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Telstra supports next generation thinkers
Mobile mental health diagnostics, low cost tags for tracking cows and a high tech encrypter are among five innovative projects to win support from the inaugural Telstra External Research and Development Program.
Their selection ends a six month judging process looking for Australian research projects that will potentially provide a benefit to Australian industry, business and consumers by drawing on Telstra's networks and technology products.
"Australia was the birthplace of extraordinary innovations such as the black box flight recorder, the cochlear implant and solar hot water and at Telstra we want to help contribute to innovation through our new R&D program," Telstra Chief Technology Officer Dr Hugh Bradlow said.
"When we started the search for submissions we weren't sure what we would find but after reviewing more than 220 submissions it's fair to say that technology innovation is alive and well across Australia.
"As a technology leader Telstra is proud to have the opportunity to assist in developing some of these ideas through technical assistance, help in meeting key vendor partners and access to Telstra world-class networks, services, facilities and internal experts."
The five selected programs are:
- Neural Diagnostics - e-Mental Healthcare Delivery
This program aims to diagnose a range of mental health issues, and with Telstra's assistance trial mobile delivery of the service, with the potential to enable access outside of major cities.
- Taggle Systems Pty Ltd
Currently in prototype, the 'taggle' is a small, low-cost, long-life tag which aims to allow users to track the location and status (eg. temperature) of assets over the internet. There are many ways that taggles could be used by businesses, governments and consumers, including tracking and monitoring of pallets, tools and equipment, livestock, sporting goods or pets.
- Dev-Audio
Intelligent Microphone Device For Groups. This project aims to develop an intelligent microphone device - the Microcone® - for use in group conversations. A small table-top unit, the Microcone® is designed to pick up voices from multiple directions while reducing background noise. Currently in prototype, the Microcone® will be suitable for meeting the teleconferencing needs of small to medium enterprises.
- QuintessenceLabs
Quantum Link Encryptor (QLE-1). QLE-1 is a second generation, untappable, quantum cryptography technology which could be deployed over commercial optic-fibre networks to enable untappable, ultra-secure, high-speed communications.
- LaTrobe University - Rehabilitation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
The COPD rehabilitation system is designed to provide a supervised remote exercise regime where patients' responses are monitored and observed through video-link, with the potential to enable provision of this therapy wherever the patient may be located.
"Each of these programs has the potential to provide a significant benefit to the Australian community. While very divergent in nature, all the projects demonstrate how telecommunications networks can assist with the delivery of services in an innovative way. With Telstra's assistance, the aim is to see the projects realise their full potential and be brought to market in the near term," said Dr Bradlow.
FACT SHEET: More information on selected projects
e-Mental Health Care Delivery
Mental health issues such as schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder and major depression affect approximately one in four people over their lifetime, with 5 per cent to 10 per cent of people suffering at any one time. Neural Diagnostics Pty Ltd is commercialising a technology called Electrovestibulography (EVestG"), which will potentially aid in the faster and objective diagnosis and management of these conditions.
EVestG" measures brain activity and captures biomarkers that are indicative of specific brain and nerve disorders. Using this information, doctors could potentially make a more objective, quicker and earlier diagnosis than currently possible, and on-going testing aims to measure the patients' response to medication. The EVestG" test uses non-invasive sensors placed within each ear canal while a patient sits in a tilt chair. The test takes less than 30 minutes. This test was invented at Monash University and is being validated at the Alfred Hospital's Psychiatry Research Centre in Melbourne.
With Telstra's assistance Neural Diagnostics intends to commence trialling a wireless solution for the EVestG" technology. Over time, this exciting health concept will potentially allow the equipment used to be mobilised, enabling the testing to occur in rural and remote communities with data sent back to metropolitan areas for processing and analysis - far extending the reach of current healthcare services.
Telstra will assist with telemetry, and access to the Next G" wireless broadband network.
Further information: www.neuraldiagnostics.com/
Microcone®
This project aims to develop a new type of microphone device to assist with the teleconferencing needs of small to medium enterprises and mobile professionals. Designed for table-top use by small groups, the device offers high voice clarity and improved noise reduction. Many modern devices are limited by their focus on individual users - in contrast, the Microcone® has been designed to allow groups to communicate naturally.
