Recently, several iOS & Android apps have been released against the backdrop of The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Among them, the English learning app about 4IR called “GOOD2BREAD (GOOD Quote GOOD Life) - 4IR Practical English” was introduced on July 7. In particular, this app has become a hot topic as it is a joint work of HUFSans and Korea Advanced Institute of Science of Technology (KAIST) graduates. In response, The Argus met Bae Seo-young, who was in charge of app programming and user interface design planning, to hear her story.

What is The Fourth Industrial Revolution?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) indicates a next-generation industrial revolution in which advanced information and communication technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, Big Data, and mobile technologies are converged across the economy and society to create innovative changes. Because it features hyperconnectivity and superintelligence, it affects a wider range at a faster rate than the previous industrial revolution. It was first mentioned at the World Economic Forum in 2016. It is also referred to as the evolution of The Third Industrial Revolution represented by computers and the Internet.

The Argus: Please introduce yourself.
Bae Seo-young (Bae): Hello, I am Bae Seo-young, a graduate of the Department of Italian at HUFS. After joining an intramural academic society called the “Derivative Products Investment Association,” I became interested in investing in financial derivatives and grew into a professional developer of Automatic Financial Investment Programs based on Python. So far, I have been making an automated sales system through Python programming. In addition, I work with KAIST graduates to produce a mobile app, and I am responsible for designing the Google AdMob interface for Android app programming.

The Argus: Please explain “GOOD2BREAD (GOOD Quote GOOD Life)” app in detail.
Bae: “GOOD2BREAD (GOOD Quote GOOD Life)” is a mobile app that provides the analysis related to the 4IR and good speech every day. It was created in collaboration with two KAIST graduates. We organize its content based on new words and unfamiliar English expressions, which are used in many 4IR related areas such as cloud computing, virtual currency, and block chain.

The Argus: Why does “GOOD2BREAD (GOOD Quote GOOD Life)” app offer 4IR analyses and good speech at the same time?
Bae: At first, we were going to post only news about virtual currencies such as BitCoin, Ethereum, and CNN Coin. However, we came to the conclusion that not limiting the scope of the content, but expanding it to the original concept of “learning English” would contribute to continuous improvement of the content and the app. In response, we decided to offer various sorts of practical information related to the 4IR and common speech simultaneously. Also, we thought that focusing only on the keywords of the 4IR would lead to limited app users. The reason we set up our goal as “learning English” is that English is a foreign language that is a lot of people’s main interest. In addition, English is familiar to me as I am a graduate of HUFS.

The Argus: What inspired you to collaborate with KAIST graduates and how was it?
Bae: I first met KAIST graduates while I was attending a Python class at a private institute. Since we had similar interests in stocks and derivatives investments, we met up often and studied together. In doing so, we developed the app together. The advantage is that I was able to supplement my weaknesses in programming as a graduate of the linguistic department. At the same time, since my major was not engineering, I could not understand many areas and technologies that others already knew. However, as we met in a group based on friendship from the beginning, we were able to work together without any major conflicts.

The Argus: Did you have any difficulties in the process of app development?
Bae: Before we started producing the app, we had mixed views on what kind of content we were going to post. Thus, we did a lot of brainstorming to set up a “Big Theme.” Then, we had to choose one of two options, whether we would unilaterally put up content or give users permission to post freely. The industry and academia believe that the latter is a better way to go, but until we have enough users, the former is more efficient. Eventually, we agreed that the managers should have all the authority. After beginning the app making process, there were no big problems.

The Argus: Which experience at HUFS helped you with your current career?
Bae: The ski club was really helpful for me. When I was a student, the ski club held a camp for one to two months in the winter. Through this camp, I met a lot of people whose major was Computer Science and Engineering. I became interested in programming languages by interacting with those students. This experience became a motivation for studying computer engineering at Hanyang Cyber University after graduating from HUFS.

The Argus: What are the advantages of your major at HUFS?
Bae: Since I majored in Italian, I could develop apps through localizing the products with my understanding on Italian culture. Italy generates the most outstanding results among other European countries pertaining to 4IR area, and is a powerful nation for research on Google AdMob & Interface Design in Android apps. As I have knowledge on both Italian culture and app development, I think this unique characteristic acquired through the years in HUFS will also support me to build my international competitiveness in the future.

The Argus: What is your personal commitment to your career path?
Bae: In order to learn programming languages, I entered the Department of Computer Science at Hanyang Cyber University and took extra classes provided by edX and Coursera. In addition, I took Java and Python lectures in private institutes. I also have been taking automatic sales system courses.

The Argus: What is the charming part of your job?
Bae: App programming is a very promising field and has relatively low spatial constraints compared to other jobs. In fact, there may be some spatial constraints because of the meetings with people, but in theory, a “digital-nomad” that can work anywhere in the world with only a computer and the Internet is possible to some extent. I think it is quite attractive.

The Argus: Please introduce other projects that are currently underway or scheduled to take place.
Bae: We are planning an application that helps bilaterally interact with users around the world. Therefore, the application’s contents can be posted by both administrators and individuals. In addition, we are thinking of targeting the Third World countries’ users, rather than the United States or Europe.

The Argus: What is your ultimate goal in the future?
Bae: In the short term, I would like to go to graduate school at KAIST to further study the topic of the actual app banner design and the relationship between preoccupancy of position and profitability. My ultimate goal is to develop my own continuous profit generating system that will eternally yield the greatest benefit from minimal labor and thus enjoy a free, rich life free of time constraints.

The Argus: Please give some advice to your juniors at HUFS.
Bae: Because HUFS is a foreign-language school, some of you may have worries and regrets, but first of all, any language you learn you can use for life. I also want you to know that there is no limit to the possibility of moving into other fields through your efforts and will. I think the foundation for successful social advancement is to have as much interaction with people from different fields as possible and to broaden your world view and indirect experience.

Bae has created a career as a freelance app developer by combining her capabilities with her activities at HUFS, signaling another possibility for HUFSans. The Argus looks forward to her future, as she easily breaks the stereotype of foreign language university graduates who are considered as “disadvantaged in getting a job” in 4IR society.

By Na Geum-chae
Staff Reporter of Campus Section