OPIM Innovate, a research lab located in the School of Business Room 391, hosted an extended celebration of Valentine’s Day with their “Code of Affection” event on Thursday, Feb. 15. Originally scheduled for Tuesday, the workshop was complete with delectable snacks from UConn Catering, including chocolate-covered strawberries and marshmallow squares. This was one of their many events organized to introduce newcomers to the abundant resources in the lab and give those who are already technologically inclined some fun ways to enjoy their hobbies and potential career aspirations.
Supervised by three members of the lab, Lianne Duran, Elena Mezack and Diego Melendez, the environment was inclusive and welcoming for everyone in attendance. Guests were given the tools to 3D print jewelry pieces, code a Valentine’s Day card and experiment with virtual reality. The room is chock-full of devices that can be used to “learn things that you would not hear about in class,” according to Duran.
Director Jonathan Moore stated during email correspondence: “Innovate Labs is always looking for creative and fun ways to engage students and get them interested in learning about technology. These skills will be critical for all careers in the future and are relevant for students of all backgrounds and majors.”
These sentiments show that one does not need to be a tech wizard to visit the lab, as it is meant to harbor an area “that will foster and grow the next generation of learners, leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators,” according to OPIM Innovate’s website. Additionally, Duran mentioned she is a pre-med major, and the lab often works with the business department that is centralized in the same building, so there is no need to specialize in a technology-based major to take part.
Regardless of your technological know-how or interests, the room has a cool aesthetic. 3D printers are doing their thing with no human intervention, and the computers are in the center of the room, making collaboration or discussion with one’s neighbor easier. The lab members said it is sometimes a study space used for homework and relaxing with friends. All in all, the vibes are immaculate.
3D printing is not always done in a large machine, as the workshop provides multiple 3D pens. Much more complex and less expensive than the Apple Pen, the devices work by melting plastic that funnels out of the pen tip, creating the familiar scent of burning wax in the process. Colors are interchangeable by switching out the plastic rods. Someone more artistically inclined could produce neat and wearable jewelry with this tool, of course, once the plastic cools down, but a small heart was the best I could do.
Although coding a simple card unfortunately still sounds like a massive undertaking in the digital age, the instructions for this portion of the workshop make it a breeze. Students either logged in or created an account with Scratch. Like Blocky and other such websites, Scratch makes programming simple by grouping commands into blocks that fit together like puzzle pieces. While appearing basic for college students, the core concepts of coding are there, so useful knowledge can be learned. Trying it out for yourself could compel you to learn a full-fledged programming language, or at the very least, you could code a Valentine’s Day card next year. I was not able to participate in the virtual reality activity, but it can be assumed that it was just as intuitive as everything else.
From the hand-drawn sign at the room’s entrance to the catering, much love went into crafting this event, and I am happy to have found another place on campus that encourages everyone to be students and learn about the prospects of modern-day technology. It is often perceived that to learn 3D printing or virtual reality, one must use their funds to purchase that equipment and figure it out on their own, but this is far from the truth.
Even computer-based coding is considered a daunting task by most people in 2024, which should not be the case, yet, OPIM Innovate is working towards educating people with any initial level of proficiency on how to use and apply technology that is not found in the average classroom or taught at the frequency that it should be. The lab hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday, aside from Wednesdays, when it is closed from 10:10 to 11 a.m. Also, it will be hosting a 20-hour overnight extravaganza called HackUConn in Werth Tower on March 1 through 2. If you are interested, more information is on their website.