If this ever gets to a realisation stage, then i'd suggest a WIKI as a means
of combining information from a variety of peer sources - WIKIs are editable
(by anyone) web pages - information is 'refractored' by peers    - it's
better than bulletin boards and mailing lists for collating information from
a variety of people.  Google wiki for more info - there are a number of
different ones and they are easy to install and run on a webserver.  I have
suggested this to FAST before, since they seem the natural host, but emptech
would be another good place.

Cheers

Simon

Clinical Scientist
ACT
0121 627 1627 ex 53245

-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of ea
Sent: 31 March 2005 22:57
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: New technologies


Over the last ten years I have been involved in trying to bring the news
about new products to those who are interested, via several databases of
assistive technology products used in education and employment.  Sadly it is
not easy to judge how well some of these technologies will work in reality
and I just wish we could set up benchmarking frameworks for product
evaluations based on their characteristics and on the likely skills and
abilities required to use them in various different situations or
environments.  I also think people may be more tempted to try new products
if there were more objective reviews and comparisons.    Oh for more time to
achieve these ideas!!  :>))

Best Wishes E.A.

Mrs E.A. Draffan
Assistive Technologist
Mobile: 07976 289103
http://www.emptech.info

-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Aidan Parr
Sent: 31 March 2005 13:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Anti-tremor mouse stops PC shakes

Hi Aejaz,

Join the club! There's lots of useful projects, EU funded and otherwise that
seem to fade away after the research ends. There does seem to be a gap
between end of project and turning the results into a commercial or
available product.

Anyone interested in working with FAST to do a 'Where Are They Now?' report?

I often wonder if this lack of dissemination and exploitation is because the
research hypotheses sometimes aren't proven (i.e. the idea doesn't work).
But I can't see what is wrong with a project not producing the intended
results because the lessons learnt would be beneficial to everyone.

There's also the immense pressure that academic departments are under to get
grants, do the research and then get busy with their next proposal.
Otherwise they don't survive. Perhaps they aren't able to spend the time in
further development if there isn't an immediate gain? Academia does need to
be a lot better at publicising their research outside the usual journals.
Thanks to the BBC and other media, lots of people know about the Anti-tremor
mouse. How many members of the public got to know about TIDE or the robotic
orthoses you mentioned?

FAST have also become aware that researchers often find it hard to get the
funding for the final part of exploitation. For example, funding agencies
may not fund a project that has commercial potential and may suggest the
researcher to go and get a commercial partner. Trouble is, the idea may
still require some further work and many commercial companies would not be
interested because the project is not finalised. I've had contact with a few
researchers over the past year in this position and it's hard to tell them
where they should go next. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Cheers,

Aidan.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Zahid Aejaz (RFF) Clinical Engineer" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 12:49 PM
Subject: Re: Anti-tremor mouse stops PC shakes


> Hi Jeremy
>
> Its funny how these mega funded projects promise so much at the outset
> but when the 'work-package' deadlines are over many of the resulting
> so-called 'innovations' never seem to reach the AT market for some
> reason. For example, where are all those robotic orthoses (e.g CREST
> from Newcastle) developed so many years ago?
>
> Yours confusedly,
>
> Aejaz

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