08 February 2008
Deansrath Community College student receives Young Scientists Award
Student Alan Byrne from Deansrath Community College, Clondalkin, has won the Health Promotion Board sponsored special prize at the 2008 Young Scientist and Technology exhibition, which was held in January in the RDS.
Alan has come up with an amazing solution to help the visually impaired move about more freely. His idea evolved from the workings of a car park sensor, and how it beeps when it comes closer to an object. He attached a sensor with an earpiece to a belt which can be worn by the person; this allows the person to be more aware of objects and their proximity.
Since winning the award there has been great interest in the device with some initial offers to develop the prototype further. His achievements have also been mentioned in national and local newspapers and periodicals such as the Irish Medical News.
According to Mary Banks, Alans’ science teacher, this award is well deserved, "Being visually impaired himself he has an extra connection to the project".
Deansrath Community College Principal Maria A. Shannon stated "the whole school community is so proud of Alan. He has always been a terrific student and his invention though simple in concept has the potential to change people’s lives".
