Auckland Medical Research Foundation Conference Travel Grant

Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust Grant

Advice First Innovator’s Award

National AMP Scholarship

2014

Auckland University Engineers Association

Emerging Researcher Award

Professional Engineers Ontario : Licensed Member

American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine : Member

Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine : Member

Cerebral Palsy Society : Member

A Nonlinear model for mouse pointing task movement time analysis based on both system and human effects

A Robot-Driven Computational Model for Estimating Passive Ankle Torque With Subject-Specific Adaptation

Optimal Web-Based Survey Design in the Youth Population

Training to use a commercial brain-computer interface as access technology: A case study

A real-time computational model for estimating kinematics of ankle ligaments

My interest in biomedical engineering evolved while volunteering at Bloorview Children’s Hospital (now Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital). I found that the technology available to these children did not allow them the freedom of other children. I have since dedicated my research career to improving the lives of people with disabilities. My research is diverse covering three main areas: biomaterials, motion analysis and assistive technology.

My primary research goal focuses on increasing independence of people with disabilities. Understanding the perceptual and physical responses of the senses, primarily vision, haptics and sound, has given me insight into how design of devices should be undertaken to create human-machine interfaces that are easily navigated and accepted. After spending several years designing to meet the needs of specific clients, I have realised the need for universal design. Universal design is becoming increasingly popular such that devices should be easy to use by all people without the need for adaptation.

I am currently an assistant professor in Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Queen’s University with an honorary senior lecturer appointment in the Departments of Surgery and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Auckland. Most of my work is interdisciplinary and seeks to combine input from both clinicians and engineers in the design of medical technologies. Some of the student projects of which I am the primary supervisor include development of a system that will allow tailored reminiscence therapy for individuals with cognitive impairment, development of a boccia ramp for paralympic athletes, development of an umbrella for individuals with muscular dystrophy, and methods to simplify computer tasks for youth with cerebral palsy.

I continue to expand my areas of research to establish more evidence based evaluations of individuals with assistive technology. Improvements to prosthetic and orthotic design will allow increased efficiency of human movement. Increasing the universality of assistive technology will enable more effective use of devices. Interface design that provides ease of use is essential to the acceptance by all individuals. My research projects allow engineering students to engage with clinicians and complete design projects that are clinically relevant. Expanding this research can increase the productiveness of all individuals and allow them to become more confident members of our society.

Biomaterials

Motion Analysis

Assistive Technology

Increasing Independence of People with Disabilities

Universal Design

Materials Engineering

Personal Webpage

ResearchGate Profile

Google Scholar Profile

Inventor’s vision

Dolphin technique gives blind new view of world

Ultrasound device to help visually impaired navigate

Mind control. Harnessing brain waves to move objects on a screen

Davies: Online testing set Ontario students up to fail

Model based Open-Loop Posture Control of a  Parallel Ankle Assessment and Rehabilitation Robot

Repeatability of Eye-Hand Movement Onset Asynchrony Measurements and Cerebral Palsy: A Case Study

The Ethical and Practical Issues Surrounding the Design of Assistive Technology for Individuals with Severe Physical Disability and Complex Communication Needs

The Effect of Surface Electromyography Placement on Muscle  Activation Amplitudes and Timing

Expansion Cursor: A Zoom Lens that  can be Voluntarily Activated by the User at Every Individual Click

Development of a motion analysis laboratory with a clinical focus

Intelligent robotic gait therapy and physiological assessment for children with cerebral palsy.

Technology for Health Engineers in Clinical Residence Seed Project Funding. Principal Investigator with Bruce MacDonald

The Impact of Emerging Technology on Developing and Accessing Assistive Technology. Principal Investigator

Increasing Independence through access to Technology

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Mechanical and Materials Engineering 

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