Commuticator
Working, running errands, and getting from point A to point B is time-consuming, and it’s often tough to get everything done. In the Foundation’s Internet of Things class, students designing for a busy user created Commuticator—a task optimizer that simplifies schedules and routes, as well as communications with people affected by the user’s activities. The experience taught them more than just how to code. “We learned the importance of collaboration and project management—skills essential to success in school and in our future careers—and we had a chance to think deeply about the complexity of modern life and how we might make it easier to manage.”

All Jacked Up
In the Foundation's 3D Design + Production class, this team of students developed a lightweight, portable motorcycle jack to help their 79-year-old user easily fix a flat without having to lay down a 250-pound dirt bike and then wrestle it up again. “It was great to be able to learn 3D printing in such a fun environment, and do a project with real purpose,” they said. “We’ve always thought these skills were difficult and complicated, and this project helped us realize just how attainable they are to anyone. Plus, we feel good knowing that our user, Ralph, can keep on doing something he loves—off-road riding—and be confident that he won’t get stuck in the wilderness.”

VidaCam
Eager to aid in the early detection of breast cancer, these students put their empathy and creativity to work in the Foundation’s Wearable Tech class. They built a solution called VidaCam, an in-home thermal imaging camera and data-tracking system that detects and records abnormal heat signatures associated with cancer cell replication and other forms of disease. “This was such a special experience,” they said. “While it’s a prototype and a long way from being a tested medical device, we truly believe that VidaCam has the potential to benefit many people, and we hope that someday it can be accessible and affordable to all.”

Intellibrace
After interviewing an athlete recovering from injury, this team recognized the need for a smart ankle brace that could gamify physical therapy. In the Foundation’s Wearable Tech class, they built Intellibrace, an intelligent ankle brace that not only teaches patients to perform rehabilitative exercises correctly, but actually makes exercising fun. The device records performance data so that it can be shared with a physical therapist. “We learned a lot about coding, physical computing, project management, and human anatomy,” they said. “And perhaps most importantly, what we are truly capable of achieving when we work together.”

Socrates
In Socratic seminars, teachers are challenged to ensure that all students have equal opportunity to be heard. To make this idea a reality, these students created Socrates—an Internet of Things solution that tracks classroom participation via an online dashboard. Each student is given a device that, when activated, places their name in a speaker queue. A teacher dashboard shows the queue and keeps a record of each student’s participation. “We learned that the best way to develop new skills is to dive right in: failing, learning, and then building up to a product that meets the needs of our users,” they said.