Research funding enables potential computing leap

New Zealand may leap to the forefront of wearable computer technology after researchers received more than $800,000 in funding.  

The Marsden Fund Council, established to fund excellent fundamental research, have given University of Canterbury Professors Mark Billinghurst and Deak Helton’s research plans a sizable shot in the arm

Professor Billinghurst says there has been very little research done within New Zealand on wearable computing and the funding will significantly increase the amount of research they’re able to do.

“Wearable computing is the next generation of computer interfaces,” he says.

“Over the past 40 years we’ve seen computers change from desktops to laptops and most recently to smart phones and handheld devices, and now as wearable computers. The most recent example of that is probably the Google Glass.”

He says they will be looking at how wearable computers could be a prosthetic or extension of our existing brain.

Professor Margaret Hyland, who sits on the Convenor, Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences Panel of the Marsden Fund Council, says funding is given for cutting edge research on an international scale.

“All of the projects that we funded have been reviewed by top international scientists and we have top scientists on our panels as well.”

She says the funding's purpose is to provide resources for high-quality research that is highly ranked internationally.

Wearable computing has been around for many years but has been primarily used for academic and military use, says Professor Billinghurst. She says the technology has gained a foothold in terms of its commercial application.

“The projected growth is quite strong; they say that by 2020 there should be 100 million devices out there in the industry so I think the commercial market is going to be very good.”

Ullrich Loeffler, the country Manager of IDC New Zealand and research director IDC Australia  says as more device options are being launched, developers will see the opportunity and develop specific apps which cater for the wearable market.

“History has shown users follow the apps. So, although we don’t have a defined forecast, I would expect wearables to gain popularity in tandem with available apps and use cases.”

Professor Billinghurst says he expects results could be less than a year and a half away. 

Jwalls@nbr.co.nz