The recent Imagine RIT: Festival of Creativity and Innovation, held at the Rochester Institute of Technology, attracted a significant turnout on Saturday. Ann Lelapi, the Senior Director of Events and Conferences at RIT, emphasized the focus on innovation and community involvement through the diverse student projects showcased at the festival.
According to Lelapi, the festival offered an excellent platform for the campus to showcase its cutting-edge technologies, innovation, and creative study fields. She commended the students for their dedication to their projects and their skill in making complex fields accessible and enjoyable for all.
Among the student innovations presented at the festival was a respirator created by fifth-year mechanical engineering major, Evalisse Caraballo. The respirator is specifically designed for individuals with beards or unique facial features, addressing the limitations of traditional designs. Caraballo highlighted that conventional half-face respirators do not provide a proper seal for those with beards or nonstandard facial features. Their solution includes custom nose pillows and a scuba mouthpiece to ensure a proper seal, with a focus on inclusivity in design.
Joseph Schneggenburger, an electrical engineering major, presented his notification system designed for deaf athletes. His inspiration stemmed from observing a deaf athlete struggling to communicate during a frisbee tournament. Schneggenburger’s project aims to enhance communication for deaf athletes, particularly in loud environments.
The festival at RIT underscored the university’s commitment to providing an educational environment that fosters innovation and inclusivity through the technologies showcased and the extensive community involvement facilitated.
This story is sourced from WXXI’s Inclusion Desk.