OSU team places among final six at international competition
Thursday, July 30, 2009
(Stillwater, OK July 9, 2009) - An Oklahoma State University team used its prototype
for a medical vending machine to secure a place in the final six of 20 teams that
competed in the embedded development category at the finals of the Windows Imagine
Cup in Cairo, Egypt.
The OSU team of graduate students, all from India, developed a machine that uses the
latest in innovative technology to help doctors diagnose patients and dispense medicine
in remote areas of India and elsewhere throughout the world.
“Being among the final six teams felt great. We had worked very hard on this product
and the experience has been very rewarding. We believe in our idea and the healthcare
disparity it could help address in many villages in India,” said OSU team member Rohit
Kadam. “The competition also provided great exposure for our dual purpose prototype
that serves as a pharmacy and uses a remote camera to allow for a diagnosis from a
doctor.”
The OSU team advanced through three phases of competition at the finals before being
passed over for a spot among the top three. This year’s competition focused on solving
the world’s toughest problems through technology. A total of 148 teams competed in
nine categories at the finals in Cairo after advancing from competitions in their
home countries.
Student team members include four graduate students from the OSU School of Electrical
and Computer Engineering, Kadam, Vishvesh Khisty, Ashwin Kadkol, and Raghavendra Rao,
as well as Prashant Hegde, a graduate student from the OSU School of Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering. For more information, go to www.imaginecup.com
See competition videos below, especially “Day 5” video which includes an interview
with the OSU team members in Cairo.