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Paper Computing Among the Young

Posted by timothy on from the congratulations dept.

PpCNerds writes: "On April 10th, 2002, Dearborn High School students Mark Stanislav, Luke Duncan, and James Turner won First Place Gold in the Science and Engineering Fair of Metropolitan Detroit with their 'Paper Computer' Practical Application project. Many may remember the Paper Computer from past Slashdot and Wired Magazine articles. With the help from friend and Computer Engineering student Alex Fisher, who is also quite handy at this sort of thing (Wearable Computer), the group of geeks were able to turn this project into a success in the eyes of SEFMD judges with 2 and 1/2 months of research and contacting people in the field. This win takes Mark, Luke, and James to the Intel sponsored International competition in Louisville, Kentucky."

16 comments

  1. I'm at a loss of words by seann · · Score: 1

    or.. images.

    What does this thing look like?
    is it just a hacked up wireless net card + x10 camera, etc?

    More details please?

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    I'm a big retard who forgot to log out of Slashdot on Mike's computer! LOOK AT ME.
  2. Ouch by BrianGa · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...the group of geeks were able to turn this project...

    Sure, label them geeks on one a large, national web site. That will go over real big in the locker room at High School...

    1. Re:Ouch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Fortunately for them, most high school jocks don't read Slashdot.

    2. Re:Ouch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      1) I know these guys and they are geeks. Especially Luke. Yikes is he a geek.
      2) They don't have gym, why would they go to the locker room
      3) I am still so much better than them in so many ways!

      Alex X!

    3. Re:Ouch by aztektum · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah but what self respecting jock will own up to /.?

      "He's a geek!" "How do you know?" "Uh..."

      --
      :: aztek ::
      No sig for you!!
  3. More disposable electronics! by andaru · · Score: 3, Insightful
    One of the possible uses mentioned is take-out menus from restaurant chains.

    I'm sorry, but the paper ones that litter the sidewalk daily are bad enough without having disposable electronics in them.

    Now we can wash more lead and mercury into the bay! Remember, just because you can throw it away, doesn't mean you have to. I've been using the same disposable razor for 15 years now :).

    Seriously, though, I think the focus should be about extending the use life of the things we produce, not decreasing it. Until recently, I had a 100MHz system which had only just started to be unsuitable for what I do (I'm a software engineer, so I edit text more often than I watch movies). When I got my new system, I found someone who could realistically use my old system (for email, web surfing, and 1 or 2 track pro-audio recording (it has Digigram audio hardware) ).

    The next time you have an urge to run out and buy some cool toy, ask yourself two questions: 1.) do I really want this, and 2.) who can realistically use my old one?

    --

    Why is Grand Theft Auto a much more serious crime than Reckless Driving?

    1. Re:More disposable electronics! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Good thoughts, but a bit impractical for some of us.

      I just last week decommissioned my old Pentium 90Mhz. I tried to give to my local public school, but it was far too slow for them (this is not a snooty suburban school either, its probably 80% low-income students).

      I guess I'll just recycle it, but it seems these days "recycle" is just a synonym for "dump somewhere in china."

      If anything, I feel inclined to upgrade more often as a result, so that I may give away older equipment before it becomes completely worthless.

  4. I'll take a notebook full of paper computers by PD · · Score: 3, Funny

    And I'll just write "A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer" on the front cover.

    --
    If tits were wings it'd be flying around.
  5. The ever powerfull google by Catskul · · Score: 2, Informative

    voyez-le
    http://www.wdhsvideo.org/wdhs/wearable/

    --

    Im not here now... Im out KILLING pepperoni
    1. Re:The ever powerfull google by seann · · Score: 1

      over priced.. 5K?

      --
      I'm a big retard who forgot to log out of Slashdot on Mike's computer! LOOK AT ME.
    2. Re:The ever powerfull google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      You have to remember that you're including labor fees. ...these aren't little chinese sweat-shop workers building this, heh.

    3. Re:The ever powerfull google by teamhasnoi · · Score: 1
      If this is true:

      His name is Ralph. He is a fully functional computer, that can surf the net, play games and write papers at the same time as you walk down the hall, walk to your car or as you're sitting in class.

      I would most likely 'Ralph' trying to do all those things simultaneously.

  6. This is rediculous by Catskul · · Score: 2, Informative

    It seems like all they did is buy all of the components and plug everything in (with the exception of the power supply).

    http://www.wdhsvideo.org/wdhs/wearable/meet_ral. ht m

    --

    Im not here now... Im out KILLING pepperoni
    1. Re:This is rediculous by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Um, read the article closely. Metropolitan Detroit. That's where this won the science fair. Not to jump on Detroit, but that's a very, very poor school district with what we call "challenged" kids.

    2. Re:This is rediculous by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Look, this isn't Detroit, this is Dearborn. Not to throw your comment to shame but it seems that some of the most successful people have come out of this school district. Don't stereotype Detroit assclown

    3. Re:This is rediculous by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is kinda funny how dumb you really are. You try and bash a high school project, yet you don't even bash the right project! Read the slashdot story, it was for a Paper computer, and they refered to the wearable as a project another student worked on. Also, had you read the details of the wearable, you would realize how wrong you really are. The parts were not off the shelf, many were built by the students. Next time, at least get the story right before you go off on your jeleous rants.