At a recent open house for the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Tech Exploration Lab at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID), Alzheimer’s app creator Aarya Deshpande was continually approached by individuals eager to connect with him and to share their personal or familial struggles with memory decline. A junior in computer science and data science, the idea for his app was inspired by a relative who has Alzheimer’s.
“There were so many people,” says Deshpande, still somewhat in disbelief. “It really made me feel connected with all these other souls.”
Bold ideas, creative problem solving, and community impact drive the 24 student projects launched and celebrated this past semester at the Tech Exploration Lab, a partnership between the Wisconsin School of Business and WID. Some of the projects are completed, but many are continuing on; all integrate a real-world challenge with emerging technologies and mentorship from UW–Madison alumni—underscoring the Wisconsin Idea that education’s benefits should extend beyond the boundaries of the classroom.
Read the full story here: https://news.wisc.edu/uw-tech-exploration-lab-student-projects-highlight-innovation-emerging-technologies/