16 Oct 2012
Voting is now open in the People’s Choice category of the Tropical Innovation Awards, which will be presented at a gala ceremony next month.
A People’s Choice shortlist of 23 entries has been selected from a field of a total of 91 applications received for this year’s awards.
The entries came from the tropical North Queensland region and from as far away as New South Wales and Western Australia.
The panel of independent, expert judges have selected 23 applications for the People’s Choice category – there’s everything from an energy efficient oven to integrated solar roof sheeting, to an all-in-one portable first-aid kit and swag.
“The People’s Choice Award gives members of the public the chance to say which product they can see making a difference either to their own daily lives or to the sustainability of our tropical zone,” Mayor Bob Manning said.
“It’s a great opportunity to get involved in an exciting awards program that has been commended nationally for its initiative and collaborative efforts.”
Public voting can be done online at any time through the Tropical Innovation Awards website (www.tropicalinnovationawards.com ) from Wednesday 17 October until 3pm Thursday 29 November.
Winners of the People’s Choice category and all other categories will be announced at the Tropical Innovation Awards gala presentation night on Friday 30 November at Cairns Convention Centre.
The Cairns Chamber of Commerce People’s Choice Award winner will receive a $2000 cash prize.
Other category winners will each receive cash prizes up to $2500, and the James Cook University Innovation of the Year will earn a $10,000 cash prize.
Tickets for the gala presentation evening are available through www.tropicalinnovationawards.com
Brief descriptions of entries for the 2012 Tropical Innovation Awards People’s Choice Award:
3D Ski
3D SKI is a snow-ski simulator/trainer that can be ridden on a variety of terrains and surfaces at the same time. For snow skiers , fitness enthusiast and roller bladers, it delivers the sensation of snow-skiing on surfaces as varied as grass, dirt and paving.
Acute Futures
Acute Futures e-learning and training platform is a new computer-based training initiative that replicates real world scenarios in a safe, non-threatening learning environment. The 3D interactive computer environment can train and test staff under various sets of changeable and experiential situations set uniquely by the trainer.
ATOM
ATOM is Innotech’s Acquisition and Total Optimisation Management solution for building services such as electrical, water, gas and thermal energy. It delivers affordable reporting of energy, carbon emissions and building services, enables early detection of system inefficiencies, creates ongoing savings and helps reduce total carbon footprint.
Easy Oven
Continuing the charge in energy efficient products, the EasyOven™ is a lightweight energy-efficient heat retention oven which cooks nutritional food. Easy to use and cost effective, it saves electricity, cuts CO2 emissions and is not solar dependant. Socially and culturally responsible, the EasyOven™ aims to win the battle against climate change and poverty.
innSIGHT
In today’s interconnected world, users expect information to be easily accessible from anywhere, anytime. The simplicity of the innSIGHT Supervisor Web Server and its truly innovative plug-and-play technology ensures minimal engineering time and cost, and delivers the ability for users to access their BMS using a standard internet web-browser.
Inspection Apps
Inspection Apps is a multi-award winning product that can be used for multiple checklist inspections across countless industries. Billed as the ‘mothership’ of apps, it provides a cost-effective software solution for business, government, councils, real estate, building inspectors, mining, OH&S inspectors and many more.
Lunch Buddy
An exciting new way to pack school snacks, the Lunch Buddy is an alternative to packing pre-packed goods in the name of convenience. This multi-compartment all-in-one snack solution features a detachable cooling system to keep snacks chilled. Individual storage sections encourage variety and clear viewing panels make food selection easy.
NO NAG
NO NAG is a handy and simple device to measure the weight of gas remaining in a gas bottle up to a combined weight of 22kg. It can also be used as weighing scales to measure the weight of luggage or fish, and trials for other applications are under way.
