AI and Health

UW Tech Exploration Lab Student Projects Highlight Innovation, Emerging Technologies

At a recent open house for the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Tech Exploration Lab at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID) a partnership between the Wisconsin School of Business  bold ideas and community impact come to life through the Tech Exploration Lab. Kevin Ponto and Jon Eckhardt, brought deep expertise in design thinking and entrepreneurship to support students in turning innovative ideas into real-world solutions. One project, Ember AI, developed by computer science students Kathan Reddy and Shobhin Basu, created an algorithm using computer vision, a type of AI, to identify and track stray embers. Reddy says working with co-director Kevin Ponto helped them fast-track development: “Every time we talked to Kevin, we instantly made like two weeks’ worth of progress.” Alzheimer’s app creator Aarya Deshpande credits Eckhardt for helping him connect with senior dementia researchers to refine the app, which combines health tools with memory preservation features such as photos of family members and details of their relationship to the user. Deshpande says he considers the app to be “interdisciplinary,” with both a “health side and a research side.” Through his own research, Deshpande created the initial prototype for the app and connected Eckhardt who encouraged him and putt him in touch with four UW–Madison senior dementia scientists who offered guidance and feedback.