Launch Projects
During the final six months of the program, students join teams to tackle a problem or challenge proposed by a GIX Consortium member, non-profit partner, faculty member, or fellow student. Projects differ from year to year depending on project sponsors, and typically span a broad array of disciplines and technologies. View selected projects below.
T-Mobile Tech Experience and GIX: Partners in Innovation
T-Mobile Tech Experience has been a consortium member of the Global Innovation Exchange (GIX), an MS program in Technology Innovation at the University of Washington since 2018 – that’s 5 years of innovating with bright minds to create solutions for local and global impact. Hear from Erin, Linda, and few mentors and graduate students on the impact this partnership has, and how everyone involved benefits from this perfect match.
Gaia Cam (Microsoft AI for Good)
According to the World Economic Forum studies, each year more than 8 million tons of plastic waste ends up in the ocean. It is estimated that just 10 river systems contribute 90% of the ocean plastic. These plastics leach toxic chemicals that endanger both aquatic and human life.
Microsoft’s AI for Good team partnered with GIX students to develop an integrated system of IoT devices that use computer vision devices to collect data on plastic waste in rivers. By deploying multiple devices along rivers, they can locate pollution sources based on data analysis.
Uniband (Student-led)
Each year, approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but there is no sustainable service or product that allows individuals with PD and their doctors to consistently track their treatment progress over time. By developing a tremor-tracking wristband and a companion app, the team’s solution collects data on tremor intensity, diet, physical activity, and medication insight.
This detailed report helps doctors improve treatment outcomes based on more accurate individual data, and ultimately improve the lives of people who have Parkinson’s disease.
Team A-Eye (Microsoft AI for Good)
Over 370 million people in the world suffer from an eye disease, most commonly diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, or glaucoma. Currently, detection and diagnoses of these diseases require both a highly trained ophthalmologist and a clinical fundus camera costing over $20,000 thus rendering ophthalmology inaccessible throughout developing parts of the world.
With the help of Microsoft AI for good, GIX students developed A-Eye a mobile retina camera designed for users who are not medical professionals. This low-cost and portable camera utilizes unique software and hardware techniques to capture high-quality fundus images at a low cost, eliminating the need for ophthalmologists to perform retinal imaging.
BattReuse (Student-led)
Global efforts to mitigate climate change through both e-mobility and energy storage are curtailed by hidden costs associated with Lithium-Ion batteries: high energy intensity, limited cycle life, and disposal barriers. GIX partnered with UW-spinoff BattGenie to develop a use case and market entry point for growing technology.
BattREuse then developed framework to collect and analyze data, a configurable dashboard UI and a battery management system paired with BattGenie’s novel physics-based battery control model. BattREuse narrowed their focus to second-life applications ultimately leveraging a partnership with a hybrid bus fleet repurposing retired bus batteries into second-life energy storage systems.
Empathics (Vulcan)
75% of careers are derailed for reasons related to emotional interactions, including the inability to handle interpersonal problems, adapt to change, and elicit trust. Success, in many careers, is heavily dependent upon the ability to communicate, empathize, and connect with others.
With the help of Vulcan, GIX students developed a real-time wearable emotion analysis system. By leveraging Vuzix’s HD camera and noise-canceling mics, they collect face images and audio data to analyze. After computing on the cloud, the glasses provide haptic and visual feedback to users, so that they are aware of their conversation partner’s emotions in real-time.
Team Dragonfruit (T-Mobile)
With a nationwide launch of 5G network, T-Mobile has the potential to radically innovate how it’s customers interact with and experience cellular data. With this great potential, many customers are unaware of the incredible capabilities of 5G.
T-Mobile partnered with Team Dragonfruit at GIX to develop an AR experience that teaches T-Mobile’s retail customers about 5G’s capabilities and offerings. The engaging 2-part game showcases the low latency of 5G and teaches retail customers about the benefits of 5G and T-Mobile’s 5G-related product and offerings.
Diversita (Microsoft AI for Earth)
In collaboration with Microsoft: AI for Earth, students designed and developed a sophisticated and low-cost backyard camera trap that integrates machine learning (ML) on the Edge, connectivity, and cloud services to offer a real-time window into biodiversity.
The device can capture and identify over 5,000 species and has built-in notification/alert features to inform the user in real time when species are spotted.
After conversations with conservationists, ecologists, and wildlife researchers, the students determined the technology could potentially be applied to support new methods of conservation research and management, and to inform conservation policies.
FlaminGo (T-Mobile)
In collaboration with T-Mobile, students designed and developed an augmented reality (AR) mobile game that explores and showcases the capabilities of the 5G network.
By leveraging the high-speed, low-latency, and wide bandwidth features of 5G, students were able to implement an AR experience that integrates real-time and multi-player collaborations.
SparkEd (Lanxum)
In collaboration with Lanxum, students designed and developed an educational game app that allows parents to personalize and remotely guide their child’s learning experience. It provides parents with the opportunity to customize the lessons and skills they teach their children, relative to their own values and beliefs. The game incorporates AI capabilities like image processing, voice interaction, and drawing recognition.
UbiRight (Student-led)
UbiRight is an original content monetization platform that provides a tamper-proof blockchain timestamp for original written and visual content posted online.
UbiRight strives to make copyright protection available to the masses. By providing access to copyright protection in a way that’s simple, free, and timely, UbiRight are demystifying and removing the barriers that currently exist in the process of pursuing legal copyright licensing.
PlayerX (Kico)
In collaboration with Kico, students designed and developed a mobile app to help transplants connect with other foreigners and locals in the area. The number of Seattle newcomers has increased in the last eight years by 20%, and out of those, only 29% have felt welcomed by locals.
With the goal to boost the sense of community in the Seattle area, and help people make new, lasting friendships, the app strategically connects people that frequent the same places and engage in similar activities.