GMIT students win SCCUL award for driving app that can save lives

Students from GMIT have won first prize in the SCCUL Enterprise Awards for developing a driving app that may save lives. Gerard Nee from Williamstown, Co Galway, and Alan O’Connor, from Moyross, Limerick, both final year BSc in Software Development and Paula Kelly from Taughmaconnell, Co Galway, and Aisling Kenny, from Balla, Co Mayo, both Business degree students, won €1,250 to develop their idea in the competition's Student Enterprise Category'.

By monitoring movement while driving, Road Buddy detects any sudden impact and will automatically send an SMS to the emergency services with the GPS co-ordinates of the phone for accurate location. The GMIT students  plan to use their winnings to develop an iphone version of the app in addition to the android and windows already developed.  

Third prize of €250 went to GMIT students Barry Doyle from Drumora, Co Cavan and Shane Brennan from Derrygowna, Co Longford, for their idea for a 'Slide Loader' to assist in feeding silage to cattle. 

The awards are an initiative of SCCUL Enterprises Ltd aided by Ballybane Enterprise Centre, St Columba's Credit Union and Galway City Council. The students were supported by lecturers Damien Costello (Maths & Computing) and Ivan McPhillips (Business) who was event co-ordinator for GMIT.