Inventor Tahira Reid Smith came up with a new way to enjoy a beloved hobby in the Black community.
Reid Smith knows Double Dutch all too well. Raised in The Bronx, NY, she was fond of the pastime. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that she even sketched a Double Dutch machine when she was 8 years old. That drawing — which consisted of two poles and three buttons with a third grader jumping at its center — earned her first place in her school’s drawing competition.
That very concept would later evolve into an invention. Reid Smith’s educational pursuits led her to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where she earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering by 2004, according to her LinkedIn profile. She then obtained a Ph.D. in design science from the University of Michigan in 2010.
Her time, particularly at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, brought her childhood sketch full circle under her late professor, Burt Swersey. The outlet reports Swersey gave Reid Smith a design assignment for his course, which emphasized sports and recreational activities. The project became an epiphany moment for Reid Smith, inspiring her to transform the childhood drawing into a working prototype.
Reid Smith, now a mechanical engineering professor at The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State University), also created an automated double-dutch training system built with the culture in mind and engineered for performance, according to its website. Swersey served as Reid Smith’s mentor during the development of the machine.
“Jump Dreams™ was designed to improve coordination, movement, and engagement while honoring the cultural roots of Double Dutch,” the machine’s description read on the company website.
The app-controlled machine is not currently for sale, but Reid Smith is gathering participant feedback to help inform adjustments to future models that will be available for purchase at a later time, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. She recently introduced the machine at Awbury Park for Double Dutch Day, hosted by Philly Girls Jump.
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“The next design iteration is going to work out the kinks that we learned, and all the imperfections,” Reid Smith explained, according to the outlet. “The next iteration will make it so novices can do this.”
Her goal is to have the machine installed in schools, recreational facilities, and youth development centers, she shared. Additional target audiences include fitness enthusiasts, boutique gyms, performance studios, community organizations, park programs, Double Dutch athletes, coaches, and teams, according to Jump Dreams’ website.
For those looking to join the early access list, click here.
