Human Interface Technology (HIT Lab) Project

The HIT Lab Project, funded by the Tasmanian Government via the Department of State Growth (DSG) ($450K) and the University of Tasmania (UTAS) ($150K), has explored the initial development of a range of human interface technologies for use by Tasmanian agri-food businesses and associated environmental monitoring.

The outcomes of the HIT Lab Project have successfully met the Project Criteria. A total of eight novel mobile augmented reality (AR) applications have been designed, engineered and developed successfully to a proof of concept stage, all involving business end-users in some capacity. Several have also been undertaken in association with other projects initiated at Stage 2 of Sense-T, thereby creating mutual leverage in respect of intellectual underpinning, user engagement, and external collaborations.

In addition to addressing the role of human interface technologies in supporting farming businesses and the food supply chain, the HIT Lab Project has devised systems that are ultimately capable of simplifying and informing multiple audiences about the use and availability of environmental data. These audiences range from individuals through to governments, as well as business. Real-time information can be demystified, which better enables both private citizens and organizations to assess data when making choices, be they life-style, political or matters of economic policy. The project has thus yielded significant indirect benefits, in addition to those originally envisaged.

The role of human interface technologies in economic and natural resource policy making is thus a forward-looking R&D theme arising from the HIT Lab Project. The blending here of AR and data platform capabilities is likely to be fruitful. The new theme is particularly relevant to Tasmania, which relies heavily on the agri-food business and a tourism industry (where higher value and longer stay visits are driven by both food and ecological experiences). The opportunity for external bids here will be explored during the next year to the likes of the ARC, CRC-P and the national rural R&D agencies.

At the organizational level, the HIT Lab Project has generated two important learning and developmental outcomes. One is a better understanding of how to integrate human interface technology with other, diverse R&D activities in an extended supply chain; the other is a better understanding of effective recruitment approaches in an internationally competitive ICT market.

Furthermore, the technology applications devised in the Project have been used as exemplars to promote the role of STEM with secondary school students in a range of school grades. This community engagement has been lensed, where feasible, through participation in broader community awareness events.

Overall, and given the above, we feel that the HIT Lab Project has ultimately made a distinguished all round contribution to Tasmania, and represents good value for the comparatively small investment made in it.