Peach Surface Drainage System
Peach Surface Drainage System is a shallow sub-surface and surface drainage system for large grassed and paved areas such as sporting fields. Particularly applicable to areas with little fall where deep drainage systems are not possible, it quickly drains water through the surface. It also allows for water recycling.
Pocket Cricket
Pocket Cricket is a fast and furious all-action dice cricket game Simple and affordable, it allows cricket fans to recreate a T20 cricket game using without need for electronic gadgets. The product has been licensed by Cricket Australia and will be sold at all Australian International matches.
Solar Chemicals from and for the tropics
Solar chemicals from and for the tropics can be produced using a simple solar collector and basic down-stream equipment. Naturally-derived starting materials are converted to high-value biodegradable, green pharmaceutical building blocks, agrochemicals and fragrances. This climate-smart process could be easily added to sugar mills and essential oil extraction plants.
Solar Roof Sheeting
Building integrated large format solar roofing sheeting is made from resin-impregnated fibreglass with built-in photo-voltaics. The innovative one-step process makes installation of solar technology faster, more cost effective and more accessible to consumers. It has attracted over $4 million in government support as part of a $7 million R&D project.
Spitfire Home Builders Kit
This innovative kit enables amateur builders to produce a full-sized, two-seater flying replica of the iconic British Mark V Spitfire WW2 front-line fighter plane. The kit design offers modern construction techniques at an affordable cost, within the reach of most Spitfire and aviation enthusiasts.
Storm Fighters
This innovative bracket delivers a super-fast fitting to attach ready-cut plywood for barricading openings (doors, windows, garage door etc). It can quickly and easily make a house ‘cyclone ready’ and protected without the need for drilling or screws, and leaves no damage or permanent fixing to the openings.
The Allaro Advantage, Planned to Perfection
The Allaro Advantage is a commercially-scalable technology platform to enhance customer engagement and business efficiency in the home construction industry. By enabling 3D virtual visualisation of home design plans, more accurate costing and real-time information throughout the design and build stages, it delivers a faster, less stressful experience for customers.
The Anchor Release Mechanism
The Anchor Release Mechanism is positioned between an anchor and one end of a main anchoring line to easily retrieve an anchor from the bottom of a body of water. It allows the anchor to be retrieved without damage to the anchorage point or to the boat.
The Clip Slip
The Clip Slip is a unique plastic clip attached to a slipsheet fitted onto growing banana fruit at the bagging stage. This separates and protects the banana fruit from damage through tip scarring or bruising during growth. It also minimises potential fruit damage from handling and transportation during the harvesting process.
The Cullector™
The Cullector™ is an ultra efficient shower that combines several water saving devices into one simple Solution, its self-powered and provides a quality shower experience that saves water, money and the environment.
The Energy Hub
The Energy Hub is an advanced, stand-alone transportable energy source that uses solar and other green energies to generate power for multiple applications including lighting, CCTV, environmental monitoring and more. It brings together into one unit some of the world’s best offerings in collection, production and storage of green energy.
The Original Survival Swag
The Original Survival Swag is a portable first aid kit that can also be used as a splint, sling, compression support or even a water carrying device. Initially developed for the equine enthusiast market, its convenience, durability and multi-use nature sets it apart from other first aid products.
The Smiddie
The Smiddie is a new tool that simplifies accurate 3-dimensional squaring at an instant and halves assembly times. It adds functionality to traditional squaring devices enabling the third dimension to be included. This simple, inexpensive mechanism allows for alignment of pieces, parts or markings in three dimensions simultaneously.
Trailermate
Trailermate enables a solo operator to test trailer and car tail-lights without the need of a second person and without the trailer connected to a car. Trailermate powers each light and its long lead enables the operator to see the lights illuminating simply by pressing a button to test.
Wifiniti
Wifiniti is a wireless router for storing data locally to enable responsive delivery of web and rich digital content to mobile and computer users anywhere regardless of available internet speed. The router can also provide limited or full internet access and enables content to be monitored, managed and updated remotely.
