5 for Good: Man, machine bring imagination to life for Boston students
Watch the report A man and his machine are bringing imagination to life for lucky Boston middle schoolers.
Chris Haid is the COO of New Valence Robotics or NVBOTS.
His company, based in the Seaport District of Boston, offers 3-D printing solutions. He's offering a whole lot more than that to some Dorchester middle school students.
With Haid's help, sixth grader Eric Huyne has built things that until now he could only imagine.
"Hammers, houses, even Pacman."
That's a short list of items Eric has printed at McCormack Middle School.
Haid teaches a special 3D printing class at the school. He and some colleagues from MIT developed the first automated 3D printer. Haid donates his time, and through a crowdfunding effort, has donated a printer to the school because he believes deeply that technology should be accessible.
He said that "3D printers weren't sharable. They were hard to access, so we created the world's first automated 3D printer that can produce part after part after part continuously."
Haid comes to the school as part of an extended learning program called Citizen Schools, which helps kids develop key skills with a focus on technology, teamwork and leadership.
Whatever the kids think up, they can create. They sketch their ideas, build them on computers, and once they get the "go ahead" from Haid, printing begins.
Haid believes encouraging a new generation of creative minds can change the world. An inspiring message that's taking hold.
"When I grow up I want to be something like Chris who makes machines. So this is a good start for me," Eric says.
To that, Haid says "what can I say, the best part is just seeing that little spark light up in each of the student's eyes."
Very few schools have this kind of 3D printer in a classroom. NVBOTS also created a curriculum for teachers so the whole school can get involved, not just those in the Citizen Schools extended learning program.