The Results of Fun Student Contest: Innovative Solutions

by Rose Kirk

Is it possible for 13-year olds to create an app that the medical profession finds useful?  Of course it is!  In the era of college-age students creating companies worth billions (think Facebook) and simple online games like Angry Birds becoming global entertainment--all things are possible.

That’s why it’s so exciting to see a major news outlet like ABCNews.com write about a newly launched mobile app called Chow Checker that identifies allergens in everyday foods.  This app was created by a team of eighth-graders from New Hampshire who were one of the top 10 ‘Best In Nation’ winners in theVerizon Innovative App Challenge. The students created a novel solution to a serious problem affecting a growing number of children and young adults.

ABC News asked a pediatric allergist, Dr. Jonathan Field, to review the Chow Checker app.  Dr. Field’s perspective is that the app could be “profoundly helpful” for those with food allergies and that he even plans to recommend this app to his patients as a resource...

Please read the full post here.