ANU TechLauncher students never cease to amaze when showing the extent to which we can use technology to make our lives and community better. The May 2019 cohort was no different, with projects ranging from health and networking apps to augmented reality and autonomous farming.

The TechLauncher showcase was hosted on 16 May at the Renewables Innovation Hub. Students presented their posters to professionals from the industry and government, and had a chance to pitch their project.

TechLauncher is an initiative that enables students to use their theoretical knowledge and apply it to a real-world research project. The students are supported by industry, government and the wider Canberra innovation community throughout their project. At the same time, they improve professional skills in communication, stake-holder management and teamwork while developing their product in a tight timeframe.

One of the projects, ‘HeyPoster’, is a live augmented reality (AR) project supported by Accenture. The aim was to reduce the environmental impact of paper posters, by replacing them with digital posters - enabled with AR technology. A mobile phone application for viewing the AR poster was developed by the students. The app allows designers to customise their poster even after it goes live, preventing a recall of previous versions and eliminating the need for reprinting.

Brian Lee Archer, Managing Director and Industry Executive of Accenture said that it was an excellent platform for industry and academia to collaborate.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to meet, work and share experiences with the next generation of digital leaders. This is where the innovators of tomorrow get started and we are energised by the enthusiasm and skills of the students as they tackle problems that matter” Archer said.

The ‘OrthoApp’ team developed a mobile application for hip and knee replacement surgery patients and doctors. The app would help them communicate with each other before and after surgery, helping patients to better prepare for what is to come, monitor their own recovery, and get support from surgeons regarding better health choices – all without going back to the hospital and spending tons of money.

Other projects included helping the homeless navigate to a cashless society, an easy bill-splitting app for restaurants which don’t typically allow split-bills, an automated procedure to manage taxonomic databases, and delivering online psychological therapy to those who are nervous to seek help.

The TechLauncher program is supported by ribit.net, Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN) and the Renewables Innovation Hub.

For more information on TechLauncher or to propose a project, please click here.