NeXT GEN, a team of middle school students from Oakland, MD, won the 2013 FIRST Lego League Global Innovation Award.
As part of this year’s FIRST Lego League challenge, Senior Solutions, teams across the world were tasked with creating inventions that help seniors lead better lives. NeXT GEN, a team of middle school students from Oakland, MD, won the 2013 FIRST Lego League Global Innovation Award. The team will receive $20,000 from XPRIZE and support from Edison Nation to help bring their invention to market. Their invention, the Gramma-Jamma, will help improve the lives of senior citizens around the globe by helping them pick up small objects that are difficult to retrieve.
Other winning inventions included:
■ Buddy (Lucky is our Dog, Columbus, OH): “The Buddy” is an easily installed motion sensor that monitors for movement in a senior’s home. If movement is not detected during the pre-determined time frame, the device calls several, pre-programmed emergency contacts that can check on the senior and call emergency services if necessary.
■ The Magnetic Plug Adaptor (Rockford Christian Royal Narwhals, Rockford, IL): The Magnetic Plug Adaptor is a safe, easy-to-use alternative to the traditional electric plug and prevents seniors from tripping over power cords.
