Concern for Grandfather Inspires Wi-Fi Wristband

What started out as concern for his grandfather developed into a design concept for a new product and a subsequent award for Caldwell resident Bayan Abdi.

Abdi, a 2008 graduate of and current junior majoring in mechanical engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), had listened to his father worry about his grandfather living alone in Bloomfield. 

"It was difficult. My grandfather did not want to tell anyone about his health concerns," Abdi explained. With the extended family separated by several miles, Abdi was concerned they would find out too late if his grandfather had a medical emergency.

Abdi's brainchild, Elder Monitor, is a WiFi wristband that would provide continuous monitoring of vital signs and physical accidents.

Encouraged by his finance professor at NJIT, Prof. Michael A. Ehrlich, Abdi worked to develop a prototype and entered his design into the 2011 Newark Innovation Acceleration Challenge sponsored by NJIT and Capital One Bank.

In this challenge, college students pitch their business concepts to executives from Captial One, local angel investors, as well as faculty and staff from NJIT.

Winning teams have the opportunity to develop their business concepts next summer at NJIT's Enterprise Development Center, an organization devoted to nurturing technology and life sciences start-up businesses. Since its inception in 1988, it has overseen the development of over 85 successful businesses.

With gudiance from Capital One Executives and NJIT staff, students at the Center will receive hands-on business training, as well as learn the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in their local economy. 

After coming up with his idea for the contest, Abdi spent many hours developing a prototype. "It was a lot of work getting everything to work together and fit," he said.

His efforts eventually paid off when he was selected as one of six finalists out of 25 applicants. Earlier this month, he presented his prototype to the judges and was awarded honorable mention. 

While the Elder Monitor was not selected for the Enterprise Development Center summer program, Abdi eventually hopes to develop it for personal use.

He also plans to continue designing products, but has something much larger than a wristband in mind.

"Ideally, I would like to design cars one day," he said.

The three winning student teams that were awarded the Capital One Innovation Acceleration Fellowship include: EnSYR, led by Asim Zaman of Bridgewater, which aims to create fuel cells to convert household waste into a sustainable source of electricity; Geneo, led by Kevin Ly of West Orange, which is developing a non-invasive glucometer to continuously monitor blood sugar for better control of diabetes; and OFYS, led by Tolu Lanrewaju of Newark, an online-based social enterprise designed to help students from underserved communities by matching them with mentors and tutors, from similar backgrounds, who have benefited from higher education.

For more information on the Newark Innovation Accelerartion Challenge, click here.