Scientific studies have shown that the creativity built-up of mind is almost 80 to 90% complete by the time child reaches to the age of 16 to 19. It is that remaining 10-20% which can be later improved polished by providing challenging environment. Our children are hardly exposed to any creative environment during this important phase of their life.
It is this very reason that we have not been able to produce any or very little international stature scientists. Moreover this fact has been very well recognised understood by the progressive nations and they make serious efforts in ensuring creative environment during the early development of school aged children.
During my recent visit to Japan I saw class three students engaged in similar activity as we have organized in the form of EXYLENT for 10 Grade students. The EXYLENT workshop at SEECS has been designed with similar objectives.
Smarter, stronger and more intuitive than ever, LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT is a robotics toolset that provides endless opportunities for inventors, robotics fanatics and LEGO builders ages 10 and older to build and program robots that do what they want. Robot construction employs concepts from mathematics, mechanical, electrical. Mechatronics and Telecommunication engineering. This toolset is ideal for children to explore their liking for pursuance of future professional studies.
Building upon the success of the globally-renowned Robotics Invention System, the next generation of LEGO MINDSTORMS makes it quicker and easier for robot creators to build and program a working robot in just 30 minutes. Simultaneously, new technologies and expanded sensor capabilities add a level of sophistication to excite and challenge more experienced robot creators.
The heart of the new system is the NXT brick, an autonomous 32-bit LEGO microprocessor that can be programmed using a PC. After building their robots, users create a program within easy-to-use yet feature rich software, powered by Lab VIEW from National Instruments.
Downloading programs to an invention is easy Users with Bluetooth-enabled computer hardware can transfer their programs to the NXT wirelessly, or anyone can use the included USB 2.0 cable to connect their computer to the NXT for program transfer. The robot then takes on a life of its own, fully autonomous from the computer. The inclusion of Bluetooth technology also extends possibilities for controlling robots remotely, for example, from a mobile phone or PDA.
LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT kit includes an all-new NXT intelligent brick, 3 interactive servo motors, which feature inbuilt rotation sensors to align speed for precise control. A new ultrasonic sensor makes robots "see" by responding to movement. A new sound sensor enables robots to react to sound commands, including sound pattern and tone recognition. An improved light sensor detects different colors and light intensity.
An improved touch sensor reacts touch or release and allows robots to feel 519 hand-selected, stylized elements from the LEGO TECHINC(r) building system to ensure robot creations are sturdy and durable while also looking authentic. Opportunities for physical programming of robots and interaction with robots during programming are also available. The digital wire interface allows for third-party developments and addons.
USES AROUND THE WORLD:
Other than the casual home builders. LEGO Mindstorms NXT has now taken the global arena of robotic competitions. Among many others. First Lego League (FLL) holds an annual event that attracts the participants of all ages, from all around the world. FLL is a result of an exciting alliance between FIRST and the LEGO Company. Guided by adult mentors and their own imaginations.
FLL students solve real-world engineering challenges, develop important life skills, and learn to make positive contributions to society. Not only this, LEGO NXT kits are being used in middle and high schools for educational and creativity purposes. Students are allowed to experiment with the kits to test the concepts they learn in class rooms. Also some universities are using these kits to teach fundamental programming concepts. At post graduate level these kits can be and are used to test different protocols, and other research concepts.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
Keeping in view the potential of NXT kits and their current use for IT education around the world, we brought this technology to Pakistan. In Exploring Young Leaders' Natural Talent (EXYLENT). We are giving an opportunity to kids from ages 11 to 22 in order to explore the potential of their imagination and creativity.
This workshop involves lecturing and hands on training for the participants in robots structure design and robot programming. In the span of 8 days, we intend to train the participants by building their knowledge and experience in NXT robotic components, robotic movements and creating robotic intelligence while using sensors and programming. It also includes of robot structure design by using CAD system known as LDD (Lego Digital Design).
Several talks of renowned scientists and scholars are also a part of this workshop through which the participants will earn the excitement of science thus helping them in building their motivation to acquire more knowledge and developing the sense of research. As part of same activity, participants were given a chance to visit UST H-12 campus, and Natural History Museum. They also interacted with selected Pakistanis that has to meet Nobel Laureates of the world.
AIMS & OBJECTIVES:
Apart from attending the workshop sessions, the participants are required to log on to SEECS website blog and share their views and designs on daily basis. Through this blog system, participants and their families are not only able to track their progress through blogs and online daily session videos, but they are also able to see where they stand as compared to other participants.
Along with enhancing creativity among students and giving them exposure of IT applications through fun learning methods, one of the aims of this workshop is to inculcate sense of healthy competition. For that, the workshop will conclude with a competition in which participants will demonstrate their robots on which they have worked in the last 3 days of the workshop.
Workshop participants work in teams which has help them develop spirit of teamwork, discipline and patience. The robots will be judged based on their performance in three different events. Each event is designed to test the robots' different capabilities. Out of the 12 teams, two teams with the highest score will be awarded first and second prizes.
Through such activity, we are also educating parents of our participants the importance of child's aptitude in career selection and methods of how they can nurture their children's creativity and intelligence by encouraging them to undertake activities apart from studies that include fun and learning at the same time.
WHY ARE WE DOING?
Technology is growing at a very fast pace around the world. The speed of such transformation can be seen from the fact that on average, a new electronic device becomes obsolete after every 2 years. Just look at the life cycle of cellular phones, computer processors etc and how quickly they become obsolete. Now, where does Pakistan stand in this technology race? According to World Bank Economic survey, at current growth rate, it will take Pakistan 159 years to catch up with industrialised countries of the world, which is equivalent to almost 3 generations (where as China is estimated to catch up in 23 years and India in 50 years).
If we look at the literacy rates according to UNESCO statistics of 2007, such rates in Pakistan are 49.9% as compared to China's 90.0% and India's 61%. If we move ahead and look at the R&D personal number, from 1997 till 2005, in Pakistan, the increase of such workforce increased from 36.706 to 53.159 out of which, only 5.8% are females, where as in India itself, there were 357.172 in 1997 and they are ever increasing since then.
China is growing in this field even more by producing statistics like 1,364,799 for 2005. Looking at all these figures, we are far behind not only among the developed countries but also from our neighbours who started pretty much the same time we did. Keeping in view these facts, it is time to expose our future leaders to the latest technologies on the basis on which these industrialised nations has and are progressing.
How these industrialised nations have managed to achieve this status? In the past few decades. IT has crept into almost every field and has provided support to them by speeding up industrial and communication processes along with better information management. In order to exploit the power of IT, these industrialised nations are making progress in this field every day. Due to which, today.
IT is one of the fastest growing areas of research and job growth around the world. A significant way to increase the computing work force in Pakistan is by attracting young minds into the field and creating an aptitude in them for IT. We need to expose yong minds to latest technologies and their applications to build their aptitude in this field and develop their mindset for future upcoming challenges. This workshop is just one step to give them a taste of the versatility lying in the field.
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