Research/Development
'The mind has exactly the same power as the hands; not merely to grasp the world, but to change it.' Colin Wilson.
Toan Nguyen and David Hobbs demonstrating how a mobile phone can be connected to a dedicated electronic communication device to enable an AAC device user to answer a call, make a call, and send a text message (SMS).
Who are we?
The Research & Development (R&D) Department is a team within NovitaTech. Novita's technology division. Our role is to conduct meaningful research and development within the disability field, keep abreast of technology and how it is being used within the field, and to provide technical and technological support for Novita's therapists (for research, trial or assessment purposes).
What do we do and how do we do it?
The role of the department is to maximise the usefulness and relevance of technology in the lives of people with a physical disability by conducting meaningful research and product development.
The department does this by:
- identifying and creating innovative solutions for unmet needs
- ensuring that solutions are available to all who have the need
- working in partnership with appropriate commercial and academic institutions to ensure cost effective solutions
- ensuring that when solutions are found, that this information is widely and freely publicised.
R&D's work is typically centred on equipment and Assistive Technology to assist people with a disability, as opposed to Novita's Clinical Research Department, which focuses on therapy based outcomes and evidence based practice. Where there are areas of overlap, the two departments will work together cooperatively.
Projects both small and large, of varying technical degrees, are equally considered. The role of the R&D department is to find a solution to an identified problem or issue through:
- conducting research to understand and identify the underlying problem
- market research to understand the existing and potential market
- prototyping, testing, and engineering design
- basic, applied, and clinical trial research (including focus groups)
- product and project management
- creation of promotional materials
- education.
Staff within the department have core skills and expertise in biomedical engineering, the life sciences, biomechanics, mechanical engineering, electronics and software, design and marketing, and testing and standards experience. We also have ready access to speech pathology and occupational therapy skills. Our department has the ability to source and coordinate the necessary technical resources to complete a project, and have collaborative links with other rehabilitation engineering centres around Australia (in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) and around the world (in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom).
This page last updated: 24 November 2006
URL for this page: http://www.novitatech.org.au/content.asp?p=281
