This year, the Minggu Sains Negara Keluarga Malaysia 2022 (MSNKM2022), with the theme “Merakyatkan Sains, Menginsankan Teknologi”, aims to fulfill the ministry’s desire to make science a common thing among people and make technology an economic catalyst. MSNKM is organized by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). The minister often emphasizes the aspect of popularizing science and humanizing technology, explaining the objectives of the MSNKM2022. There are seven (7) fields of focus, of which fall into 7 months of MSNKM2022 starting on April 2022. One of the themes is Technology, featuring MOSTI x UTM in some of their programs, of which the Internet of Things (IoT) Hackathon 2022 is one of their program collaboration.

IoT Hackathon 2022 was held for two days physically at the School of Electrical Engineering (SKE), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). The Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Johor has appointed SMK Seri Pulai Perdana as Rakan Kolaborasi of the event. Attended by 15 selected schools across Johor and facilitated by SKE lecturers and students. There were 10 SMK and 5 SK. Each of them was evaluated, and the winners were separated into two categories.

The participants were introduced to the design thinking process to find the solution through innovation of the given problem. After they identified the problem, they were exposed to IoT to control sensors and motors using mobile phones. The MakerKit WiFi were taught to be used with the sensors and motor. They learnt to control it using Tinkercode.my and Blynk. In addition, they also learnt to control the sensors and motors using mobile phones and MIT App Inventor. To overcome their problem, they must use the MakerKit WiFi with sensors (and motors) and integrate it with Blynk and MIT App Inventor. They must use QR codes and/or Voice commands in their mobile app development.

On Day 2 of the program, they developed their prototype and pitched their product to the judges. It is hoped that they can benefit from the knowledge in the future for any IoT innovation.

This article was written by Dr Nurul Ashikin Abdul-Kadir and PM. Ir. Dr. Nasrul Humaimi Mahmood.