Last week on Wednesday, July 1st, Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), brought their members to the Innovation Lab to learn about the lab and the technology we offer. The members that came were between the ages of 12-13.

Upon entering the lab, members of our team, Nancy, Allisha, Ellie, and Samiha, took them on an orientation of the lab to inform and acquaint them about the facility. The WISE members were given two presentations: one on the Green Screen and another on the 3D printer and 3D printing.

Members of the Innovation Lab team demonstrated to WISE students how to use the 3D printer, how to use TinkerCad–a 3D printing software–,how to explore with Google Cardboard, and how to take pictures using the Green Screen and use Green Screen apps.

WISE students quickly learned the information taught to them, and did not hesitate to get right started on designing with TinkerCad, taking Green Screen photos, and 3D printing.

As a complimentary gift, the Lab gave each member a 3D printed photo frame, in order for the WISE students to place their Green Screen photos in.

We look forward to seeing all of them again!

If you have an organization or club interested in visiting the lab, please contact us at: Sbu-InnovationLab@stonybrook.edu

Originally posted on SBU Innovation Lab Blog by Christopher Tasso.

Do not be so surprised when you hear music coming from your post-it notes. Yes, you’ve read that correctly; music from your post-it notes.

Recently, David Sheinkopf, director of education at New York’s Pioneer Works Center for Art and Innovation, discovered a way to turn a post-it note into a speaker. Sheinkopf explained the process as such, “Run a current through a coil of wire, and you have an electromagnet. This pushes and pulls against a fixed magnet next to it, turning magnetomotive force into motion, which moves the Post-it and disturbs the air around it.” The disturbances this process creates are transformed into sound once they reach your eardrum.

So whats needed in order to build the post-it speaker, you may be wondering? The items are fairly simple and easy to find. You need a post-it note, a magnet wire, a strong magnet, clear tape, alligator clips, a male-to-male headphone cable, scissors, and sandpaper.

To begin making the speaker you have to prepare the magnet wire. This is done by taking 120 cm of wire and sanding away the thin enamel at the ends. This step allows the underneath copper to become visible. Next, you wind the wire around your finger, leaving 5cm at each end. Once the wire is removed from your finger, it should resemble a donut shape. The clear tape should then be used to maintain the shape.

Once the magnet wire has been prepared, you must attach the post-it note. This is done by taping your magnet to a surface and then placing the post-it note on top of the magnet. Next, tape the donut in the centre of the post-it, so it sits directly on top of the magnet.

Almost finished. After the donut is taped to the magnet, you attach the alligator clips to one end of the headphone cable. Sheinkopf says to “clip a length of prepared wire to the tip of the jack and another to the next segment. Attach the two other ends to the magnet wires coming off your wire loop.” After this, in order to begin listening, you plug the opposite end of the headphone cable into a phone or media player.

And voila! You’ve made your very own post-it speaker. To obtain the best listening experience, it is advised that you press your ear against the surface the speaker is taped to.

MoodGYM is an online interactive program that provides free mental help support. The website was started in Australia in 2004 as a trial to treat depression patients. Since then, it has crossed international barriers and is now offered in 6 languages. It has more than 800,000 people from 222 countries registered in its database.

MoodGYM focuses on the process of cognitive therapy. It consists of five modules, an interactive game, anxiety and depression assessments, downloadable relaxation audio, a workbook and feedback assessment.

Using flashed diagrams and online exercises, MoodGYM teaches the principles of cognitive behavior therapy – a proven treatment for depression. It also demonstrates the relationship between thoughts and emotions, and works through dealing with stress and relationship break-ups, as well as teaching relaxation and meditation techniques.”  – MoodGYM website

It seeks to change the way the user thinks about themselves, battling both depression and anxiety. However, MoodGYM does not let user self diagnose themselves. A new user is put through a series of quizzes and exercises. Cognitive therapy has proved to work in face-to-face therapy and now it is proven to work through online interactions. Kathy Griffins from the Australia National University said that those who have used MoodGYM have reported to have done better in terms of depression, with a reduction in anxiety and even alcohol use.

