WATERLOO, Ont. (Thursday, November 14, 2013) – A low cost digital x-ray system that screens for tuberculosis and new signal-based technology to recognize hand and arm gestures will be on display at the university of Waterloo today.

Graduate student researchers in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo will present 54 research projects across various disciplines at the fourth annual WE INNOVATE conference in Waterloo.

WE Innovate is the year's biggest showcase of Waterloo Engineering innovation. World-class researchers at the university will display current research in chemical, civil & environmental, electrical & computer engineering, mechanical & mechatronics, systems design and management sciences - cutting edge technologies that will shape the world of tomorrow.

“In many cases, our research projects lead to product and process innovations and advances that improve the human condition,” said Dave Dietz, director of research for the Faculty of Engineering,

Waterloo has been named Canada’s most innovative university by Maclean’s magazine for 22 consecutive years.

Ryan Mann, a Master’s student in electrical and computer engineering and his team will present Pneumavision, a low-cost, digital x-ray system for tuberculosis screening using a small, flat-panel, digital x-ray detectors. Pneumavision research paves the way for cost savings in digital x-ray systems and opens the door to treatment for 60% of all tuberculosis cases reported in 2011, largely in Southeast Asia and the West Pacific. In 2011, tuberculosis killed 1.4 million people.  

Another team of researchers will present a new electromyographic (EMG) signal based technology to recognize dynamic hand and arm movements (gestures).  The technology, developed in collaboration with Thalmic Labs, will be implemented in a novel interface device for machines such as computers, mobile devices, or robotics, thereby creating a new, intuitive and convenient method of user input based on natural gestures and movements. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in a user study to help collect data, performing common gestures using the device.

WE INNOVATE takes place today at the Sedra Student Design Centre. Presentations will be delivered to undergraduates and high school students in the afternoon and to industry and the public from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering is home to 18 Canada Research Chairs and maintains research partnerships with almost 800 Canadian companies and another 300 internationally.

Media are invited to attend the event.

Date: Thursday, November 14, 2013
Time:  4:00 pm to 7:00 pm  
Location: Sedra Student Design Centre, Engineering 5, University Avenue West, Waterloo
Parking: Complimentary parking is located in Parking Lot B, beside Engineering 5

About the University of Waterloo

In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada's technology hub, has become one of Canada's leading comprehensive universities with 35,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Waterloo, as home to the world's largest post-secondary co-operative education program, embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. In the next decade, the university is committed to building a better future for Canada and the world by championing innovation and collaboration to create solutions relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow. For more information about Waterloo, please visit www.uwaterloo.ca.

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Media Contact

Nick Manning
University of Waterloo
519-888-4451
226-929-7627
nmanning@uwaterloo.ca
www.uwaterloo.ca/news
@uWaterlooNews

Attention broadcasters: Waterloo has facilities to provide broadcast quality audio and video feeds with a double-ender studio. Please contact Nick Manning on 519-888-4451 or 226-929-7627 for more information.

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