Burnaby-based researchers are one step closer to potentially creating more sustainable living solutions, and help the visually impaired use basic electronics, with some new grant funding.
Today, Oct. 19, the B.C. government handed over $200,000 to two Simon Fraser University (SFU) projects that hope to accomplish those feats.
The money is coming out of the province's Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF), two of 16 approved research projects receiving a combined $2.5 million.
Printable semiconductors
The first SFU project listed hopes to create "easy-to-make" eco-friendly semiconductors for self-powered smart sensors.
If successful, researcher Vincenzo Pecunia, bestowed $100,000 from the province, is hoping to deploy them for clean electricity generation, and the dissemination of sensors for more sustainable living.
"This may help reduce B.C.'s carbon footprint through generating power, delivering technologies applicable to the early detection of wildfires and improving the energy efficiency of homes and agriculture," a description reads of the project via a B.C. government statement.
"Research may contribute to the growth of B.C.'s clean tech and high-tech sectors by creating new partnerships with industry, and by training students and researchers in cutting-edge clean technologies."
Accessible computing
The second, led by researcher Xing-Dong Yang, also granred $100,000, looks to develop physical computing environments for the visually impaired.
The goal is to provide blind or low-vision (BLV) people with accessible tools to practice basic or entry-level electronics.
"This will involve developing hardware and software tools that can be used without vision," the project's profile explains.
"The tools are expected to be used in an educational environment to make STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math] fields, such as electrical engineering and computer science, more accessible and inclusive to the BLV community.
"The knowledge gained from this research is expected to lead to new technologies that will improve educational and working infrastructure for all."
SFU is one of five universities in B.C. part of the latest round of BCKDF grants, which has invested more than $220 million for research projects since 2017.
"This infrastructure funding will enable researchers to make advances in sustainable smart sensors for a variety of applications and create more user-friendly computing environments for blind and low-vision people," said Dugan O'Neil, SFU vice-president, research and international.
"The BCKDF helps the province remain competitive, benefits our communities, and supports students, researchers, and partnerships in the region."
For more information on SFU research projects, you can visit the Burnaby post-secondary's website.
