To further develop our research for the GLIST girls' project, a notification system that can remind elders to take their medication by receiving a call or text, we decided to go on a field trip and tour some of the most innovative and technologically advanced areas of Philadelphia. We also thought it would be very inspirational for more project ideas!
Stop #1: ExCITe Center at Drexel University
The ExCITe (Expressive & Creative Interaction Technologies) Center at Drexel University is the location of many tech labs with robots, wearable technology, video game design, and music. We were able to learn about a humanoid named Hubo from Korea and saw it recognize and dance to disco music and do the chicken dance. It was quite fun to see! And before that, we played on one of the coolest pianos in the world; the Magnetic Resonator Piano (MRP). This piano uses electromagnets to add several other keyboard techniques that no ordinary acoustic piano can do.
In addition to that, we also got to see the Shima Seiki lab. This lab uses thin, strong material and sophisticated machines to manufacture strong, sensor-embedded fabric that can be used to create the most revolutionary wearable technology, like a phone charging dress or an exoskeletal glove!
The last lab we visited at the ExCITe Center was the Entrepreneurial Game Studio (EGS). EGS creates video games that help teach kids computer science. They also created the "World's Largest Architectural Video Game Display" by taking the lighting system from the Cira Centre and turning them into an interface for the video games, Pong and Tetris. How cool is that?!
In addition to that, we also got to see the Shima Seiki lab. This lab uses thin, strong material and sophisticated machines to manufacture strong, sensor-embedded fabric that can be used to create the most revolutionary wearable technology, like a phone charging dress or an exoskeletal glove!
The last lab we visited at the ExCITe Center was the Entrepreneurial Game Studio (EGS). EGS creates video games that help teach kids computer science. They also created the "World's Largest Architectural Video Game Display" by taking the lighting system from the Cira Centre and turning them into an interface for the video games, Pong and Tetris. How cool is that?!
Stop #2: GRASP Lab at UPenn
Within the GRASP (General Robotics, Automation, Sensing, and Perception) Lab, we toured through the Kumar, Koditcheck, Modular and Rehabilitation Robotics Labs. We were able to see quadrotors interact with each other, modular robots attach and detach from each other, rehabilitation robots sensing the location of cups or glasses and picking them up, then placing them back down, robots that could imitate the movements of insects like cockroaches, and play with the humanoids competing in the RoboCup. Everything done in that lab is quite remarkable!
Stop #3: Fitly and ROAR For Good
Last, but definitely not least, we had the opportunity to speak with the CEOs of tech companies, Fitly and ROAR for Good. Anthony Ortiz, the founder of Fitly, demonstrated the company's product, SmartPlate. SmartPlate is a plate that uses computer vision to recognize the type of food placed on the plate and has a scale to measure the food's weight as well. Based off of this data, SmartPlate can give the eater nutritional information on their meal. Pretty amazing, huh?
Yasmine Mustafa, the founder of ROAR For Good, spoke to us about her product: a jewelry piece with a button on it that a person can easily press when being bullied or attacked and it will call for help immediately. This technology will help people feel more protected and safe in their everyday lives. Both of these products were very inspirational for technology we could possibly create!
Yasmine Mustafa, the founder of ROAR For Good, spoke to us about her product: a jewelry piece with a button on it that a person can easily press when being bullied or attacked and it will call for help immediately. This technology will help people feel more protected and safe in their everyday lives. Both of these products were very inspirational for technology we could possibly create!
Thank you so much to Bala Cynwyd Middle School for this wonderful opportunity and to everyone who presented to us at our field trip! We appreciate the knowledge you shared with us and will implement it in our own tech ideas!
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