Evan Budz, a grade 8 teen from Burlington, Ont., earned top honours at the 2024 Canada Wide Science Fair for his Virtual Lifeguard imaging system aimed to prevent drownings across Canada.
Budz said the inspiration for his inexpensive monitor to prevent backyard pool drownings was spurred on by a couple of fatal incidents involving young children.
Per a report by Global News, the teen was affected by the death of a three-year-old child at an Oakville pool party. He stated he wanted to create a device that could be used to solve this and possibly prevent similar fatalities from occurring.
Budz says the virtual lifeguard uses artificial intelligence (AI) to distinguish between swimming and drowning and alerts bystanders of the latter. Audible, visual, and email alarms are sent when the device’s cameras, microcomputer, and AI software determine whether a swimmer’s motions are unnatural.
As of 2022, the Canadian Drowning Prevention Coalition (CDPC) estimates the country has around 460 drownings annually, with 99 per cent taking place in settings without lifeguard supervision.
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