Smart hearing aid idea wins WiSys Innovation in Aging student competition

An idea for a hearing aid that can sense your pulse and call 911 if you have a health emergency won the WiSys Innovation in Aging student competition on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. The annual student idea competition challenges University of Wisconsin-Green Bay students to create innovative solutions to combat hardships and improve quality of life for aging populations.

UW-Green Bay students Denny Christoff, Logan Holbrook, James Kaat, Joshua Mendez and Katelyn Desrochers presented the winning solution that the team named “G-Pods.” The students will split a $1,000 prize.

Team “KeepNTouch,” made up of Jada Taylor, Hannah Bunde, Maria Piotrowski, Maria Arunkumar and Katelyn Wiegel, won second place for a solution to combat loneliness and social isolation.

The team’s “KeepNTouch” idea is a simple social media application that allows the aging population to connect and “keep in touch” with their family and friends.

The group will split a $500 prize.

“Get-a-Grip,” an idea for a small hand-held device that allows those with diminished hand strength to grip everyday items such as brooms and cooking utensils more comfortably, took third place in the competition.

Jenna Bares, Isabel Taubel, Montana Fallin and Kenzie Carlson presented the idea and will split a $250 prize.

Overall, nine student teams competed. In the weeks leading up to the event, each team  received mentoring from UW-Green Bay faculty and community members.

Innovation in Aging is a partnership between WiSys, the UW-Green Bay College of Health, Education and Social Welfare and the UW-Green Bay Gerontology Center.

This story is provided by WiSys—a nonprofit organization that works with faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the UW System to facilitate cutting-edge research programs, develop and commercialize discoveries and foster a spirit of innovative and entrepreneurial thinking across the state.

Click to advance slideshow or view the album on Flickr.

– Photos by Liesl Sigourney, Marketing and University Communication