June 23, 2009 –
BATs technology intrigues Harkey.
UCI alumna Diane Harkey, state assemblywoman from Dana Point, returned to her alma mater last week, touring some CALIT2 labs while familiarizing herself with the university’s graduate students and programs.
Harkey and her chief of staff, Jeffrey Corless, visited the Wireless Sensor Lab, where doctoral candidate Mark Merlo showed off several projects. They also visited the Visualization Lab, where they got an overview of both versions of HIPerWall as well as the tile-based projection displays.
Several of the research projects Harkey observed were “BATs,” – bionic assistive technologies. These included: an auditory nerve-penetration electrode array that could replace cochlear implants; a balance measurement device to help the elderly maintain equilibrium; a mouthpiece that resembles a retainer, which contains electrodes that enable those without larynxes to speak; and the “BAT hat,” a sensor-laden baseball cap that helps the sight-impaired avoid obstacles as they move about.
Harkey also saw Telios – the Telepresence Interactive Operating System. Telios brings telemedicine options to average individuals and small community facilities. By linking software built on a Web 2.0 platform with medical devices – heart-rate, blood pressure or glucose monitors, for example – medical specialists can communicate with and monitor individuals in the privacy of their homes or in community-based clinics.
Telios brings telemedicine home.
Harkey also met with graduate students Mary Amasia and Shane Stephens-Romero, recipients of Public Impact Fellowships from UCI’s graduate division. Amasia is developing an automated CD-based anthrax-detection system for rapid testing and containment of anthrax, while Stephens-Romero is developing a methodology to assess pollution, emissions and efficiency of a hydrogen infrastructure and fuel cell vehicle deployment.
“It’s important for our legislators to meet with graduate students and learn about their research because grad students are the workforce of the future,” said Kathy Eiler, UCI’s advocacy and government relations director. “Their research translates into jobs, new inventions and spinoff companies,” added Eiler, who was instrumental in arranging the visit.
As for Harkey, she was impressed with the students, the projects and the enthusiasm. “We will return soon,” she said. “The young energy is contagious … it’s always great to be back on the campus. I look forward to working together as we expand Orange County’s and Southern California’s reach in the biotech industry.”
