The text on this page was automatically translated and hence may differ from the original. No rights can be derived from this translation.
On Tuesday, September 19, a new semester of "Producer Learning" started in the ICT Lab Utrecht for the fourth time in a row. Thirteen students from the ICT College in Nieuwegein visited Dialogic in Utrecht for the kick-off.
Smart City and Smart Technology projects
Sven Maltha, director of Dialogic and initiator of ICT Lab Utrecht, informed, prepared, and challenged the students for the upcoming Smart City and Smart Technology projects in an engaging manner.
Practical challenge
After a general information session outlining the ICT Lab, the ICT students were immediately faced with a practical challenge. In the first task, they had to come up with a problem or innovation and write a project plan for it. Key questions included: What is the problem/innovation, how will you tackle it, and what do you need for it?
Talking pillbox
The students enthusiastically began working on the challenge and presented surprising outcomes. One of them was an ICT application for an Anabox (pillbox) that assists elderly people living alone in taking medication at scheduled times. A medical wristband with a speaker reminds the individual to take their medication. If already taken, it is recorded in the system via the smart switch on the Anabox.
Web app for vending machine
Another innovation presented was the remote registration and monitoring of stock items in various vending machines (beverage, candy, and snack machines). Keystrokes during purchases track sales and remaining stock levels. The administrator can read sales data per machine through a web application. This information helps decide when to restock the machine, preventing unnecessary trips for full machines.
Managing traffic flow
For the second task, students had to develop an ICT solution for an existing problem: guiding the traffic bringing beach visitors to Scheveningen to four different parking areas on a hot summer day to avoid congestion and prevent visitors from parking in residential areas near the beach.
Following sharp discussions, brainstorming creative ideas, and much consultation, several practical and useful solutions were presented. Dialogic's team leaders were pleasantly surprised by the participants' creativity and solution-oriented thinking. This demonstrated that the students have the necessary knowledge and skills to engage in ICT-related projects. They also gained a clear understanding of what will be expected from them in the coming months.
Scrum training and Agile
Prior to commencing the development projects, on Tuesday, September 26, students received practical SCRUM training from Jim Dunk, lecturer in Application Development and Project Management at the ICT College. This training will enable them to work Agile and take on roles within the scrum team during the project period.
In the afternoon, the students were individually interviewed by the director of ICT Lab Utrecht. Based on their knowledge, skills, interests, and project preferences, project teams were formed.
On Tuesday, October 3, the three project teams officially started at ICT Lab Utrecht located in Dialogic's office.
Did you know that ICT Lab Utrecht has been nominated for a prestigious award?