Thousands come together to celebrate groundbreaking technology and vibrant creativity at Imagine RIT

Rochester, New York – Bright sunshine and buzzing excitement filled the Rochester Institute of Technology campus on April 26 as thousands of visitors came together to experience a showcase of creativity, innovation, and hands-on technology at this year’s Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival. From interactive exhibits to cutting-edge prototypes, the event once again proved why it is one of the most anticipated annual gatherings in the region.

In every corner of the campus, imagination was on full display. On one side, guests stepped into the role of game show hosts, trying out new games built by students who are already shaping the future of entertainment. On the other side, visitors learned about new medical technology that could change the way healthcare devices work for people of all skin tones. Everywhere you turned, there was something new to see, touch, and experience.

“Imagine RIT is an incredible opportunity for our students, faculty, and staff to showcase their creativity and forward-thinking innovation,” said Lisa Stein, director of Imagine RIT. “Each year, the festival highlights groundbreaking work in fields like artificial intelligence, computing, healthcare, and the arts—proving again how the RIT community leads with bold ideas and a hands-on approach to turning vision into reality.”

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This year’s event shattered previous records, boasting an impressive 434 exhibits sprawled across the entire campus. The projects represented the diverse talents and bright ideas of RIT’s students, faculty, and alumni, drawing crowds of all ages eager to be part of the action.

Game Shows with a New Twist

One of the most popular stops for visitors was Booth Hall inside the College of Art and Design, where teams of fourth-year new media design and interactive development students collaborated with The Strong National Museum of Play. Their task: create and test prototypes of brand-new games inspired by classic game shows.

The goal was to contribute to the museum’s future exhibit, Beyond the Buzzer: Game Shows in America, which will debut in 2026. Six inventive games—Eye on the Prize, Path Pursuit, Overboard, Race to Riches, Battle of the Buzzers, and Ruin the Show—gave visitors a chance to step into the bright lights and fast pace of game show excitement.

Alexis Mildren, a student from Mardela Springs, Maryland, helped develop Eye on the Prize, a fresh spin on the traditional Simon memory game.

“The museum said our age range when designing the game was seven to 77. Trying to build something that little kids would enjoy, and older generations would find some nostalgia in, was a big challenge,” said Mildren. “Having the community support and play our game has really proven that we’ve succeeded.”

Though there’s no guarantee that every prototype will make it into the final museum exhibit, the hands-on feedback from festivalgoers was invaluable for the students and museum staff alike.

Advancing Healthcare Technology

Meanwhile, over in Institute Hall, a team of mechanical engineering students tackled a real-world issue: making medical devices more accurate for everyone. Their redesigned pulse oximeter, which measures blood-oxygen levels, addresses a flaw that became widely recognized during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Standard pulse oximeters often deliver less accurate readings for people with darker skin tones because melanin can interfere with the way the sensors detect oxygen in the blood. The students’ upgraded device uses different wavelengths of light and a custom-designed color sensor to correct for this disparity.

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The technology not only measures blood oxygen content and blood pressure but also adjusts based on the user’s skin tone, offering a more reliable health reading.

“We did not start to notice this until COVID,” explained Gianna Ippolito, a fifth-year mechanical engineering student from Rochester. “We found that it’s important to test a product that relies on light with a diverse set of testers. It is not often something that was considered until it is happening.”

Their innovative prototype is scheduled to begin patient testing in collaboration with Rochester Regional Health later this fall, a major step forward in making healthcare technology more inclusive.

Robots with Personality

At the center of campus, near the SHED (Student Hall for Exploration and Development), crowds were drawn to an exhibit that seemed straight out of a science fiction movie. CatBot, a four-legged robot designed by the Multi-Disciplinary Robotics Club, made its debut after four years of careful development.

The team had shown off parts of CatBot at previous festivals, but this year marked the first time the complete robot was on public display. Built in the spirit of Boston Dynamics’ famous Spot robot, CatBot combines soft robotics principles with traditional engineering to create flexible, realistic motion.

“These robots are like our babies,” said Cameron Robinson, a fifth-year software engineering and English double major and the club president. “We love building and working with these robots from scratch, and it’s great to see the progress over the years. It’s all part of the human experience.”

Though CatBot is not fully autonomous yet, it can already demonstrate a full range of walking motions, exciting students and visitors alike.

“My classes are often very theoretical,” said Sophia Pagsanjan, a second-year mechanical engineering major. “Making robots like CatBot is thrilling because you’re putting everything you’re learning in the classroom into action. I can see the results of my work.”

CatBot now joins a long line of legacy robots created by the club, including festival favorites like CouchBot—a motorized, remote-controlled loveseat—and a variety of battle bots and interactive machines.

A Celebration of Bold Ideas

As the day wound down, visitors lingered around campus, reluctant to leave the lively atmosphere behind. The energy and excitement that buzzed through the air was a testament to the hard work and creativity of everyone involved. Imagine RIT is more than a festival; it is a powerful reminder of what is possible when innovation, community, and imagination come together.

From young children trying their hand at interactive games to seasoned alumni marveling at new technology, Imagine RIT once again offered something for everyone. It was a day of learning, laughter, and limitless inspiration—and a clear message that the future is being built right now, one bold idea at a time.