Student Team from University of Michigan Wins First Place at 2013 IShow

Teams At Washington University And Harvard Also Win Awards In 7th Annual ASME IShow

NEW YORK, June 28, 2013 – A team of student engineers at the University of Michigan believes it is on to something, having designed a novel type of smartphone case that leaves the ear bud cords neat and untangled in a slide-out retraction device.

The judges at the 7th Annual ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) IShow held last week in Indianapolis agree, awarding the creators of TurtleCell first place and $10,000 in a collegiate competition showcasing technologies ranging from biomedical devices to systems that promote environmental sustainability.

TurtleCell is the University of Michigan team's solution to the knot of mobile phone cords that most people jam in their pants pockets. At the core of the slick and stylish protective case is the proprietary retracting mechanism that keeps cords untangled, tidy, and readily accessible.

The student team presented the prototype to a judging panel of business experts and venture capitalists, along with a comprehensive business plan covering such aspects as manufacturability, financing, and target markets.

Ten universities participated in ASME IShow on June 22, with a team from Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.) winning an award for a diagnostic tool that helps patients manage asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other chronic respiratory diseases. A team from Harvard also was honored for a biotech device that delivers insulin and other drugs via a patch consisting of a drug reservoir, advanced circuitry, micro-needle, and micro-pump.

ASME IShow was held in conjunction with the Society's 2013 Annual Meeting at JW Marriott.

About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.