MoodGYM and other online therapy/mental health programs like it, is just another way technology is increasingly blending into the medical field. With growing technology, advances in medicine are constantly happening; however, this is especially important in mental health for two reasons. One being that the statistics of those suffering from mental health issues is a vast amount of a majority of people. The other being that most people who have mental health issues do not seek treatment, actually about a third of those do not, whether that be for costs or personal reasons.

When MoodGYM first came out it was very controversial. Some thought, it was unethical and harmful. However, it has opened up the door for other programs to offer mental health support. This type of online therapy is innovative, mostly because it is creating convenience. People who are seeking support for mental health issues have less of an excuse to put off getting help. MoodGYM is also innovative because it is an online program that not only treats mental health issues but, a training program. It seeks to prevent mental health issues in youths. This is one of the first programs to build games and exercises that work the brain in a way to prevent any future mental issues. They do this by changing the way the user thinks about themselves and training the brain to recognizing toxic thoughts.

Read the New York Times Article about MoodGYM here. 

Originally posted on SBU Innovation Lab Blog by Alysha Bullock.

This tiny new Microsoft device has the power to fill the world around you with 3D holograms. The holograms are supposed to be convincing enough that the consumer would think they were real. Recently, debuted at Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, the Hololens has the power to revolutionize gaming and Virtual Reality. It is sleek and futuristic looking compared to it’s competitors like the Oculus Rift.

However, the device has one major problem, a tiny field of view. Because the field of view is so small, those who have already used the device say that the user is aware of the edges of their virtual world. This makes it impractical for use and still just a prototype. Microsoft was given this feedback and at E3 where Microsoft  executive Kudo Tsunoda said “The hardware isn’t final so none of the things are completely done. I think you’re never going to get to full peripheral field of view, but certainly the hardware we have the field of view isn’t exactly final. But I wouldn’t say it’s going to be hugely noticeably different either.”

Originally posted on SBU Innovation Lab Blog by Alysha Bullock.

3-D Printer 

 Green Screen 

UltraSound Sonar with John Leon 

Google Cardboard 

Originally posted on SBU Innovation Lab Blog by Alysha Bullock.

This was an exciting week for the Innovation Lab. In the mist of preparing for our debut at Long Island Maker Festival: we were included in a Newsday article, visited the Yale CEID, and got a demo of the new Z Space by Computer Logic.

Tuesday

The Innovation Lab was included in Tuesday’s article of Newsday “Long Island Maker Festival: 6 Things to Check Out,” for our 3-D printer build. At the festival we will also be showcasing a green screen demo, Google Cardboard, and Ultra Sound Sonar demonstration. For everything on the Newsday list, read the article below.

http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/long-island-maker-festival-3-d-printing-robots-and-more-1.10510923

Wednesday 

The Innovation Lab visited the Yale Center for Engineering Innovation and Design on. We were excited to see the strides taken by Yale in their own cross discipline lab.  The Yale CEID is engineering focused but, calls for all different interests to get involved. They even have a sewing station, wet lab, wood shop and metal shop. They have a growing partnership with their medical personal, which sometime in the future will begin to hold classes in the CEID as other professors do.

Thursday 

On Thursday, the Innovation Lab was visited by Computer Logic Group, a small Long Island company that specialized in in Cloud Computing, providing business Customized IT Solutions, Data backup and Network Integration. CLG came in to show the lab a demo of their Z Space. The Z Space is a real world virtual reality system that blends the real world with the virtual, creating never-before-seen experiences, naturally integrated into life. The Z Space is being capitalized by the education system. Schools throughout Long Island are implementing the Z Space into their K-12 curriculum. The Innovation Lab employees got to dissect hearts and learn about the anatomy of lions. We’d like to thank CLG for coming in and showing us their innovative product.

Originally posted on SBU Innovation Lab Blog by Alysha Bullock.

