PENANG, 31 October 2013 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) will continue to strengthen the areas of research that involve innovation for the benefit of all communities.

Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato’ Dr. See Ching Mey said that USM’s research is currently directed to provide a better life for communities especially Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and the less unfortunate.

He said that USM also has a strong networking system to translate researchers’ talents and ability into the production of innovation for the community, including the PWD cluster.

“The PWD Cluster provides a multidisciplinary platform that enables researchers from various fields to translate their ideas to innovate a product that can benefit the community.

“It also serves to look after the needs of low income segment of society and the effort is currently put across at University level,” she said during the press conference to introduce products that won medals at the i-Inova here today.

i-Inova is a competition and exhibition of innovative products and is jointly organised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, USM and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia.USM won a gold, three silver, and five bronze medals in the competition which involved 140 innovative products by sixteen local higher education institutions and 7 at international level.

i-Inova is also participated by various local and international research centres which include Indonesia, Brunei, Gaza, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Sudan, and Pakistan.

The one that won USM a gold medal was Sustainable Pocket Education: Interactive Mobile Learning which was produced by researchers from the School of Distance Education, Dr. Issham Ismail. He also received Al–Khwarizmi’s special award, an award that was given to the best product among the gold medal winners.

The product will add an extra value to the learning development via mobile phone. It does not only provide a facility for teaching and learning but also provides a fast two-way communication process and being efficiency as it is on a real-time basis.

Also included in the press conference are the details of a product known as the Stand Up: Manual Footplate for Balance Rehabilitation by USM researchers. It is a clinical tool that helps in the healing process for new stroke patients as well as for those who have problems in body balance.

This equipment which has the potential to be widely used at rehabilitation centres has been proven to help patients who have body balance problems to recover in less than two weeks. - Translation: Siti Faizah Abd Halim/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa