One duo created a 360-degree “virtual reality” model for a house, complete with details such as tilework and storage space.

Two more boys designed and refined a portable charger for electronic devices.

A third pair used drones to show time lapse photography of a school building project, with a software package that combines multiple formats

And a fourth set created a 3-D model of a “supermall.”

Those are four of the 52 projects from Hall County students that will be in the Georgia Educational Technology Fair on Saturday in Macon.

Hall County will have 78 students in the state event. More than 1,000 students will compete.

Students compete in 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12 grade categories. Hall County has students in all but the 3-4 grade category. Thirteen Hall County schools will be represented.

Michele Hood, co-director of the Earhart-Edison Exploration Academy, said 2016 is the third year Hall County students have competed in the state event. The county had 18 projects in 2014 and 48 in 2015, she said.

The students finished first in region competition to qualify for Saturday’s event.

Several of the projects combine a number of software programs into one presentation. Winners will compete in 3-D modeling, video production, animation, digital photography, game design, graphic design, Internet applications, non-multimedia applications, multimedia applications, robotics, mobile apps, audio production, device modification, programming challenge and literacy challenge.

Jake Smith, a senior at Flowery Branch High School, described the “virtual reality” project he created with Jake Shewbert.

“This project will allow us to show the level of customization and uniqueness that can be obtained using these programs in conjunction with the Oculus,” Smith wrote in an email.

“Our goal in this project is to create a realistic, 3-D model of a house using virtual reality that can be viewed at anytime, anywhere while accurately representing the original house.”

Smith added that the two have been “involved in problem solving and technologically-based extracurricular activities since our days in elementary school.”

Christian Johnson, a senior at North Hall High School, said he and his partner, Chase Lovell, a junior, created a portable charger for electronic devices — “You can forget it for years on end,” he said.

Johnson and Lovell won the state competition last year with the same concept — and since then have reworked it for “smaller size, more power.” The charger now is less than an inch wide, less than four inches long and weighs less than a pound, Johnson said.

“We modified it in a way to where it should be simpler and easier to carry,” he said. The pair first used a 9-volt battery, but they now use an A23, which is smaller than a AAA battery but has 12 volts of power.

Johnson noted he is a camping and hiking enthusiast, and people active in the outdoors “really love the idea of portable chargers.”

Noah Wagner and Jackson Roush, eighth-graders at Earhart-Edison Exploration Academy, have used their drones to make video of the progress toward a performing arts center at North Hall High and show that in a multimedia application.

“I love flying them,” Noah said about his drone. He takes a video of the project once a week.

Noah goes through the video and selects parts that will be posted.
Jackson uses that video to put into the application — the two started used
slidedog.com, which can combine multiple formats, such as iMovie and PowerPoint, in a single presentation.

The two said their work has applications in landscaping and real estate. Noah noted Carroll Daniel, the contractor for the North Hall High project, has posted his video on its site.

Carson Alverson and Connor Nichols, also eighth-graders at Earhart-Edison Academy, have used 3D modeling to create a “supermall” — an elaborate theater and entertainment complex.

“He’s kind of the engineer. I’m kind of like coming up with the ideas for it,” Connor said.

The two use Google Sketchup, a software program they can use free for all year. It allows for small details, such as parts of a game or an individual package of candy at the concession stand.

Both are robotics and jazz band participants.

Carson also was a state winner in 2015. Connor wants a career in film and movie design.

Hood explained she was looking for an outlet for the students when she got them involved with the technology competition.

She noted the regional fair, held here, has about 40 judges, including academics, professionals and businesspeople.

“What you’re doing is having the children teach you about the process,” she said.