3M is a technology innovation company and HIP2B² is a media outlet that sparks curiosity in maths-, science- and technology-related subjects to develop entrepreneurial thinking and skills in pupils through the use of their website, online radio and magazine.
The two forces once again joined hands and asked Grade 10 pupils to submit their brightest ideas on how to change the world around them.
Northcliff High School pupils Christalla Neophytou and Nicholas Levendis won the competition for their electric toothbrush innovation. “People tend to forget to charge their electric toothbrushes, with our solution, this won’t be a problem, especially when one is away and has no access to electricity,” said Levendis.
He explained that their toothbrush generated electricity as the user brushes, therefore it did not need an external power source. “I got the idea after reading an article about shoes that generate electricity as you walk,” said Neophytou.
Fellow Northcliff High School pupils Jordan Schiffer and Savanna Bailey are the brains behind a device called Schon, which is a vein detector that uses body heat to find veins in the body. The two young girls said following painful hospital visits, they saw fit to create a device that would limit the amount of poking and prodding that was done just before a needle was stuck into one’s arms by a nurse. “From our own personal experience, we want to limit the pain and suffering associated with needles,” said Bailey.
Shahira Suleman and Aaliyah Mohamed of Ridge Park College in KwaZulu-Natal created the Digibrush 2100. The contraption is a two-in-one toothbrush and toothpaste. The user has to press a pump and the paste is applied onto the brush and is ready for use. “The paste is refillable,” said Suleman.
All three winners received cash prizes for their respective school and members of each team received laptops and tablets. Neophytou and Levendis won the top prize of R10 000, while Schiffer, Bailey, Suleman and Mohamed were joint second with each team winning R2 500 for their school.