General Motors CEO, Mary Barra, recently announced that 14 of Chevrolet’s 2016 model vehicles will be featuring Android Auto compatibility. This announcement was made during the Code conference held in Rancho Palos Verdes, California on Wednesday May 27th. This is exciting news because this will be the largest number of vehicles from any motor vehicle company to include Android Auto.

Android Auto projects a customized version of a compatible Android smartphone onto the car display once the phone is connected to the car via USB. All phone calls are received through Bluetooth, allowing the use of mobile apps such as Google Maps and Google Play Music, along with third-party apps such as Pandora, while behind the wheel. Android Auto can be navigated with taps and swipes or through voice command.

The inclusion of Android Auto in 14 of Chevrolet’s new vehicles is significant because it offers a safer and more effective alternative to texting while driving, or even attaching one’s phone to the windshield using a suction cup holder. Chevrolet is prepared for any mishaps or confusion with the new technology in their cars; they are creating a new, dedicated technical support staff designated to problems specifically dealing with Android Auto.

So for all those who are looking for a safer way to use their phone as a tool for travel, 2016 will bring a whole new line of automobiles that comprehensively integrate cellphones with in-car technology and display.

Originally posted on SBU Innovation Lab Blog by Christopher Tasso.

Google Cardboard is a new virtual reality device. Created by Google, it pairs with a Google App to help the viewer get a 3-D rendition of what they are viewing. The device was introduced at last year’s Google I/O conference. It provides the ability, as long as you are the owner of a smartphone, to do things such as viewing your pictures in 3D. This year Google introduced a new update of the device, the second generation of the Cardboard VR viewer.

It is almost amusing that the Google Cardboard looks like a toy. It is the exact opposite of the highly anticipated Google Glass, released a few years ago. The device itself is actually made out of cardboard. It has plastic lenses that render the 3-D images and it only costs around $4. But, this is Google’s intention. Google Cardboard is simple, and can be used by anyone. It does not scare off untechnical consumers with a clean cut tech look.  David Coz, an engineer in Google’s Paris office who developed the Cardboard, said “We want the viewer to be as dumb as possible and as cheap as possible because we basically wanted to open VR for everyone.” Google’s mission is to expand virtual reality to all smartphones imaginable. The cardboard can be folded to fit up to any smartphone. Not only are they selling the Cardboard for cheap but, they are even offering a new software kit that makes it easy for app developers to make more VR applications. Because of the versatility of the Cardboard, Google is placing efforts in making it easy and accessible. The mission is more to amass an audience than to make profits.

The next step for Google Cardboard and VR are expansion and practicality. Google needs to expand by teaching the masses the real-word applications for Google Cardboard and VR. Google intends to tackle this first with entertainment. Google developed a 360-degree camera, called the Jump rig, that when it runs footage through Google’s software and processors; it will be turned into virtual reality. Google sparked a collaboration with GoPro for this. GoPro will begin to sell the rig with 16 GoPro cameras in the near future.  Google said that YouTube, this summer, will start to allow the upload of virtual reality videos. Other companies such as Facebook, Sony and Microsoft are making big investments in VR. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, has said that VR will be the next computing platform.

Originally posted on SBU Innovation Lab Blog by Alysha Bullock.

The Gilman Brothers Company, a North American manufacturer of foam board products, and Zünd, the lead manufacture in cutting systems, have combined innovation with strategic business. They created a symbiotic relationship, and at the center of this relationship is the G3 Zünd digital cutter. The G3 Zünd  digital cutter is innovative for two distinct reasons; it can adapt to ever-changing cutting needs while maintaining exceptional quality and it has 24/7 operational use.

The Gilman Brothers installed the G3 Zünd digital cutter at their new Customer Experience Center. This can help Gilman Brothers test a variety of materials at all times of the day adding value by offering immediate responses for customer needs. It even makes international business easier by providing flexibility for designers in different countries.

Zünd’s vinyl cutter is highly beneficial to Gilman Brothers but,Zünd gets something out of this relationship too. Zünd gets to reach out to a new customer base on the East coast. They have a location where they can demonstrate their latest product and a facility to better serve existing clients. This partnership makes creating any type of signage possible.