HAMK’s Smart Sleeve Awarded in the Productive Idea Competition
The Spiritus Ludi smart sleeve, which revolutionizes team communication regardless of distance, was awarded as the best innovation in the regional category of the Productive Idea competition on September 21. At the same time, the smart sleeve advanced to the national final, where the winner will be selected from four finalists.
What is Spiritus Ludi?
Developed by the smart wearables research team at Häme University of Applied Sciences, Spiritus Ludi strengthens team spirit and can improve performance. With it, teams can share encouraging touch gestures, such as high-fives and claps, in real-time, regardless of location. Thanks to the smart sleeve, team members can feel closer to each other, even if they are on opposite sides of the world. The innovation has been tested with several e-sports teams, and the results have been impressive: the connection between players has increased, boosting team spirit and improving game performance.
The Competition
The Productive Idea competition is open to everyone, and product or service ideas no older than three years can participate. Spiritus Ludi stood out particularly for its innovation and potential applications. The victory in the B-regional competition is a significant recognition for the research team, as it shows that Spiritus Ludi is on the right path—creating a better and more prosperous future for teams and communities.
The competition emphasizes the role of new business ideas as key drivers of societal development. In the case of Spiritus Ludi, this is particularly reflected in the strengthening of team cohesion among e-sports teams, but the innovation also has potential for other areas, such as wellness, office work, and security sectors.
The competition has a history of successfully highlighting future winners. Previous winners include Polar Electro Oy, Ponsse Oyj, Genelec Oy, Oura Health Oy, as well as Tampere’s low-floor buses and The General Unemployment Fund. In the 2000s, companies such as Blancco and Left Foot Company won the competition, and in the 2010s, international visibility was gained by Vincit Oy and Naava Oy.
More than Just E-Sports
During the research process, it was found that technology like Spiritus Ludi has vast potential in other team-based environments as well. The smart sleeve could be used, for example, to promote well-being in workplaces or to enhance team interaction in the security sector. The importance of touch in human connection is highlighted, and Spiritus Ludi brings this dimension to remote teams—not just in e-sports, but also more broadly in society.
Eyes on the November 5 Final
Next, Spiritus Ludi competes for the overall victory in the Productive Idea competition, which will be announced on November 5, 2024, at the Pörssitalo in Helsinki. Winning would bring the innovation significant international visibility, even on the digital billboard of Times Square in New York.
Stay tuned to see where this unique solution will go next!
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