AIIA National iAwards finalists to represent Australia at prestigious international APICTA Awards in China

Sydney, Australia – 8 October -- The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), the nation’s peak representative body for the ICT sector, is delighted to announce the progression of nine AIIA National iAwards 2018 winners and merit recipients to the 18th Annual Asia Pacific ICT Alliance Awards (APICTA Awards), taking place 9-13 October 2018 in Guangzhou, China.
 
As Australia's longest running and most broadly scoped innovation recognition program, AIIA’s iAwards now in its 25th year, showcases the incredible achievements of home-grown Australian innovators. The winners and merit recipients of the 2018 National iAwards have been presented with the opportunity to gain international exposure as they go on to compete with fellow ICT innovators and entrepreneurs across the Asia Pacific region at the APICTA awards.  
 
"We're fortunate to work in an industry that is filled with smart, creative and talented individuals who are passionate about discovering new ways to further innovation,” said AIIA CEO, Rob Fitzpatrick. 

“AIIA is excited that nine iAwards finalists are representing the best of Australian innovation, including the world’s first automatic, real time, artificially intelligent shark detection system for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones), a virtual reality learning tool that teaches protective and social behaviours to students with special needs and, a revolutionary cloud-based platform that allows the creation of a 360° immersive virtual reality tour in minutes. 
 
“The unique inventions being showcased at the awards demonstrate the building momentum and growth of ICT innovation within Australia. AIIA’s involvement in APICTA – regarded as a quality, prestigious and ‘best-of-the-best’ award program – allows us to support home-grown talent and gain international recognition for the contributions of AIIA iAwards finalists to the ICT industry. It’s a privilege to be there”, Fitzpatrick said. 

Nominations span across 11 categories including Consumer, Inclusions and Community Services, Industrial, Business Service, Public Sector and Government, Students (year 9 to tertiary education undergraduates), Start-up, Research and Development, Big Data Analytics, Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence. To find out more about the APICTA Awards visit http://www.apicta.org/ and to view the winners and merit recipients representing Australia, as well as descriptions of the projects, please see the additional information below.

Additional information

The following table outlines the AIIA National iAwards 2018 winners and merit recipients representing Australia, along with further information on their respective projects. 
 

Descriptions of winner and merit recipient projects

Self Serve 360° Virtual Tour Creation Platform
Self Serve 360 Virtual Tour Creation Platform is a revolutionary cloud-based platform that allows anybody to create a 360-degree immersive virtual tour in a matter of minutes. The platform gives creators the ability to simulate motion in space using static 360-degree panoramic images. It also helps add floor plans for real estate, menus for restaurants and many more interactive content pieces to an easily shareable web property.

GetGREAT
Boundlss has built an AI-powered digital health coach and engagement platform that helps people transform their lives with small behaviour changes every day. Chat to your coach about nutrition, health and mental wellbeing. Whether you want a delicious smoothie recipe or a kettlebell exercise, your coach is there 24/7.

Codebots Platform
Codebots is a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS). Put simply, Codebots is code that writes code. By utilising artificial intelligence, domain specific languages, model driven engineering and the scientific business model, Codebots can write, on average, 92% of a software application's code. It’s most popular bot, Lampbot, can write 300,000 lines of code in a minute.

AEye Screening System for Patients with Diabetes
CSIRO Australian e-Health Research Centre is the first in the world to develop an AI system (AEye) and deploy it into real-world clinical setting to demonstrate the use of AI for diagnosing eye diseases. It combines the techniques of telemedicine and deep learning based diagnosis with “referral/ no referral” decision at primary care clinical environment.

Biosecurity Reporting for Northern Australia: Indigenous Ranger App
The solution delivered seven components of a single biosecurity solution within eight months including a community engagement public reporting web-page and application, an iPhone and Android biosecurity reporting native application for Indigenous rangers, a permits web and management application and, an inspections web application and workflow system.

Social Circles VR - Virtual reality learning tool for students with special needs
Social Circles VR is a virtual reality learning tool that teaches students with special needs protective behaviours. In particular, Social Circles VR focuses on allowing the students to practice choosing appropriate levels of intimacy with people they may encounter that come from different social circles.

SharkSpotter©
SharkSpotter© is the world's first automatic, real-time artificially intelligent Shark Detection System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones). SharkSpotter© enables drones to patrol beaches and detect sharks, other safety hazards (i.e. rips) and people in distress, through real-time image processing. It is currently deployed at more than a dozen beaches and has assisted over 50 people in the past year.

Firefly
Students at Victoria University bring a new edge solution to fire prevention and safety at a new innovative level through the use of advanced sensors. The advanced sensors’ use of AI technology protect people and their homes, allowing the 21st century individual to have peace of mind. This is an Australian innovation which is making a difference and has the potential to create positive change for the community and in people’s lives.

Passion Your Purpose
Passion Your Purpose is an app aimed at teens that enables users to find their true purpose in life by helping them to discover their passions. The platform allows young people to take a passion quiz and then based on outcomes be invited by group leaders of the related club to join. Leaders earn points for creating inclusivity.



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About the AIIA’s iAwards

AIIA’s iAwards honours both companies at the cutting edge of technology innovation and leading professionals across the digital economy. Most importantly, AIIA’s iAwards recognises the achievements of home-grown Australian innovators. 

AIIA’s iAwards is Australia’s leading awards program for technology innovation. Over a six-month period, entrants from all Australian states and territories compete for State titles in the hopes to progress to the next stage and compete for Nationals. In late August 2018, the winners of the National iAwards were announced, shedding light on Australia’s best innovators, creatives and entrepreneurs.  www.aiia.com.au/iawards


Join the Conversation

AIIA’s iAwards gets people talking about digital innovation. Take advantage of the buzz by joining the conversation with #iAwards and connecting with the iAwards on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About AIIA

The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) is Australia’s peak representative body and advocacy group for those in the digital ecosystem. Since 1978 AIIA has pursued activities to stimulate and grow the digital ecosystem, to create a favorable business environment for members and contribute to Australia’s economic prosperity. It delivers outstanding member value by providing a strong voice of influence; building a sense of community through events and education; enabling a network for collaboration and inspiration; and developing compelling content and relevant and interesting information.

Media Contacts

To arrange an interview and/or high-res photography of Mr Fitzpatrick, or for more information, please contact the AIIA Press Office at Filtered Media via:
 
Jeffrey Coote
Tel: (02) 8355 3130
jeffrey@filteredmedia.com.au