Students use computer-aided design tools to create giant game board
Computer-aided design (CAD) is no longer exclusively for professional engineers. Now, college, university and even high school students can gain experience and knowledge from working with CAD programs. For example, earlier this month, Dassault Systemes announced the release of the latest version of its SolidWorks CAD software Education Edition, intended to be used primarily by students and teachers in the classroom.
Further emphasizing the spread of CAD software to younger demographics, students recently used the technology to create a giant version of a classic board game.
Oversized gaming
The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that students at Lynn Camp High School used CAD software to create a giant Monopoly board nearly the size of the school's gymnasium.
Design and engineering students used CAD to design the pieces, then created the pieces from fiberboard using automated equipment. According to Arthur Canada, a teacher at the school, the board measured more than 50 feet on each of its sides for a total area of 2,537 square feet.
The news source notes that this makes the students' Monopoly board slightly larger than the Guinness world record. However, Canada indicated he was unsure whether the school would attempt to verify the record, saying that the focus of the project was learning and collaboration, not record-setting.
Not the first creation
According to the news source, this is the third oversized game created by the school's students and teachers using CAD software. Previously, the group created a chess set with 10-foot-tall pieces. Last year, the school produced a set of playing cards that were 7 feet, 4 inches tall - more than double the Guinness record for the largest set. However, in that case as well, the school did not pursue verification.