Future-tech

SCIL teams conceptualize

future technology

By RICHARD A. ROSS

richardross@riverreporter.com

LIBERTY, NY—Technology is in a constant state of evolution. In the realms of transportation, energy, education and entertainment, ideas that were once considered innovative have given way to much more sophisticated applications over time.

For the third Sullivan County Interacademic League (SCIL) meet of this school year, students from the eight county school districts convened at Liberty High School on November 20 to ponder the next step in the evolutionary process for some type of existing technology.

Students were called up to develop a proposal for their innovation to be presented to an investment group for financing. Tasks included writing a persuasive letter to the board of an investment group to explain the technology and how the new application evolved from earlier prototypes.

A public presentation was required that included a jingle or slogan along with sketches and mechanical drawings. Each team also earned points by answering trivia questions related to mathematics, science and technology.

Liberty’s design of a Total Energy Generator of Tomorrow (TEGOT) would run on perpetual motion and magnetic fields. Its spokespersons, Jeni Stolow and John Maxwel, helped catapult Liberty to a second-place finish in the meet with a total of 194.8 points. Liberty is currently in third place overall with 539 points.

Roscoe proposed an adaptation of the current laptop. Their device, called Metabook, would make textbooks obsolete. With its 500-gigabyte memory, books could be downloaded to the device. Its stylus keyboard, touch screen and fingerprint lock were described by presenters Abie Dusseldorf and Seth Wegener. Roscoe took third place in the meet with 191.3 points and is currently in fifth place overall with 503 points.

Monticello fields two teams at SCIL and their scores are averaged. With the Bisignator Generator, the first team sought to address the idea of renewable energy that would decrease the cost of living and save the planet by dint of its clean energy. With turbines in space, the device would be cost effective and its construction would garner a tax incentive. The performance group of Joshua Oates, Daria Coney, Ginger Boyd and Kate Oldfield made a stylish appeal for its implementation. Lauren Katz and Anthony Bisignano were the presenters.

A Power Harness was the other Montie proposal. Essentially a fabric that harnesses biothermal energy, the garment would tap into the body’s own current. Evan Nolan and Amy Nagoda presented the plan to the judges. Monticello took fourth on the day with 179.5 points. Monticello is currently in first place with a three-meet total of 559 points.

Sullivan West was the day’s winner with its Sunergy dirigible, which would absorb solar energy on its panels and transmit that energy back to earth’s renewable batteries. With a jingle performed by Hannah Rettoun, Nick Gabriel and April Scardino, the Westies wowed the judges to earn the top score of 200 for their day’s work. They are currently in second place overall with 551 points.

Eldred turned its attention to transportation with its efficient car called “The Pigé.” For its part, the Tri-Valley team presented Mental Media, a chip that could be installed to enhance long- or short-term memory. The device would utilize the subject’s body as its battery. Tri-Valley did not place in this meet but currently enjoys a fourth place overall with a total of 519 points.

Livingston Manor designed the Octacam, a futuristic video camera that could play back its images as holograms using its eight lenses. Manor did not place in this meet and is currently working hard to enter the top five ranking.

Fallsburg envisioned ithought. Presented by Sophie Marsden and Andrea Zalkin, the Comets’ device would allow for virtual adventures. The proposal enabled the team to win fifth place at the meet with 169.4 points, moving it closer to the top five among county schools.

This meet’s judges included Town of Rockland Supervisor Pat Casey, Sullivan County Coroner Elton Harris and Town of Rockland Councilman Stan Martin. Click here for an album of photos.