STUDENTS were wide-eyed as they listened to a robot label itself as humankind’s humble servant yesterday.
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Some were also watching flying machines circulate around them while others steadied their headphones and tapped a radio microphone.
Anybody would have thought the students were in a futuristic world but rather they attended an information, communications and technology forum held by the North East Local Learning and Employment Network at The Cube in Wodonga.
Students in year 7 to 10 from schools in Wodonga and Tallangatta attended the forum.
They learnt about future paths they could take whether they were interested in cartooning or the police force.
The forum has run for six years but this time a robot name InMoov was the main attraction.
He was built using a 3D printer which was a new addition to the agenda this year.
Joel Hackett, of 3D Things, grabbed the attention of students when he commanded InMoov to do certain gestures.
“You can make whatever you can think of, it’s an endless list,” he said.
“You design your item on the computer and press print and a couple of hours later you have it in your hand.”
Trinity Anglican College student Charles Luke said before the forum he hadn’t put thought into what was involved in creating the latest technologies.
Wodonga Middle Years student Murray Fulwood described 3D printing as brilliant.
“I have never seen anything like it before,” he said.
Network project officer Joanna Macklan said each year the forum had to be modified to keep up with the pace of changing technology.
They also had workshops based around technology in police cars, spatial technology and drones and games.
“We are finding students are really interested in IT,” she said.
“We are here to show them there is technology in everyday things.”
Ms Macklan said it broadened their options for the future.
“We hope we can open up opportunities for them,” she said.