Questõesde UENP 2016

Last month, University of Washington sophomores Navid Azodi and Thomas Pryor won the 2016 Lemelson-MIT student prize for creating “SignAloud” – gloves that recognize the hand gestures of ASL (American Sign Language) and translate it into text and speech. The gloves are worn on both hands and contain sensors that record movement and send data wirelessly via Bluetooth to a central computer, which interprets words and phrases through a speaker.

The team was one of seven winners in the “Use It” undergraduate category that recognizes technology- -based inventions to improve consumer devices. They were awarded $10,000. For Azodi, the idea sprang from personal experience: At 18 months old, a severe seizure took away his speech. “I didn’t speak until I was seven years old,” he told NBC News. “I used non-verbal communication and basic sign language. For years, I had to go to speech therapy.” Doctors said Azodi would be handicapped and suggested he focus on English and sign language. Though he was born in the United States, Azodi’s parents were from Iran and spoke Farsi. “I understood what it was like to have a communication barrier and I could see how technology could be a useful tool,” he said. Azodi shared his story and the two inventors “bonded in problem solving,” according to Pryor, who studies astronautics engineering. Their prototype gloves, which cost about $100, are lightweight and compact, unlike other devices on the market. “They are a lot more ergonomic,” Pryor told NBC News. “Some devices use video input for gesture and others have impractical sensors all over the body. We wanted to focus on something that consumers would buy.” “We were not really expecting something of this magnitude,” Pryor told NBC News. “It was a personal project between the two of us and something fun to do. It goes to show what opportunities are around the corner.” The students reached out to the deaf community to guide them in grammar and syntax and how the gloves might be used. Pryor said getting feedback had been a “humbling experience.” The gloves have just as much potential for those who hear and want to learn ASL. They also have medical potential to help stroke victims during rehabilitation. Since the prize was announced, the students have received inquiries from investors and manufacturers, some offering technical support. But they caution that the gloves are just an early prototype and work still needs to be done before they are ready to market. “We want to take it further, to push it ahead,” Azodi said. “It has such great potential.”

Last month, University of Washington sophomores Navid Azodi and Thomas Pryor won the 2016 Lemelson-MIT student prize for creating “SignAloud” – gloves that recognize the hand gestures of ASL (American Sign Language) and translate it into text and speech. The gloves are worn on both hands and contain sensors that record movement and send data wirelessly via Bluetooth to a central computer, which interprets words and phrases through a speaker.

The team was one of seven winners in the “Use It” undergraduate category that recognizes technology- -based inventions to improve consumer devices. They were awarded $10,000. For Azodi, the idea sprang from personal experience: At 18 months old, a severe seizure took away his speech. “I didn’t speak until I was seven years old,” he told NBC News. “I used non-verbal communication and basic sign language. For years, I had to go to speech therapy.” Doctors said Azodi would be handicapped and suggested he focus on English and sign language. Though he was born in the United States, Azodi’s parents were from Iran and spoke Farsi. “I understood what it was like to have a communication barrier and I could see how technology could be a useful tool,” he said. Azodi shared his story and the two inventors “bonded in problem solving,” according to Pryor, who studies astronautics engineering. Their prototype gloves, which cost about $100, are lightweight and compact, unlike other devices on the market. “They are a lot more ergonomic,” Pryor told NBC News. “Some devices use video input for gesture and others have impractical sensors all over the body. We wanted to focus on something that consumers would buy.” “We were not really expecting something of this magnitude,” Pryor told NBC News. “It was a personal project between the two of us and something fun to do. It goes to show what opportunities are around the corner.” The students reached out to the deaf community to guide them in grammar and syntax and how the gloves might be used. Pryor said getting feedback had been a “humbling experience.” The gloves have just as much potential for those who hear and want to learn ASL. They also have medical potential to help stroke victims during rehabilitation. Since the prize was announced, the students have received inquiries from investors and manufacturers, some offering technical support. But they caution that the gloves are just an early prototype and work still needs to be done before they are ready to market. “We want to take it further, to push it ahead,” Azodi said. “It has such great potential.”

“All right”, said Mr Wonka, “stop here for a moment and catch your breath, and take a peek through the glass panel of this door. But don’t go in! Whatever you do, don’t go into THE NUT ROOM! If you go in, you’ll disturb the squirrels!”

“Who says I can’t!” shouted Veruca. “I’m going in to get myself one this very minute!”

The moment she entered the room, one hundred squirrels stopped what they were doing and turned their heads and stared at her with small black beady eyes. Veruca Salt stopped also, and stared back at them. Then her gaze fell upon a pretty little squirrel sitting nearest to her at the end of the table. The squirrel was holding a walnut in its paws.

“All right”, Veruca said, “I’ll have you!”

She reached out her hands to grab the squirrel... but as she did so... in that first split second when her hands started to go forward, there was a sudden flash of movement in the room, like a flash of brown lightning, and every single squirrel around the table took a flying leap towards her and landed on her body.

