Student flexes inventing skills to help workplace muscles run smoothly

A RAINWATER harvesting system, a dairy refrigerator for developing nation farmers and a device to flex your wrists have been named among the most impressive new projects at a design contest.

As part of the DESIGNed10 competition at University of Limerick, dozens of students have for the past week been showcasing their inventor talents.

The event is free and open until Friday, with a number of devices any designer would be proud of already on display.

Among the most impressive designs, all of which were developed by students on the college’s Bachelor of Science in Product Design and Technology programme, were two developed by Cork students.

The Emoto invented by Stephen Lowney, from Clonakilty, has been described as a product “for the workplace of tomorrow”.

Designed to give the user full motion of their wrists and to encourage them to flex the joint in order to prevent injury, the small product can be placed on a desk and used for just one minute an hour for effect.

A second design, created by Carrigaline-native Gerard Kiely, is known as the Blitz Board, acts as a training device which can be used to increase the strength of the user’s ankles.

It can be used by an individual at any fitness level, on any surface and, through a download function, can also be used for tracking the user’s exercise schedule.

Niall DeLoughry, course director of the Bachelor of Science in Product Design and Technology at UL – which runs the yearly exhibit – said the objects on display highlighted the talent still apparent in this country.

“These designs reflect the balance between excellent practical application and high quality visual design.

“A number of this year’s designs have been developed in conjunction with fourth level research initiatives in UL, in particular in the area of physical education and sports sciences,” he said.