Applied Research

Walking with wild elephants and swimming among dolphins: this AC project knows no bounds

Imagine a world where walking with elephants helped children manage their anxiety.

Using the power of virtual reality (VR), a team of three Algonquin College students are bringing dolphins to doorsteps, pyramids to backyards and elephants to classrooms to support children in need of a calming, secure and emotionally-safe environment.

Through the project New Realities: A Guide for Virtual Reality in Classrooms and at Home, learners from the Human-Centred Design Lab – Sara Hubberstey, Jean Pierre Lachance and Maria Tchernikova – are helping their client, Wishplay, bring VR to children at home and in the classroom.

Along with supervising professor Jed Looker, the team is developing a VR user guide that explores how to set-up and administer VR for children aged 6-12. The students determined user guide best practices through literature reviews, speaking with subject-matter experts, as well as interviews with educators and guardians.

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Accessibility at forefront of Wheelchair Backpack Transfer Device project

Reaching behind to access belongings can be challenging for some wheelchair users. A device created by mechanical and electrical engineering technology students at Algonquin College allows wheelchair users to easily retrieve personal effects. The Wheelchair Backpack Transfer Device will debut as one of the submissions in next Friday’s virtual RE/ACTION Showcase, bringing together Algonquin College learners, educators and industry partners to exhibit innovative research projects.

Jackson Gougeon and his team – Musugiramanz Moise, Alexander McKenzie, Sebastian Menendez and Burke Walsh – created the device for their client Tetra Society of North America. Tetra is a not-for-profit organization that works with volunteers and students to design assistive devices for people living with disabilities.

“The main goal is to have a product for a wheelchair, powered or manual, for someone who can’t personally grasp a backpack from behind their chair, bring it forward and easily access anything in their backpack or bag,” said Gougeon.

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Applied Research Day comes to close, Masterpiece VR wins award of excellence

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Algonquin College Student Gabrien Boileau assists President Cheryl Jensen with MasterPiece VR

Today, everyone got a sneak peek at some of the projects AC professors and students have been working on—before their innovations hit it big.

Those who attended got to try out the apps, hear about the collaborations and discover the depth of talent found at Algonquin College. A wide range of applied research and innovation projects were showcased at the 25 booths.

“This was a chance for the students to show off what they have been working on,” said Christopher Elliot, who teaches in the School of Media and Design. Continue reading