Young geniuses wow judges

Every year dozens of young hi-tech enthusiasts spend hours racking their brains and developing the next big thing for the prestigious Bright Sparks Competition.

This year the entries are better than ever. Projects include everything from a fire fighting robot to a shirt that corrects slovenly posture and a remote controlled lawnmower.

The 2009 finalists are currently exhibited on-line at www.BrightSparksAwards.org.nz – and for the first time ever the public can vote for (and comment on) their favourite inventions.

Bright Sparks judge Ross Petersen has been lost for words more than once this year.

“The calibre of the entries is outstanding, and now with the new Awards site we can foster an increased level of interactivity and help ensure these hugely talented young people will be celebrated and recognised by their peers, hi-tech industry representatives, teachers and parents across the nation and around the world.”

When it comes to the technological smarts of these young kiwi’s seeing really is believing – so make sure you visit www.BrightSparksAwards.org.nz to view, comment and vote for your favourite inventions (and check out vodcasts from key industry players and former Bright Sparks who has gone on to big things.)

Winners will be announced at 5.00 p.m. on 17th November, 2009.

Remote controlled lawnmower – Kevin Huang, 18.

With the financial backing of the Prime Minister, (Kevin secured a $250 sponsorship from none other than our very own John Key) this project is sure to make a splash. Crafting the body himself and importing sophisticated radio control equipment from Britain, Kevin installed recycled car windscreen wipers to steer this visually impressive machine. It even features ideal sponsor’s logos too.

Fire Fighting Robot – Jethro Davey, 17.

Following the devastating bushfires that ravaged Australia earlier this year, Jethro created this lean, mean fire fighting machine that is fully remote controlled and capable of serious power.

Avert – Liam Ellis, 18.

Using a sponsored shirt from skin-tight clothing manufacturer SKINS and a series of variable resistors, Avert aims to avert bad posture by monitoring your vertebrae. Setting the programme to your perfect posture, the device then alerts you when you start to slouch.

 
Other projects include a unique carpark allocation system, U Glo-Girl – a handbag illumination device, a micro-datalogger which records air temperatures and posts the information on Twitter and loads more.