26 Febraury 2015
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) Biomedical Engineering graduate, James Fogarty has the won the Vicon: Best Medical Engineering Undergraduate Project Competition at the Healthcare Technologies Student and Early Career Awards 2015 Finals which took place in London today (Wednesday 25th February). James was the only Irish student shortlisted for the Finals.
James’ final year Biomedical Engineering project on “Design and Development of an Assistive Technology Music System for Sufferers of Cerebral Palsy – Music-ability” was supervised by Lecturer, Sally Bryan, and carried out in conjunction with the SoundOut organisation.
James’ project was previously highly commended in the Engineering and Mechanical Sciences category of The Undergraduate Awards 2014 and was ranked in the top 10% of submissions to the 2014 programme which received 4,792 submissions from undergraduate students around the world.
Irish engineers and designers are at the forefront of developing new assistive music making technologies. These technologies, which are being constantly developed and clearly embraced by the next generation of budding engineers, not only enables these musicians to compose and perform independently, but also in an inclusive environment with other musicians.
James has commenced a graduate internship in Abbott Vascular in Clonmel planning also to continue developing the Musicability system, which can be adapted for other users.
For further details on design, development and testing of Musicability – See: http://www.cit.ie/musicability