Jack Nichols, a first-year mathematics teacher at ConVal High School, has just been announced as a winner of the Prize for Social Innovation and Enterprise that is awarded by the University of New Hampshire. Nichols and his project partner Devon Crawford developed a device they call TheHIVE.
TheHIVE is a small, low-cost device which allows users to create quick-deploy networks in the event of a natural disaster. Hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes and other massively destructive events tend to take out communications infrastructures, including cell service — at a time when communication needs with emergency crews and family members are most critical.
The inventors’ quick-deploy network can be accessed by any Wi-Fi enabled device and allows victims to alert first responders to their location. It also tracks where emergency crews have already been and where they are still needed. An explanatory video of the device can be found here.
Congratulations, Mr. Nichols!