And the winners are...
The Competition entries were judged by Phil Willis, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, with Ackrill Newspapers' Jenni Moulson and Clever Association's Director, Richard Jones. Phil Willis is very supportive of, and interested in, technological development and particularly in encouraging young people towards a future in technology and science.
The prize giving ceremony was held at Rudding Park Hotel, Harrogate, on Friday 27th November. Rudding Park very kindly donated the room, with food and refreshments.
The overall competition winner was Jack Schofield, aged 13, from King James' School in Knaresborough. His invention was the 'Auto Translator' a device that could translate language instantaneously via earphones, but better still, can translate back to the other person when the listener speaks into a microphone. Phil Willis said at the prize-giving he had never seen such a fantastic idea and said if it was ever developed, it would be an instant worldwide success.
Jack won a Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin iPod speaker, with an iPod Nano, but also won an interactive white board for his school.
Competition winner Jack Schofield receiving his prize from Clever Association’s Richard Jones and Harrogate & Knaresborough MP Phil Willis.
There were two runners-up, McLain Broussard of Ashville College in Harrogate and Olivia Trowell of Harrogate Ladies' College. McLain and Olivia each won the newly-launched Bowers & Wilkins' Zeppelin Mini iPod speaker.
Competition runner-up McLain Broussard receiving her prize from Clever Association’s Richard Jones, with her parents Stephanie and Jason Broussard.
McLain Broussard invented 'Talk to the Hand' (a great title). The invention is a bracelet phone, designed to work like an iPhone, except with a two-way hologram which could show the caller sitting or standing on your hand - a very alternative type of videophone! The bracelet ensures that you never need to worry about losing your mobile phone again. McLain also drew fantastic coloured diagrams of how the gadget would work on the human hand.
Competition runner-up Olivia Trowell with (L-R) her teacher Claire Preece; parents Nick and Frances Trowell with Phil Willis MP.
Olivia Trowell, the other runner-up, invented a revolutionary 'projector phone' which can project an image onto an interactive whiteboard and the images can be touched and moved around, as if on a computer screen. The projector has all the features of ordinary mobile phones too, such as texting, volume control and a speaker.
Competition winners - from L to R: McLain Broussard; Jack Schofield; Harrogate & Knaresborough MP Phil Willis; Clever Association’s Richard Jones and Olivia Trowell at the prize-giving.
