The 17 final projects at the TechTop National Innovation Challenge 2014 ranging from a low-cost solar panel that relies on slaughterhouse waste to an upper-limb exoskeleton for rehabilitation and power augmentation all aim at identifying a pertinent issue and devising an efficient system to address it.
The 17 final projects at the TechTop National Innovation Challenge 2014 ranging from a low-cost solar panel that relies on slaughterhouse waste to an upper-limb exoskeleton for rehabilitation and power augmentation all aim at identifying a pertinent issue and devising an efficient system to address it.
These projects, chosen from 192 proposals in January, are finally on display at the Mar Baselios College of Engineering and Technology — this year’s venue for the TechTop event.
Design workshop
In addition to this competition, the ninth edition of the programme also featured a five-day Design Innovation Workshop, which saw the halls of the college turn into a sanctuary for creative thought and entrepreneurial spirit as 67 students from across the country gathered here for a residential workshop led by founder of TechTop Rajesh Nair.
Information Technology Principal Secretary P.H. Kurien, after inaugurating the two-day exhibition here on Friday morning, said TechTop was a platform for the youth to think beyond their textbook curriculum and showcase their innovative projects.
The increase in attendance showed how TechTop was encouraging more students every year.
Open for public
Students from colleges and schools poured in for the exhibition, which is open for public viewing till Saturday evening.
They were fascinated by projects such as the ‘Affordable Refreshable Braille Display’ by students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi, which seeks to increase Braille literacy.
There is also the Tree Climbing Mechanism by the students of the Acharya Institute of Technology, Bangalore; and the Smart Wearable Device by Mar Baselios students which monitors vital statistics, has GPS tracking, and an emergency SOS button, to name a few.
Alongside these projects, student who attended the design workshop are also exhibiting their products, which can be classified into mobile and wireless, health and living, and toys to enable easier learning for the differently abled. The classes were conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Tata Centre.
The prize winners will announced during the valedictory event on Saturday. The best project will be awarded a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / Staff Reporter / Thiruvananthapuram – July 26th, 2014