i-CREATe 2008 showcases high tech

i-CREATe 2008 showcases high tech inventions to make life easier for the disabled

On 14 May 2008 HRH Princess Sirindhorn graciously presided over the opening of the 2nd International Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology, or iCREATe 2008. HRH Princess Sirindhorn also took the time to view the exhibitions and to listen to a special talk on “Japanese Practice in Using Assistive Technology under Long Term Care” by Professor Shigeru Yama-uchi from Waseda University, Japan.

The winners of the Student Design Challenge (SDC), a contest to design inventions to assist disabled people and senior citizens, were also announced and shown at i-CREATe 2008. The winning projects were Mobility Assistance Equipment for Parkinson’s Patients by students of Yeehan Polytechnic in Singapore, Transforming Standing Wheelchair for Paralysis Patients or the Motion Challenged by students at Thammasat University, Rangsit, and Portable Braille Computer for the Vision Impaired by students at Songkhla Nakarindhara University.

The annual International Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology is a venue for the exchange of knowledge and technological developments to help people who are ill, disabled or aged. This year’s convention helped open up opportunities to access the rehabilitation and assistive technology market in Asia. People in the field of Assistive Technology, including service providers, traders, investors, policy makers, Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology researchers, therapists, and medical personnel got together at the event to listen to related talks and to attend workshops led by experts from Thailand and abroad.