Nikhil's a real spy master
February 20 2010
A phone call from billionaire computer baron Bill Gates could be one step closer for 17-year-old Nikhil Mahashabde.
The Mt Roskill resident has created an award-winning internet spy device that allows computer users to monitor websites accessed from another computer.
This month his invention came first in the computer science category of the Taiwan International Science Fair - an honour that took Nikhil completely by surprise.
"After looking at the competition I thought, 'There's no way I'm going to win, I'm here to enjoy it'. I didn't expect anything at all," he says.
"It was a wonderful experience. Words can't describe how amazing it was."
Nikhil spent the past year building his invention as a school project, after asking around for ideas from family and friends.
"Often parents worry about what their children have been accessing on the computer. My device SpyNik allows parents who are using another computer located at another site to observe what website their child has been using," he says.
"If foul play is observed and they don't close the page as per their instructions, the parent has the option of disconnecting the internet from their work station."
Nikhil says despite knowing first hand the lengths teenagers will go to conceal the websites they visit, he had a real urge to crack the problem.
"There are ways to prevent children from accessing a website but nothing that allows parents to keep tabs on what their children are accessing online. This device lets parents have control."
Unless serious offers come flooding in, Nikhil says has no plans to commercialise his award-winning device because he's about to start a five-year electrical engineering and commerce degree at the University of New South Wales.
"I did it for school really. It's not a fully functioning product. It's more of a working prototype."
The Royal Society of New Zealand organised for Nikhil and another student from Wellington to attend the six-day event, as the result of their nominations for Realise the Dream, based on their inventions for Bright Sparks.
The annual New Zealand competition sees students develop a project using engineering, programming or electronic elements.
Royal Society organiser Debbie Woodhall says because the pair were up against 250 other international competitors, Nikhil's win shines a spotlight on the calibre of New Zealand's school students.
"The work these students produce is really innovative. To be selected is a real achievement because all the entries are of a very high standard, with students completing some outstanding projects."
- Central Leader
A phone call from billionaire computer baron Bill Gates could be one step closer for 17-year-old Nikhil Mahashabde.
The Mt Roskill resident has created an award-winning internet spy device that allows computer users to monitor websites accessed from another computer.
This month his invention...
A phone call from billionaire computer baron Bill Gates could be one step closer for 17-year-old Nikhil Mahashabde.
The Mt Roskill resident has created an award-winning internet spy device that allows computer users to monitor websites accessed from another computer.
This month his invention came first in the computer science category of the Taiwan International Science Fair - an honour that took Nikhil completely by surprise.
"After looking at the competition I thought, 'There's no way I'm going to win, I'm here to enjoy it'. I didn't expect anything at all," he says.
"It was a wonderful experience. Words can't describe how amazing it was."
Nikhil spent the past year building his invention as a school project, after asking around for ideas from family and friends.
"Often parents worry about what their children have been accessing on the computer. My device SpyNik allows parents who are using another computer located at another site to observe what website their child has been using," he says.
"If foul play is observed and they don't close the page as per their instructions, the parent has the option of disconnecting the internet from their work station."
Nikhil says despite knowing first hand the lengths teenagers will go to conceal the websites they visit, he had a real urge to crack the problem.
"There are ways to prevent children from accessing a website but nothing that allows parents to keep tabs on what their children are accessing online. This device lets parents have control."
Unless serious offers come flooding in, Nikhil says has no plans to commercialise his award-winning device because he's about to start a five-year electrical engineering and commerce degree at the University of New South Wales.
"I did it for school really. It's not a fully functioning product. It's more of a working prototype."
The Royal Society of New Zealand organised for Nikhil and another student from Wellington to attend the six-day event, as the result of their nominations for Realise the Dream, based on their inventions for Bright Sparks.
The annual New Zealand competition sees students develop a project using engineering, programming or electronic elements.
Royal Society organiser Debbie Woodhall says because the pair were up against 250 other international competitors, Nikhil's win shines a spotlight on the calibre of New Zealand's school students.
"The work these students produce is really innovative. To be selected is a real achievement because all the entries are of a very high standard, with students completing some outstanding projects."
- Central Leader
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