search in maze traversal. Each algorithm explores the maze differently, with BFS finding the shortest path layer by layer while DFS dives deep before backtracking.
Both are implemented in Python and animated using the `curses` library.
This project features an Arduino Uno board along with various electronic components to power the feeder system. It uses a motion sensor to detect an animal's presence and activates a motor that releases food.
By providing a reliable food source, the feeder aims to reduce the risk of species decline and support the balance of ecosystems.
I designed and built a solar-powered USB charger capable of charging small electronic devices such as cellphones, iPods, and tablets. The system uses a solar panel to capture sunlight and convert it into electrical energy, which is then stored in a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery.
Because USB devices require a constant 5V output and the LiPo battery provides only about 3.7V, the build integrates a DC-DC voltage converter to step up the voltage.
This project involved designing and building a motorized "useless box," a playful gadget that turns itself off whenever switched on. When the user flips the external toggle switch to the on position, a mechanical finger driven by a DC motor emerges from the box, flips the switch back off, and then retracts inside.
The system uses three AA batteries, a DPDT switch for directional control, and an SPDT microswitch to detect when the finger is fully retracted and stop the motor.
As a part of the Networked Systems Lab in USC's Viterbi School of Engineering, I collaborated with professor Ramesh Govindan and Ph.D. student Rajrup Ghosh to explore the intersection of technology, history, and education.
By using Unity, an Oculus virtual reality headset, and a computer, I constructed historical scenes within virtual reality so teachers and students could immerse themselves in the history of the U.S.
I conducted an in-depth analysis of Twitter's stock to evaluate whether it represented a buy or sell opportunity. The work combined industry context, competitive analysis, financial performance, and market behavior into a single presentation.
By combining market insights with financial data, the project offers a clear picture of the company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
If you'd like to connect, collaborate, or learn more about my work, you can reach me through email, GitHub, or LinkedIn.
© 2026 Elvis Amaya. All rights reserved.