VenDASys — A versatile experimentation platform for educational purposes

In this paper we present an approach to increase the interest of pupils and high school students in modern science and technology. To achieve this, we developed a versatile experimentation platform for the use in schools and school projects, called VenDASys (Versatile Control and Data Acquisition System). VenDASys allows the interfacing of individual (micro-)sensors or complete experimental set ups while minimizing the required electronics, which are often frustrating for students and teachers alike due to limited experience in this field. Thus, students (and teachers) can directly concentrate on and successfully deal with different sensors and experiments based on these sensors. We present the concept with an example project on blood pressure monitoring. Getting involved in comprehensible MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems)-applications and solvable problems at a relatively early stage of their education will definitely increase the chances that high school students decide to choose a technical education later on.