Unified team of regional college students including YU wins 'Grand Prize' at the 2014 Wearable Computer Contest
Check information while driving such as navigation, rear camera, etc using a screen inside the helmet
"It will lower the number of accidents by allowing riders to keep their eyes on the road"
[November 18, 2014]

A unified team of engineering students in Daegu and Gyeongbuk including YU took first place in the '2014 Wearable Computer Contest'.

The winning team was 'JARVIS' made up of Lee Gi-won (senior, 25, YU Department of Electronic Engineering), Park Seong-heum (senior, 24, Kyungpook National University Department of Commuter Software Engineering), and Lim Hyo-jeong (senior, 22, Kumon National Institute of Technology). This unified team took first place with their 'smart helmet' by participating in this contest held at KAIST in Daejeon from the 13th to 14th.

Wearable computers refer to devices designed to be worm freely like clothes, watches or glasses in order to use the computer when necessary by the user even while on the move. Recently, there has been growing interest in products that could provide various internet-based services by linking up with smart phones. One of the best known wearable computers is 'Google Glass' that the world's largest internet search service company, Google, launched.

The 'Wearable Computer Contest' celebrating its 10th year this year being hosted by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning and sponsored by KAIST and the Korean Institute of Next Generation Computing is a contest of ideas to check high tech wearable devices that integrate the creative ideas of college students and smart technologies. A total of 25 teams made presentations in fields such as information, entertainment and health management, and a total of 15 teams competed in the finals. In the finals, the product display, functions, practicality and design were evaluated. In result, the 'Jarvis' team took first place and was awarded with the Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning as well as a cash prize of 4 million won.

Their idea was a 'smart helmet' that takes into consideration the safety of motorcycle riders. It was designed so that motorcycle riders could use a screen installed in their helmet for rear camera images, mobile phone navigation images, and Kakao Talk messaging.

The Jarvis Team explained that they focused on preventing accidents taking into account that while motorcycle riders are much more exposed to fatal accidents, they have very little safety devices compared to other vehicles. They said, "We confirmed through data that motor cycle accidents were commonly caused when the rider does not keep his or her eyes on the road such as when coming to crossroads or looking to the left or right." They added, "If the helmet could be used to provide information that the rider needs, we believe that it can raise the rate of riders keeping their eyes on the road and thus prevent accidents." Together with the 'smart helmet' they also developed gloves that could be used for communication with the helmet. They added a function to switch screens by tapping so that the screen in the helmet does not interfere with their field of vision.

Lee Gi-won, the team leader of 'Jarvis' said, "Members majoring in computer engineering were in charge of software and I was normally in charge of hardware as I major in electronic engineering. Our roles were clear cut and we cooperated well, which led to such great results." He added, "I think we receive points because there is a high possibility for applying currently available technologies in helmets."