A-Level students take part in Internet of Things challenge

As part of this year's ECS Taster Course, 110 A-Level students took part in the Internet of Things (IoT) Team Challenge.

The one-week residential Taster Course runs annually at the School of Electronics and Computer Science, providing students at the end of Year 12 with opportunity to find out more about degrees and careers in electronics and computer science.

One of the challenges given to students on the course was to design a new IoT product; although they were not required to physically build anything, they were required to be creative and utilise some of the technologies that they'd heard about during the week in lectures or in practical labs. The only limitation they had was that the technology had to be possible with today's technology. Students then worked in their teams to discuss ideas and create a poster presentation to pitch their final product.

The challenge was kindly sponsored by NXP, and one of their engineers joined Professor Mark Zwolinski, Associate Dean, to judge the posters. Other academics also joined parents and guardians for the poster session, and were impressed with the variety and creativity of the ideas presented.

25 different teams of students pitched their ideas to judges, with ideas ranging from IoT kettles, bins and beds to ideas about how IoT can assist with health and wellbeing. The winning idea was "SoleD" (pictured), an internet-connected insole.

The ECS Taster Course 2019 will take place from 29 July - 02 August, visit www.taster.ecs.soton.ac.uk for more information.