INDUCTEES: 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007

The 2002 Inductees

Left to Right: Ryan Patterson, Gabe Klapman, Peter Lee, Ezra Rapoport, Lisa Wright, Harris Sokoloff, Anthony Jarecki

After struggling to lift heavy trash bags out of the trash can and cleaning up spilled trash, Anthony designed a trash removal system to alleviate the problem. His invention consists of a large trash can with a hinged and locking door cut in the side to prevent the door from opening until ready to use for trash removal. Two attachments are included - one to hold extra bags and the other for twist ties. When ready to empty the trash, open the locks, slide the trash bag out of the can using a twist tie to close the bag and set it aside. Close and lock the trash can door and put in a new trash bag in the can. Take trash to designated area. No heavy lifting or spills!

National Contest won: The 2001 Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors

Gabe Klapman, 18 and Peter Alexander Lee, 17 - Big Array System
[comic strip]

Gabe and Peter have two hearing impaired friends who struggle even with hearing aids due to too much ambient sound. Gabe and Peter have designed a new directional hearing aid with a two-directional array of 8 to 18 microphones spaced appropriately to amplify the sounds of all voice frequencies coming from directly in front of the wearer. The sound signals are then digitally processed in a custom chip to diminish the sounds from other directions. The amplified output is then connected to a conventional hearing aid transducer. This new technology is inexpensive and can be built into personal accessories such as hats and briefcases.

National Contest won: Siemens Westinghouse Science & Technology Competition
2001 - National Semifinalist and Regional Finalist

Ryan Patterson, 19 - The American Sign Language Translator
[comic strip]

Many people who have a communication disability have learned American Sign Language but are unable to communicate because the person they are trying to communicate with does not know sign language. Ryan has modified a golf glove to translate American Sign Language and display the characters on a small screen so that people read what the signer is saying. This technology opens the world to many of the over 46 million Americans currently trapped behind a communications barrier.

National Contest won: Intel International Science & Engineering Fair 2001 - Top Honors;
Siemens Westinghouse Science & Technology Competition 2001 - First Place;
Intel Science Talent Search - 2002 - First Place

Ezra Jacob Rapoport, 18 - Speech Compression Engine Based on Principal Analysis
[comic strip]

Ezra has developed a solution to one of the top telecommunications problems, that of the compression of the speech signal to a low-bandwidth transmission. This technology will enable cost-effective and reliable speaking over the Internet, cellular telephones or video conferencing without impinging on the available bandwidths necessary for phone and data transmission or the necessity of adding bandwidths to meet the needs of these emerging technologies.

National Contest won: Neuroscience Creativity Prize - 2001
Intel Science Talent Search - 2002 - Finalist

Harris Sokoloff, 18 - HEADS UP (Headphone Emergency Alert Defense System)
[comic strip]

After interviewing several Los Angeles Police Department officials about the number of injuries and deaths due to people wearing headsets to listen to music or other media, Harris developed his concept for an emergency alert system. The system overrides the media coming through the headset with an emergency alert message to gain their attention to any loud noises or sirens in their immediate vicinity. This could reduce death or injury to numerous joggers, walkers or bikers by alerting them to possible danger that they would otherwise have been unaware of.

National Contest won: Duracell/NSTA Invention Challenge - 2000 - 5th Place
Lemelson-MIT High School Invention Contest 2001 - Finalist

Lisa Marie Wright, 15 - Auto-off Candle
[comic strip]

Current popularity of lighted candles has led to an increase in property damage and deaths nationwide due to fires started by candles. After noticing candles inadvertently left burning at home, Lisa developed a system of metal bands to control the burn time of candles. A person selects the desired burn time, and the candle will go out automatically when the bands, which cuts off the fuel for the flame, are reached. To reuse the candles just reset the bands and light.

National Contest won: Student Ideas for a Better America - 1999-2000