Novita Annual Report 2006 (PDF - Large file - 2Mb)

37Divisional staff have also presented atsymposia, conferences and conducted onsitetraining throughout Australia during theyear. In particular, NovitaTech staff playeda key role in the scientific program of theinaugural Australian Biomedical EngineeringConference, held in Adelaide duringOctober 2005. The Director worked with theconference organising committee to bringDr Geoff Fernie (Vice President - Researchat the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute) andProfessor Martin Ferguson-Pell (ASPIREChair in Disability and Technology atUniversity College London) to Adelaide,and to then undertake a national tour. Bothspeakers provided details of some of thelatest developments in assistive technologyaround the world.In November 2005, the R&D teamsuccessfully completed a further trial ofthe use of communication devices withmobile telephones. The trial, funded bythe Australian Government Department ofCommunications, Information Technologyand the Arts, was highly successful andled to further funding applications, whichgained a further $30,023 to expand theproject to trials using Telerehabilitation.In late 2005, Novita approached theAustralian Minister for Communications,Information Technology and the Artsadvocating the need for funded researchassociated with telecommunications,and the limited support given bytelecommunications providers. In responseto Novita’s advocacy, the Minister’s officeBusiness unit reportsResearch and Development (R&D)Work continued throughout the year onthe Virtual Music Instrument project, withfunding provided by the Lions Club ofCharles Sturt to purchase computer andprojection equipment to broaden the trialprocess for this innovative software.Novita has now signed a collaborativeagreement with Bloorview Kids Rehab(Canada), and research grant proposalshave been submitted to explore broaderuses of the technology. NovitaTech iscurrently assessing the value of a musictherapist as part of this program.has since offered to assist in improvinglinks with, and responsiveness from, thetelecommunications industry.In a collaborative effort across divisions,the R&D and Clinical Research teamspresented the inaugural Novita ResearchDay. The day was well attended and it isplanned to make this a biennial event.R&D has also implemented a ProjectReview Panel, building on the expertise ofthree senior professionals from industrialresearch and development to critiqueNovitatech’s processes and individualprojects. This has generally resulted in morerobust project descriptions and outcomes.^NovitaTech undertakesextensive research intoassistive technology, suchas switch-adapting mobilephones for use by people witha disability.