From Chile to Batawa, this year’s Industrial Design Graduation Exhibition will take you places.

The show is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Tuesday, April 19 in the Galleria, fourth floor of the University Centre.

THE PROJECTS

One group of fourth-year students focused on designing practical solutions to help revitalize a small town in Chile that has been ravaged by an earthquake, tsunami and the shutdown of its coal mines. Collaborating with George Brown College’s Institute Without Boundaries, Carleton students designed products to help the town by addressing basic human needs such as shelter, food and hygiene.

A group of third-year students designed projects for Sonja Bata as she strives to turn Batawa into a model sustainable village of the future. These projects include a vertical urban community garden on through to a Dino Dig park, splash pool for children situated in a waterfront park, innovative themed hiking trails and designs to bring the existing ski hill to life over the summer months. For more information about the ongoing Carleton-Batawa partnership, please visit http://www2.carleton.ca/communications/news/batawa/.

In collaboration with Research in Motion (RIM), another group of graduating students explored new product opportunities based on themes of travel and communication. These projects include a prototype for a digital spyglass for children to complement their parents’ BlackBerrys during leisure travel; a system of products for first-responders to increase the efficiency of collecting and transferring patient data between emergency medical services and medical care facilities; a wayfinding tool for long distance bikers; and a virtual desktop.

Another group explored ways of using technology to help remote populations connect with meaningful opportunities. Their projects focused on people who have unique needs and living situations that both limit and prevent access to resources that would improve their quality of life.

In collaboration with Teknion Ltd., a team investigated how mobile workers are changing the office environment. The students designed prototypes that address issues of social interaction, work patterns and communication in the new and demanding workplace.

Continuing the long tradition of collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, students developed products to support firefighters who risk their lives in extreme environments. The group focused on developing products to support the initial attack firefighting equipment and aerial firefighting management systems.

In collaboration with the Canadian Paralympic Committee, a group explored new products that will increase the participation of individuals with specific disabilities, designing equipment to bridge the gap between users and participation in different sports.

There are many more exciting projects on display at this year’s exhibition, ranging from a cutting board that uses sensory input to help autistic children to an interactive device to allow grandparents and grandchildren living in different locations to share aspects of their lives through tangible and emotive technologies which are remotely connected.

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For more information:
Lin Moody
Media Relations
Carleton University
613-520-2600, ext. 8705

Monday, April 11, 2011 in
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