I built this for my mom.

Hello, I’m Alex. I originally built KinGlyph to help my mom get quick and clear reminders about how to do things that were confusing for her, without waiting until I had free time to explain those things over and over. Now the answers live where she needs them, instantly accessible.

For example, I’m the one my family calls when something with a screen or a button stops making sense. How do I get the TV back to the show I want? Where did that file I downloaded go? How do I log my lunch in this app?

The Problem:

Growing up, I have always been glad to help. However, when I moved across the country for grad school, got married, started working at a demanding job, and had a child of my own, I no longer had the time to spend hours on the phone explaining things. It became harder and harder to fit in a call right when my mom needed a specific answer to a question. This was frustrating for her, but she didn’t want to pressure me when I was busy. I loved helping her out, but I could no longer do so as effectively or in a timely manner.

The Realization:

When my mom and I would finally get a chance to talk, she would rush to scribble down notes, but this almost always meant missing a key step for the next time around. I realized that she needed me to explain the same things over and over again. An issue would be solved once, but inevitably in a few weeks or months it would be forgotten, and the hastily-scrawled notes would not be sufficient. Neither of us was happy with the outcome, but the answer just had nowhere to live.

The Solution:

So I gave it somewhere. KinGlyph was conceived as a way to put the answer on the thing itself: a sticker on the remote, the thermostat, the fridge. She scans it and asks a question. I answer once — with a short video, or a photo with the right button circled — and from then on, the stickers give that answer whenever she needs it. For questions about her phone or computer, where there’s nothing to stick a sticker on, she asks from a page saved on the device itself. No app to download, no passwords to remember, no login page. Just instant access to the answer she needs, whenever she needs it. The auto-transcribed video provides a step-by-step list if she wants to print a longer explanation, and she can play, slow down, or repeat the video as often as needed.

The Takeaway:

At first, I built KinGlyph for the two of us, and it’s changed how those calls go. My mom is empowered to find her answer whenever and wherever she needs it, with a friendly and familiar face only a quick scan away. Instead of spending hours searching online, or trying to make sense of her notes, she can just use a Glyph. I can see the questions, answer as soon as I am free, and from then I know she always has the info she needs. Our calls no longer turn into troubleshooting sessions. Instead, we can focus on what matters more: sharing memories and enjoying precious quality time together. I hope that KinGlyph will do the same for you and your family!