Observation Learning System (OBSY) at the Maker Faire 2017

A sensor-based educational learning tool for young learners called OBSY (Observation Learning System), designed by Pruet Putjorn, from the School of Engineering and Digital Arts, was selected to join the Maker Faire 2017 at the International Centre for Life, Newcastle Upon Tyne on 1-2 April 2017.

The Maker Faire UK is a two day family friendly festival of invention and creativity, bringing together over 300 hackers, crafters, coders, DIYers and garden shed inventors from across the globe – people who love to make stuff and who want to share their passion with the public.

OBSY is part of Pruet’s PhD research project in Digital Arts under the supervision of Dr Jim Ang and Dr Farzin Deravi. Primary school students can use OBSY technology to learn key science concepts by collecting environmental data using wireless sensors and then interpreting the data on mobile devices.

The OBSY device is designed as a 3D printed cartoon “octopus” with various sensor “tentacles”, allowing OBSY to gather data from the surrounding environment.

OBSY shone with success at the Faire and engaged a wide audience including reprsentatives from Raspberry Pi Foundation, Kickstarter, Hackster.io, school teachers and young children. School pupils had fun using OBSY to take photos, observe weather information and measure the moisture content in an orange.