July 2025SCDF Innovation Challenge 2025

Anagha Ramesh and Ye Qian won third place at the SCDF (Singapore Civil Defense Force) Innovation Challenge 2025 with their project CPR Heroes! The judging panel was particularly impressed by the feasibility and low cost of the proposed solution, and are exploring how it might be used in future civil defense campaigns.

CPR Heroes is a DIY tangible interface built with cardboard, a dish sponge, aluminum foil, and a smart phone. It began as a project from the Ste*mpunk design studio led by Clement in collaboration with the Singapore Science Center.

Making use of insights from the lab’s research into building hybrid physical-digital interfaces with paper (see PaperTouch), CPR Heroes aims to raise awareness among children about responding to medical emergencies.

To play CPR heroes, players need to first assess a randomized medical emergency scenario and determine if CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is required. At the core of the game is the CPR simulator. Players need to perform chest compressions on the cardboard dummy at the right frequency for a minute while checking for life signs.

Designers
Anagha Ramesh
Ye Qian

CPR Heroes at the finals