Pinay's invention wins in London
LONDON - After long, arduous eight years of self-funded research and
project, Elma Arboleras received a reward she did not expect. Her invention dubbed as the iBUS won a gold medal for the consumer category at the British Invention Show. The BIS is on its 11th
year of bringing together inventors, innovators and designers in a platform
that will enable them to promote and advance their ideas.
From hundreds of participants, the entries were
narrowed down to semi-finalists, finalists and winners per category, plus
special awards and citations. Arboleras said that in her experience, being an
inventor has nothing to do with being a geek or a genius. But it definitely
takes a lot of research, passion and back-breaking work. “It’s about faith. Faith in ourselves, faith in
our God who can make all things possible. The reason why I participated is to
inspire our kababayan. Mine started with just a dream--a dream that maybe we
can help ease the traffic problem,” she said.
Arboleras, a BS in Customs Administration
graduate from Iloilo, developed the iBUS concept with Rodel De Guzman, her
co-inventor. They joined the invention show on their own, without the backing
from government or any private companies. Arboleras pooled her own resources to
be able to fly to the UK when the entry was shortlisted. In front of 25 judges from corporate and
specialist fields, she was given 3 minutes to discuss the invention. That
moment, she felt the need to shine and bring honor and pride to her country.
She summed up 8 years dogmatic resilience, passion and dedication in an
eloquent presentation. “When I was given that medal, I was like ‘Oh!
Finally, a recognition!’ But I didn’t really feel that it was for me. It was
for the Philippines. I really felt I was there for the Philippines even when I
came on my own. What made me stronger to go for it was the thought that with it
is a kind of solution that might help our country,” she explained.
‘It’s my
gift to Philippines’
Arboleras said the solution for the traffic
problem in the Philippines is a daunting task that cannot be done by a mere
introduction of technology. However, having a technology that will solve it is
a good start. She urged the government to give iBUS a chance. While she already
received offers to buy the patent of the iBUS to be implemented abroad, she
turned down the offer. She wanted Philippines to be the first to benefit from
it.
“What I have done or got here is my gift for
the Philippines. What our government is going to do about it is the
Philippines' gift to the world,” said Arboleras. Kane Kramer, the
inventor of iPod and president of The British Invention Show is impressed with
the iBUS.
“Elma’s application of technology was really
directing at a problem which affects the majority of society rather than just
one little specialist area and that it can make a difference to people’s daily
lives,” said Kramer.
He also encouraged the Philippine government to
do more for young innovators and inventors for them to be able to participate
in platforms like the British Invention Show and similar platforms in the world
which would allow them to showcase their inventions. “It’s important that both companies, corporate
and government get behind the innovators and the inventors. I am not talking
big money necessary in big business. We are talking about here the seedbed, the
very seeds when they are sprouting and nurturing those seeds and giving the
seeds the chance to root properly and by doing this with innovation and
technology, you have the scope to completely change the outlook for an entire
country by both manufacturing and exports,” he said. He added: “A single invention has a capability
to transform the wealth of a nation. And it’s common that great inventions and
great innovations actually can go unnoticed. Sometimes, sitting on university
desk with talented professors and these could be world changing and yet they
don’t get out, they don’t escape and don’t see the light of day.”
The iBUS
iBUS or Intelligent BUS Utility System will
work by using machine readable tags to digitally identify a vehicle for it to
be part of a database. Its daily operation will be managed through computers. “Our system offers a level playing field for
everyone involved because we kept in mind everyone involved in our traffic
problem: the bus drivers, the enforcers, the operators, the commuters,” said
Arboleras. She added: “It’s the first patented bus
monitoring and management system in the Philippines so this would make the buses
load and unload passengers in the proper designated areas only.”
The iBUS system can organize the buses based on
the machine readable tags. It can group the buses and allocate designated stop
or pick up points. It will also impose a time limit on a bus stop usage. The
bus will be programmed to stop and open its doors at allocated areas only. It
also prides on the Real Time Location System (RTLS) to track the buses and
project the exact arrival of buses in the designated loading and unloading
areas.
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com (Nov. 2, 2011)
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