NTU students dream up gizmos powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that will make their university lives better
by Lester Hio / Illustrations by Vivian Lim
DATA ANALYSIS DROID
Suggested by Ryna Shireen Sheriff
Biological Sciences postgraduate student
Those in the sciences conducting experiments know the struggle all too well: too much data to wade through and too little time. This lab assistant gizmo helps with time management, data analysis, error detection, and even updating literature.
How it works
Housing billions of lab datasets, it keeps track of what needs to be done in the lab and provides helpful suggestions in real time.
Why we need it
“The droid analyses project timelines, experimental durations and deadlines, offering an optimal schedule for conducting experiments. It functions like a lab buddy, flagging errors or inconsistencies in your data for you to address. Better yet, it updates you on the latest research in your field.
It would be cool if the droid comes with a touchscreen and a host of different ports, so I can easily connect to the machines that provide raw data. This feature will streamline my work tremendously, and all my research friends will love it too!”
BODY BIOMARKER BEACON
Suggested by Bernadette Toh
Communication Studies, Class of 2024
Your smartwatch can tell you your heart rate and how many steps you’ve taken. How about a wearable AI-powered device that does all that, while also keeping track of your other vital health stats, emotional states and overall wellbeing?
This gizmo provides real-time updates, alerting you when your stress levels are too high or if you need a nap or to see a doctor.
How it works
This health buddy identifies health issues even before they arise. For example, it might tell you to hydrate yourself to alleviate a mild headache or to contact a telehealth professional if your vitals are not normal. If you’ve just caught the flu or been bitten by an Aedes mosquito, the device will ping you with exactly what ails you, so you don’t have to worry when you start feeling ill.
Why we need it
“I’m sometimes guilty of Googling my medical symptoms and letting WebMD diagnose me. But a simple itchy bump from a mosquito bite can grow into something much bigger and send me into a panic. With this tool, we’ll know when we actually need medical assistance or when we just need to apply a balm to soothe the itch.”
CAMPUS CRITTER CONSOLE
Suggested by Lynn Ong
Environmental Earth Systems Science and Public Policy & Global Affairs, Year 4
NTU’s location at the edge of the Western Water Catchment makes it a true campus in nature with numerous wildlife sightings.
The campus critter console device is like a real-life Pokédex, but instead of monitoring Pokémon, it targets the critters you might encounter on campus.
How it works
The portable device comes with a high-tech camera featuring advanced zoom and infrared functions, allowing you to snap pictures and videos of critters at any time of day. Its advanced AI can even determine the animal’s age, gender and health based on biomarker tracking.
Why we need it
“Students can take pictures of creatures they spot and ‘collect’ species photos, even when it is dark. With just a quick snap, the NTU community can help catalogue the biodiversity found on campus.
The device also provides users with advice on what to do and who to call if they encounter wildlife in need of help. Ultimately, this tool will help the NTU community coexist peacefully with wildlife.”
TIMETABLE TAPESTRY
Suggested by Joel Chern
English, Year 2
Putting together modules for the new semester is exciting, but the actual timetable planning can be tricky when classes clash.
How it works
A plug-in tool for the current STARS scheduler lets you input the modules you want to take each semester, the days you want to go to school, and how much time you intend to spend on campus each day. It even provides directions to your lesson venues.
Not only do you get your dream timetable with an interactive campus map, but you can also prompt the AI to customise the theme of your STARS timetable with words like “forest” or “cyberpunk”, just like how you might prompt Midjourney.
Why we need it
“The gizmo, a large billboard with touchscreen functions, builds timetable plans with classes that don’t clash. You can even prompt it to bring you on a quest around the virtual campus, using superpowers such as flying or teleportation. Practise navigating from your tutorial room to the lecture theatre via virtual reality headsets, so you’ll never get lost in our sprawling campus.”
This story was published in the Jul-Aug 2024 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
