Drawing upon inspiration by one of our School's beloved nurses, a Pine Crest second grade student imagined and designed a prototype to assist stroke patients suffering from upper extremity weakness. The end result: a system to help patients tie their long hair into a ponytail. The student was guided along the way by Pine Crest teachers and innovation specialists, using the tools available in the Zimmerman Family iLab.
Pine Crest Middle School students saw the second grader’s prototype and committed to moving it forward. The team collaborated on a new prototype, added functionality for mastectomy patients, and entered it in the national Technology Students Association (TSA) competition.
Middle and Upper School students then collaborated to take the prototype even further, and pledged to create a device to instill independence in patients with limited mobility. Over the summer of 2017, the team built a new prototype, adding a feedback sleeve and mobile application. The team entered their concept in the Built By Girls Challenge competition, aimed to increase the next generation of female leaders in technology and innovation, and the Girls in Tech AMPLIFY Women's Pitch Competition.