Intel Press Release

Oregon Students Invent the Future as Part of Intel Contest

Intel Honors 10 Finalists at Private Reception Hosted at "America's Smithsonian"

PORTLAND, Ore., April 9, 1997 -- A device that helps adults to walk again after a debilitating accident, a mobile power plant that harnesses the energy generated by the ocean's currents and a machine that chills beverages in mere seconds. These are among the inventions submitted by the 10 finalists from middle schools in Oregon as part of Intel Corporation's "Invention of the Future" contest.

The "Invention of the Future" contest is designed to encourage creativity and innovation, as well as strengthen students' math and science skills. Organized for students in grades five through nine, the competition challenges today's youth to invent something that will improve their future. The 10 finalists will be honored guests at Intel's reception tonight and will be recognized during the awards ceremony. Their artwork and descriptions of their inventions will be on display at the "America's Smithsonian" exhibition throughout the evening. The grand prize winner will be the lucky recipient of a 200 MHz Pentium® processor-based system with MMX™ technology; an identical system will also be sent to the winner's school. The grand prize winner's invention will be on display at the exhibition and on Intel's World Wide Web home page. It will then travel with the "America's Smithsonian" exhibition for the remainder of the tour.

About the Contest
The grand prize winner is Jennifer Stonewall, 12, from Beaverton, Ore. Jennifer's entry, "Smart Alarm," is a smoke detector system which, in the event of a fire, provides all members of a household with the peace of mind of knowing that everyone has safely exited the burning building. The three-part system consists of a smoke detector, individual "Smart Buddy" units, and a "Smart Master" parent unit. The smoke detector has been modified so that someone's cry for help can be heard between intermittent beeps. The individual "Smart Buddy" units, in the form of a bracelet, watch, pet's collar, or vibrating unit for the hearing-impaired, emit different sound tones for each person so it is easy to identify which member of the household is missing. Only the "Smart Master" parent unit has the ability to deactivate the "Smart Buddy" units.

"I was very moved by a recent story in the news about a woman who died in a house fire when she went back into the house to save her dog," said Stonewall. "I realized that most of the people who die in fires die when they run back into a burning house because they are not sure if everyone is out. The 'Smart Alarm' allows you to take back control over your home and not risk your life by trying to save other people when you do not have to."

All of the entries demonstrated the students' creativity and understanding of the patent and invention process. Perhaps as significant are the social issues touched on by students who participated in the contest. Generating more than 275 entries within a four-week period, students and teachers rallied to propose solutions to such social concerns as natural energy conservation, tree preservation and traffic safety. The entries remind us that our children are well aware of the social issues that affect their everyday lives. Their thoughtfulness demonstrates a welcome dedication to changing things for the better.

"Intel's 'Invention of the Future' contest was a great medium to spur the students' problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, while reinforcing the need to be concerned about other people's welfare," said Sherri Roberti, Jennifer's teacher from Conestoga Middle School. "On the whole, the students seem optimistic about their future, as was reflected in their creativity with their contest entries."

Technology Literacy Programs
As a Corporate Partner of the Smithsonian's 150th anniversary celebration, Intel has a unique opportunity to reach a diverse national audience with its commitment to helping people understand and enjoy technology. As the world's largest chip maker, Intel has played a significant role in the information revolution and in the development of today's computer. In fact, Intel also had something to celebrate in 1996: the 25th anniversary of Intel's introduction of the microprocessor, the "brain" of the computer. In addition to its "Invention of the Future" contest, Intel has organized a number of technology literacy programs for Portland and surrounding areas. On display at the "America's Smithsonian" exhibition is Intel's very own 3,000 square-foot technology exhibit, complete with a 14-foot tall walk-in computer, live computer stations where visitors can experiment with the Intel Video Phone, as well as a movie called "More Than You Ever Imagined," starring a talking microprocessor named Chip.

Intel also sponsored a "Field Trip of Dreams" in which 3,000 students from 25 Portland-area schools will receive an all-expense paid trip to the "America's Smithsonian" exhibition and an overnight "camp-in" at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), including the "Giants of Gobi" exhibit. The students, whose schools were selected in a random drawing, will receive meals, T-shirts, snacks and bus rides to and from the exhibits.

In each of the stops along the "America's Smithsonian" tour, Intel's PC DadsSM have been teaching people about the joys of computing in a down-home and engaging way. Without using any techno-talk, the PC Dads guide the non-techie in all of us through the "PC Frontier," while providing tips on buying computers, raising computer-savvy children, safely going online and choosing children's educational software. In Portland, which is also the PC Dads' hometown, they appeared at the OMSI on March 25. All of these illustrate the values that Intel shares with the Smithsonian Institution: a common commitment to learning and discovery, to innovation and progress.

Student Finalists
The following students will be honored tonight as finalists in the "Invention of the Future" contest:

  • Molly Edmunds, 10, from Portland, Ore., whose invention was the "Timer Toothbrush"
  • Ann Ferry, 14, from Brookings, Ore., for the "Accident Preventer"
  • Shannon Fitzmorris, 14, from Aloha, Ore., for the "Nitro Wave"
  • Betsy Gwilliam, 13, from Brookings, Ore., for the "Phone Friend Deluxe"
  • Michael Isaac, 12, from Salem, Ore., for the "Page Saver"
  • Kara Jackson, 10, from South Salem, Ore., for the "Monster Go Away Spray"
  • Bryce McGowan, 13, from Lebannon, Ore., for the "PT Zoomer"
  • Zach Starr, 15, from Bend, Ore., for the "Ocean Current Power Plant"
  • Jennifer Stonewall, 12, from Beaverton, Ore., for the "Smart Alarm"
  • Damian Wylie, 12, from St. Paul, Ore., for the "E-Book"

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