Telstra will assist this project through access to subject matter experts, assist with proof of concept and facilitated introduction to strategic vendors.
"Telstra's assistance is a timely boost to Dev-Audio as it seeks to complete the transition of this technology from research to the market" - Dr Iain McCowan, founder of Dev-Audio.
Further information: www.dev-audio.com/index.html
Taggle Systems
A taggle is a small, low-cost, long-life tag that transmits a regular data packet providing the location of an asset. It can also transmit a small amount of information, such as a meter reading, a tamper alert, or the temperature. The system could enable customers to use the internet to track the location of their asset at anytime and monitor any additional data sent by the taggle.
Business could use taggles to track and monitor mobile assets such as pallets, containers, tools, computers, supermarket trolleys, scientific equipment, machinery, shipments, hire equipment and cattle, or for sensing applications such as meter reading, chemical detection and tamper alerts for security seals. Consumers could use taggles to track pets, cars, boats, sporting goods (bikes, golf clubs, camping gear, skis, kayaks etc.), toys, tools, electronic goods, or for social networking applications. Potential government applications include structural health monitoring of public infrastructure (railways, bridges etc.), remote monitoring of water levels and salinity, bushfire detection, environmental monitoring (eg. greenhouse gas emissions) and tracking of public transport stock and other government assets.
Currently the taggle is in development and testing phase, with a test network for tracking cattle in Tweed Heads, and a further test network being developed in Southern Sydney.
Intially, Telstra will assist Taggle Systems by contributing expertise with radio network planning, providing a backhaul network for the transmission of data from the taggle and potentially providing access to Sensis mapping data to show the location of the taggles.
Further information: http://www.taggle.com.au/
QuintessenceLabs
Recent geopolitical events reinforce the need for vital technologies that address escalating security concerns, in particular those related to the security of critical information assets. QuintessenceLabs is a world leader in 2nd generation untappable, quantum cryptography (QC) and is developing this technology for deployment over commercial optic-fibre networks.
QuintessenceLabs has achieved substantial progress over the past two years, from a proof-of-concept demonstration (awarded the Eureka Prize in 2006) to a practical system that is presently undergoing field testing over pre-existing dark fibre networks.
Telstra will assist QuintessenceLabs through access to the Telstra network for testing of the Quantum Link Encryptor (QLE-1) on a telecommunications network. Telstra will also make available our technical experts to work with QuintessenceLabs on refining QLE-1 and to support a trial of the technology on a segment of our network.
Further information: www.quintessencelabs.com
Rehabilitation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis affects approximately 1.2 million Australians with impacts ranging from shortness of breath, reduced physical capacity and frequent chest infections - often resulting in hospital admissions. Pulmonary Rehabilitation, including a supervised exercise regime, can assist with relieving the symptoms of COPD and reduce time patients spend in hospital. However, currently approximately one per cent of sufferers of COPD are able to access Pulmonary Rehabilitation each year.
With Telstra's assistance La Trobe University and its partners, Telemedcare, the Institute for Breathing and Sleep and Alfred Health will look to deliver Pulmonary Rehabilitation remotely through tele-rehabilitation. This will involve real-time physiological monitoring of oxygen levels and heart rate and a video link to the clinician and other patients for supervision and peer support. Delivery of Pulmonary Rehabilitation remotely has the potential to allow many more sufferers from COPD to benefit from this treatment regardless of location.
Telstra will assist with point to multi-point video conferencing expertise. The therapy will be trialled over both our fixed and wireless broadband networks.
Associate Professor Anne Holland of La Trobe University said "Pulmonary Rehabilitation improves the lives of people with COPD but too few Australians have access to this important treatment. This project will deliver Pulmonary Rehabilitation to more Australians, especially those in regional and rural areas".
Further information: www.telemedcare.com.au/
Reference Number: 70/2010
Related information
Links
- Telstra Exchange blog: Innovation and how a corporate can support this (Dr Hugh Bradlow)
- Telstra Innovation Challenge videos on YouTube
