2J TheStaemet / .Wdneday Spteber8, 01 I Wedesda, Setembr 8,-010 / ThS Staemen the statement Magazine Editor: Trevor Calero Editorin Chief: Jacob Smilovitz Managing Editor: Matt Aaronson DeputyEditor: Jenna Skoller Designers: Sara Boboltz Corey DeFever Photo Editor: Jed Moch Copy Editors: Erin Flannery Danqing Tang COVER PHOTO COURTESY OFYTHE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN PLASTINATION LABORATORY. The Statement is The Michigan Daily's news magazine, distributed every Wednesday during the academic year. To contact The State- met e-mail calero@michigandaily.com THEIDEASISSUE editor's note T our readers, In compiling this week's issue, Statement editors, with the help of Daily Staff Reporter Bethany Biron, scoured the University community for names, ideas and concepts from University professors, unit deans, student leaders and Ann Arbor residents alike. Though we had at first anticipated receiving a few dozen ideas, we eventually ended up with just under 100 submissions. In choosing the twelve ideas we would profile for this issue, we soon came to realize just how hard a task we had. And though our final list may not necessarily be the twelve best, it does begin to uncover just what amazing work is being done at this university, work that often times goes unnocited by the average student. Some of the ideas we weren't able to include: A device that recycles personal items to create new household products; an artificla foot that conserves energy, making it easier for amputees to walk; a protein cell that could potentially switch off cancer cells and technology that helps prevent automobile crashes. We hope that, in reading this issue, you'll begin to understand just what innova- tive, world-changing work is being done at this University. Thanks, Trevor Calero, Magazine Editor WELLO WATERWHEEL Creative thinking was the weapon of choice for Ross graduate Cynthia Koenig, who transformed an already existing concept into an innovative business and humanitarian effort. The concept of "rolling water" in the world's rural regions has been around for about 15 years as a meth- od of transporting water from far- away sources, Koenig said. It greatly alleviates the strain of traditional water collection - think balancing heavy pails of water on your head - by rolling the water across terrains for more efficient water retrieval. Two tools for rolling water have been introduced in South Africa, but these products only yielded lim- ited success as it was impossible for many rural residents to afford them. Koenig embarked on a bold ven- ture to make this concept of water transportation more accessible to rural residents. Wello, the non- profit company that she founded in January 2008, focuses primarily on the much-overlooked issue of water accessibility in rural areas around the globe. Koenig materialized her vision in the form of a WaterWheel, a dura- ble plastic container that is pushed much like a lawnmower and capable of transporting 20 gallons of water in one trip. Traditional water gath- ering methods only allowed about five gallons of water to be carried at once. To put this into perspec- tive, the United Nations Develop- ment Programme determined that humans require a minimum of five gallons of water per day to maintain reasonable health and hygiene. The WaterWheel makes this possible for a family of four. Through Wello, Koenig was able the address the limitations of both water accessibility and water retrieval by manufacturing the WaterWheel locally. Koenig said her idea involves bringing the fac- tory right into the rural community via onsite mobile manufacturing. The elimination of shipping costs will make her product more readily available to rural residents. Koenig envisions that residents can use the WaterWheel not only for personal use, but to transport water and goods to sell in their own com- munities. Koenig adds that on-site manufacturing of the product will also create more jobs for residents. Koenig has only recently returned from field testing the product in Raj- asthan, India, looking at potential markets and usability of her prod- uct. Koenig adds that she has also developed partnerships with Indian organizations like Barefoot College and Seva Mandir to aid her venture. -LILLIANXIAO CAR NETWORKING In an age of social networking, there are numerous ways to satisfy a Face- book or Twitter fix on the go. From laptops, to cell phones, to iPads, it's nearly impossible not to be con- nected. And with the help of a team of past and present University stu- dents, social networking may soon be extended to the automobile. The team - comprised of Engi- neering graduates Collin Hockey, John Ciccone and Joe Phillips and School of Information student Sangmi Park - developed Caravan Track, an in-car application that allows multiple cars to connect and share information while on the road. Caravan Track can relay informa- tion between cars, like current loca- tion, speed and fuel level to make planning within a group easier. They created the program last spring as part of a social network- ing and transportation applica- tion competition offered through a University course called "Cloud Computing in the Commute." The contest, sponsored by Ford Research and Advanced Engineering, chal- lenged students to create the future of in-car technology. The program also serves as an effort to decrease cell phone use while driving, as it allows drivers to communicate with one another through prewritten messages that are read aloud over other vehicles' stereos. The idea for the application was inspired from the team's personal experiences with group travel. "If you've ever been on a long-dis- tance trip involving multiple cars, you know that it's a pain to keep things organized," Phillips said. "It involves lots of phone calls and con- fusion. I like to know what's going on and to be able to communicate rapidly, and this application puts almost all the required communica- tion and information in one place." For winning the contest, the team got a chance to test out their inven- tion in a Ford Fiesta during a two- week road trip from Ann Arbor to San Mateo, Calif. where they dis- played their invention at Maker Faire-a science and technology- based fair that celebrates student inventions. A South African na- tive carries a water pail. Wello aims to elimate this type of transport by creat- ing more accessible mater sources. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Koenig Ciccone said he sees this program as a step toward the future of auto- mobile technology. "I think we will eventually see desktop-class computer applications - in vehicles, like those created for this class," Ciccone said. "Driving will become a more social and inter- active experience." - BRIENNE PRUSAK I YOU CAN NOW READ THE DAILY ON YOUR PHONE. AWESOME, WE KNOW. Check us out at m.michigandaily.com. A 734.302.4277 1st STOP AUTO CARE 907 N Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 West side of the street, north side of Van Winkle Mattress Co. Drop your car offin the morning, sleep better atnight Service Coupon 734.302.4277 www.1ststopautocare. com tItter.VUN/ sStopAOuoOar Service Coupon 734.302.4277 w1.tstopautocare.com twitter.com/lstStopAutoCare Follow us on Twitter to receive additonal coupons Oil Change: $10.95 + Tax and disposal fee 5 qts 10w/30 oil, filter Tire rotation with oil change: $5.00 907 N MainStireet, Ann Arbor MI 48104 Quality Used Tires! 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