How can bicycle mobility become more attractive? 21 pupils of the new Industrial Business Class of the HAK Hallein developed together with experts from the European initiative “DOIT” innovative, sustainable ideas with the help of digital technologies. On Monday, the youngsters presented the ideas they had created and their own prototypes.

The European initiative “DOIT” under the direction of Salzburg Research wants to inspire children and young people to tackle social challenges. The DOIT methods and materials should inspire social innovation and communicate entrepreneurial thinking, know-how and skills. From September to October 2019, the second pilot phase of the research project DOIT for the scientific study of processes and effects took place at the BHAK/BHAS Hallein.

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21 students in BHAK/BHAS Hallein’s new “Industrial Business” field have developed prototypes in 15 working hours using digital technologies – 3D printers, Makey Makey, LEDs, etc. Smart bike accessories were created to stimulate the developed models, prototypes and products as well as the process, as they were created in the last weeks, were presented to experts from bicycle technology and sustainable mobility as well as parents, teachers and all other interested people.

“Our society needs creativity and new solutions. Entrepreneurial action and the development of innovative ideas can be learned and experienced – this was impressively demonstrated by the workshops based on the DOIT approach and great results have been eachieved for the future”, says Elke Austerhuber, Professor of BHAK/BHAS Hallein.

Innovative Prototypes for More Sustainability

“The workshops with the students confirmed our previous research results: the young people see themselves as effective inventors and have learned that technologies can be used actively and effectively in the development process”, says Sandra Schön from Salzburg Research, coordinator of the Europe-wide research project DOIT.

The ideas of the students are varied and intended for different cyclists: one team developed a mobile phone charger, another a seat heater. Another ideas was a children’s helmet that flashes in all colors when the child drives into a dense traffic area. Another team designed a rain cover that spreads in the wet. With the help of VR glasses, the idea of another group can mark dangerous situations in traffic. An app was also designed: In the Tennengau app there is information for locals and guests and the opportunity to “cycle” for vouchers at local businesses.

Petra Stabauer, a colleague at Salzburg Research, congratulated the adolescents: “Today I got to know some great ideas which I will introduce to my colleagues in the research project simplicity – where we investigate technology-based stimulation methods and tools, among other things with regard to bicycle mobility.”

DOIT – Entrepreneurial Skills for Young Social Innovators in an Open Digital World

The European research initiative “DOIT” under the direction of Salzburg Research aims to inspire pupils (6-16 years) for social innovation and impart entrepreneurial thinking, know-how and skills. For this purpose, the DOIT program and learning materials are developed and tested on a scientific basis, with which it is possible to develop new impulses for creative thinking and acting.

In the three-year project period, the use and impact of the DOIT innovation-promoting program and the various methods in ten European countries will be tested and scientifically evaluated. The materials are then freely available to interested educational institutions or young learners for information and further use.

The research project is funded by the European Union in the Horizon 2020 program (grant number 770063).
www.doit-europe.net