Twenty-five of them caught hold of her right arm, and pinned it down.

Twenty-five more caught hold of her left arm, and pinned that down.

Twenty-five caught hold of her right leg and anchored it to the ground.

Twenty-four caught hold of her left leg.

And the one remaining squirrel (obviously the leader of them all) climbed up on to her shoulder and started tap-tap-tapping the wretched girl’s head with its knuckles.

“Save her!” screamed Mrs Salt. “Veruca! Come back! What are they doing to her?”

“They’re testing her to see if she’s a bad nut”, said Mr Wonka. “You watch”.

Veruca struggled furiously, but the squirrels held her tight and she couldn’t move. The squirrel on her shoulder went tap-tap-tapping the side of her head with his knuckles. Then all at once, the squirrels pulled Veruca to the ground and started carrying her across the floor.

“My goodness, she is a bad nut after all”, said Mr Wonka. “Her head must have sounded quite hollow”.

(DAHL, R. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Puffin Books, 2007. p.110.) 

Last month, University of Washington sophomores Navid Azodi and Thomas Pryor won the 2016 Lemelson-MIT student prize for creating “SignAloud” – gloves that recognize the hand gestures of ASL (American Sign Language) and translate it into text and speech. The gloves are worn on both hands and contain sensors that record movement and send data wirelessly via Bluetooth to a central computer, which interprets words and phrases through a speaker.

The team was one of seven winners in the “Use It” undergraduate category that recognizes technology- -based inventions to improve consumer devices. They were awarded $10,000. For Azodi, the idea sprang from personal experience: At 18 months old, a severe seizure took away his speech. “I didn’t speak until I was seven years old,” he told NBC News. “I used non-verbal communication and basic sign language. For years, I had to go to speech therapy.” Doctors said Azodi would be handicapped and suggested he focus on English and sign language. Though he was born in the United States, Azodi’s parents were from Iran and spoke Farsi. “I understood what it was like to have a communication barrier and I could see how technology could be a useful tool,” he said. Azodi shared his story and the two inventors “bonded in problem solving,” according to Pryor, who studies astronautics engineering. Their prototype gloves, which cost about $100, are lightweight and compact, unlike other devices on the market. “They are a lot more ergonomic,” Pryor told NBC News. “Some devices use video input for gesture and others have impractical sensors all over the body. We wanted to focus on something that consumers would buy.” “We were not really expecting something of this magnitude,” Pryor told NBC News. “It was a personal project between the two of us and something fun to do. It goes to show what opportunities are around the corner.” The students reached out to the deaf community to guide them in grammar and syntax and how the gloves might be used. Pryor said getting feedback had been a “humbling experience.” The gloves have just as much potential for those who hear and want to learn ASL. They also have medical potential to help stroke victims during rehabilitation. Since the prize was announced, the students have received inquiries from investors and manufacturers, some offering technical support. But they caution that the gloves are just an early prototype and work still needs to be done before they are ready to market. “We want to take it further, to push it ahead,” Azodi said. “It has such great potential.”

Last month, University of Washington sophomores Navid Azodi and Thomas Pryor won the 2016 Lemelson-MIT student prize for creating “SignAloud” – gloves that recognize the hand gestures of ASL (American Sign Language) and translate it into text and speech. The gloves are worn on both hands and contain sensors that record movement and send data wirelessly via Bluetooth to a central computer, which interprets words and phrases through a speaker.

The team was one of seven winners in the “Use It” undergraduate category that recognizes technology- -based inventions to improve consumer devices. They were awarded $10,000. For Azodi, the idea sprang from personal experience: At 18 months old, a severe seizure took away his speech. “I didn’t speak until I was seven years old,” he told NBC News. “I used non-verbal communication and basic sign language. For years, I had to go to speech therapy.” Doctors said Azodi would be handicapped and suggested he focus on English and sign language. Though he was born in the United States, Azodi’s parents were from Iran and spoke Farsi. “I understood what it was like to have a communication barrier and I could see how technology could be a useful tool,” he said. Azodi shared his story and the two inventors “bonded in problem solving,” according to Pryor, who studies astronautics engineering. Their prototype gloves, which cost about $100, are lightweight and compact, unlike other devices on the market. “They are a lot more ergonomic,” Pryor told NBC News. “Some devices use video input for gesture and others have impractical sensors all over the body. We wanted to focus on something that consumers would buy.” “We were not really expecting something of this magnitude,” Pryor told NBC News. “It was a personal project between the two of us and something fun to do. It goes to show what opportunities are around the corner.” The students reached out to the deaf community to guide them in grammar and syntax and how the gloves might be used. Pryor said getting feedback had been a “humbling experience.” The gloves have just as much potential for those who hear and want to learn ASL. They also have medical potential to help stroke victims during rehabilitation. Since the prize was announced, the students have received inquiries from investors and manufacturers, some offering technical support. But they caution that the gloves are just an early prototype and work still needs to be done before they are ready to market. “We want to take it further, to push it ahead,” Azodi said. “It has such great potential.”