Lots of new things in the last few months. Starting a new job from home, running a co-op site, and then there are the usual shenanigans that occur due to homeschooling, holidays, having a kid who is Type 1, and another who is gluten intolerant and corn allergic.... phew!
With all that going on we somehow managed to hit the Orlando Science Center one day last week right when they were having Otronicon. Surprise! The place was packed! I have never seen so many people at the OSC and I had no idea what Otronicon was... but it was really cool! Basically it is their interactive technology celebration . So what is that? Gamers, medical and military simulators, robots, balloon guys, etc.
Who was there ? Lockheed Martin, Sony, Florida Hospital, Ekso Bionics, Ollo, First, etc... I know there were many more, and I am sure I forgot a lot of big players in this arena but this isn't my forte so, you will have to excuse me for leaving them out...
In case you are interested , here is a link to the event, who was there, and what was presented....
http://www.otronicon.org/
So on to the pictures and captions
Submersible robot that all of the kids got to pilot
First Robotics. This was too cool and I learned that they have programs for kids K-12 on Robotics. They have conventions and competitions, and even scholarships! They will even help you organize a group in your area.
http://www.usfirst.org/
Below are picture of some of the robots that kids in the " First" program have created.
The Balloon Man... impressive.. but not sure what the connection was with Otronicon... apparently you can hire him for events.
http://noordinaryballoonman.com/site/
Arcade!!!
Ollo- cool products for kids, this man is demoing one of the robots.
O..k. , I didn't stop at this booth but I had to get a picture of the "Exploding Bacon" pig ....basically a Frisbee shooter.
This was the military section and they were showing the JRMbot. This has to do with human and robot interaction.
This was about using cameras and thermal imaging for police. It was hands on and very fun! The kids all tried using the controller to move the camera around in the building and pick up heat signatures off of people and machinery. The images were amazingly detailed and clear!
Here we entered the section on nanotechnology
O.k. this last image.... Ekso Bionics , the Ekso Skeleton. This was amazing! I have to tell you though, I left with the biggest headache afterwards because the entire time all I could do was try not to cry! I literally felt like I was going to bust and I did not want to be a blubbering baby in front of everyone there at the OSC.... So what is it? Oh, only a wearable robotic exoskeleton that allows paraplegics to walk. Yup, and they demoed it right there in front of everyone. We saw a woman roll in in a wheelchair, get in the Ekso skeleton, and walk across the room!!! Amazing, can I cry now! Seriously it was like a miracle!
So all in all, a very unexpected, fun, and emotional day! So glad we were there!
If you are looking for a fun place to hang out with your whole family, check out the Orlando Science Center, we love it!
Oh, and check out their homepage because I hear they have amazing summer camps for your kiddos!
