WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — A Purdue University Professor has created a smartphone app that allows you to set off fireworks at a safe distance.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports nearly 13,000 people were treated at hospitals for firework related injuries last year. Mithuna Thottethodi thinks his app can help lower that number.
Thottethodi grew up in India and he grew up around fireworks.
"We have a big fireworks festival Diwali," said Thottethodi.
Now he's a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University, but more importantly he's a father.
"There came a time when I wanted my daughter to enjoy fireworks as much as I did," Thottethodi.
So he developed an app called ZapSpark."Even given the safety, I'm not recommending kids go off and do this by themselves,"said Thottethodi.
He recommends an adult set up the display, because it does require hooking a fuse to the fireworks but after that is complete, Thottethodi said it's anyone's game.
"Once you have a safe distance, hey a toddler could set it off," explained Thottethodi.
Thottethodi said safety and distance was the purpose behind his creation.
The team has patent applications in process for the technology, and the app and equipment officially launches next month.
